After Midnight

Meghaa Gupta's exploits in history are the outcome of an irrepressible urge to contextualize the challenges of the present with the past and make greater sense of the times we live in. She works in children's publishing and firmly believes that all change begins with getting children to read books that demystify the world and its infinite possibilities. Meghaa has contributed to the history book On this Day (Dorling Kindersley, 2021) and is the author of the widely-acclaimed Unearthed: An Environmental History of Independent India (Puffin, 2020). She curates the children's and youth section of the Green Lit Fest and the online magazine Sustainability Next.

At the time of Independence, few believed that a country made up of British provinces and over 500 princely states could survive as a nation, even for a few years. That a land stripped of its riches, wracked by disease and famine, and divided along tense communal lines could thrive in its aspirations. Yet, in the 75 years since Independence, India has grown beyond anyone's expectation.

How did India get this far? What were the sweeping social, political, scientific, technological, military, environmental and economic developments it witnessed along the way? Interspersed with personal anecdotes, illustrations, infographics, informative timelines and quotes, After Midnight revels in the diverse ideas that have come to shape India and offers a multifaceted context to the present. In many ways, this is one of the greatest underdog-beating-the-odds stories in world history, full of blood, sweat, tragedy and triumph.

With rich illustrations by Sayan Mukherjee and a plethora of anecdotes that feature popular figures like Laila Tyabji, Karan Mahajan, etc., fun facts, and timelines, reading this book is a uniquely enjoyable experience. Because it not only cements the belief that history can be more appreciated when it's told through engaging stories but also stands testament to the idea of remaining open to learning forever, as the book really helped me understand several aspects that I perhaps missed in a classroom set up as a young(er) learner.