Students of history often harbor certain perceptions regardingthe the division of the sub-continent that led to the creation of Pakistan. One of these insinuates that the British wanted to transfer power to an undivided India because it suited their interests. Compelled by the demand put forth by the Muslim League to divide the sub-continent into two parts, Hindu India and Muslim India, the British eventually gave in. However, Lord Mountbatten, under whose supervision the transfer of power was to take place and who was in an unholy liaison with Nehru, made all efforts to weaken Pakistan so that it could be wiped out in its early days by unfavorable factors. The book under review justifies this perception with proof.In the Introduction, the author has presented a review of the books written on the partition of India. These include books written by those who had played a decisive role in the proceedings pertaining to partition as well as by later and recent scholars. In the former category, books such as Transfer of Power in India byV.P.Menon and The Emergence of Pakistan by Chaudhri Muhammad Ali, are included. In the latter category, a large number ofbooks written by Indian and Western writers are explored.The author extensively summarizes the developments that took place between the viceroyalty of Linlithgow and that of Mountbatten. During the Second World War, the Allies, particularly the US, pressurized the British government to declare its intention to grant independence to India. Sir Stafford Cripps visited India and later introduced the Cabinet Mission Plan. The Viceroyalty of Wavell held deliberations in Simla and taking a realistic view did not ignore the Muslim demand for a partition of India. However, that attitude displeased the Congress and he was unceremoniously dismissed before his term of office was due to terminate.The book mentions and discusses a number of issues including Wavell's dismissal, Mountbatten's appointment and his 'ties with Nehru', and Mount-batten's consultation with Nehru before sending his Plan to the British government for approval. The author believes that at that stage, Nehru seemed to be guiding the British policy in Delhi so much so that even dates of the Viceroy's meeting with the Indian politicians were changed on hissuggestion.Mountbatten's Plan included the division of Bengal and the Punjab although the British Governors of these provinces did not support the idea. The Muslim League was threatened that if that Plan was not accepted, power would be transferred to a United India. Prime Minister Attlee had set the date of independence 'no later than June 1948.' However, the final date was brought a year earlier. As a result, Pakistan was to get less time to set up its government's structure from scratch. (tobe continued)