Present at the book release were Sahitya Academy Award winning author Binod Ghosal, Wing Commander Deejay Kler, who served the Indian Air Force during the Bangladesh liberation war against Pakistan in 1971 and authored the book ’12 Days to Dacca’, and Dr. PK Bandyopadhyay, Former Director General, All India Radio.

Author Hari Pada Roychoudhury of Karimganj is a native of Sylhet. He had earned his Master of Science degree and an LLB from Guwahati University and a Ph.D from UMIST in the United Kingdom. He left his job in the United Kingdom and returned to India. He served Guwahati's Cotton College as Professor of Chemistry till his retirement. He has authored over 10 books.

The author in his book 'A Hideous Barak' discusses Mahatma Gandhi's role in Indian politics. According to the author, Gandhian politics managed to create a rift among people of diverse faiths, especially Hindus and Muslims, but could not breach the amity that existed in the Barak Valley.

He talks about how Barak Valley, a tiny region within a big country, played a major role in bringing back Hindu-Muslim unity even after the Partition of India.

The book focuses on the Barak valley, Assam valley, the Sepoy Mutiny, INC, role of Gandhi in Hindu-Muslim riots, the Partition of India and role of PM Jawaharlal Nehru. It also gives an outline of the future of the Barak Valley.

The other book, 'India, My Country' describes how Indians carried out the independence movement through “Non-Violence’ under Gandhi and again how independence movement was carried out through the direct war under Netaji’s Azad Hind Fauj and the contribution of Savarkar and the RSS.

It further describes the humiliating face of Gandhi illuminated with non-violence, how Gandhi surrendered to Jinnah under threat of Direct Action on 16 August 1946 being carried out only with two per cent militant ML, finalizing the formation of Pakistan by the partition of India.

Instead of being the destroyer, according to the author, Gandhi could have been a real hero if he could have acted in time with the determination of mind and strength like that of other world leaders.

The book also raises the question was partition a necessity? If rivalry of the English and the French could be sorted out and solved, why cannot the rivalry of India and Pakistan be sorted out, asks the author.

Author Binod Ghosal spoke about the pains of India-Bangladesh partition. He said, the Indian subcontinent broke into three countries, India, Bangladesh and Pakistan, to achieve freedom and peace. But in reality none of the three broken countries have been able to achieve the peace and freedom they aimed to achieve. The three countries are tormented by terror, separatist movements and other issues.

Wing Commander Deejay Kler shared his experience and views about the India-Bangladesh partition and the liberation war. The ex Air Force Wing Commander gave vivid detailed account of how he attacked the Pakistani army and the forgotten and less known details of the actions of the Indian army that helped in the liberation of Bangladesh in 1971.

Dr. PK Bandyopadhyay spoke from his memory about the events related to the books.

The event was moderated by Anupriya Dutta, General Manager of Power Publishers.