Iris Leghari: Life and Times in Pre-Partition India and Early Pakistan by Begum Iris Leghari
‘Life seemed very strange to me at first, as there were no Europeans living there. The saving grace was the club life in the evenings and where we used to play tennis daily. There was good shooting around those parts, and this is when I started to take up shooting seriously, which I loved. We also rode a great deal.’ Page 40.
‘Epidemics of various diseases broke out in the camps and hundreds died from them. One could smell the stench of dead bodies seven miles away. People used to ring me up at the house, to ask me to get in touch with the authorities and ask for more time to bury their dead. Needless to say, I hardly saw my husband during these terrible days.’ Page 110.
Iris Titherley (18th October 1908 – 27th February 2000), was an English equestrian and horse trainer who married Sardar Ata Mohammad Khan Leghari, an Indian student at Oxford with a vast feudal background studying for the Indian Civil Service in 1932.
Her memoirs are a first-hand account of an English woman’s experience of living through the British Raj and Partition.
She notes how her life changed after Independence and shares fascinating stories of travels through Europe, the Middle East and Pakistan and her experiences as a member of a well-known Pakistani political family.
Part-memoir, part-travelogue her memoir recounts journeys on horseback through Northern India and the experiences of an Indian Civil Service officer’s wife in the years leading up to and after Partition.
She recorded and transcribed her memoirs in 1996 which I researched and published in 2025. Iris was my great-grandmother.
The book has over 100 pictures from the personal collection of Iris and Ata Leghari that depict their travels across the world and meetings with famous personalities.
The book is available at The Book Tree in Toowoomba and at Sang-e-Meel Books, Anees Book Corner and Iqbal Book Corner in Lahore.
Iris Leghari: Life and Times in Pre-Partition India and Early Pakistan
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Description
215 pages
100 + colour photographs
0.651 Kgs
Book I: Europe
Book II: The Subcontinent
Book III: Partition
Additional information
| Weight | 0.651 kg |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 9.7 × 7 × 9.7 cm |
Ayesha Leghari –
It’s aa amazing record of a beautiful and courageous Englishwoman who bridged the gap between the East and West with grace, wit and charm. Thank you Humaira for the hard work you put in to bring Iris Leghari’s memoir’s to life.
Myra –
This memoir is such a captivating read. It captures Iris’ unique experience of life in India before and after Partition. From horse rides and club life to heartbreaking scenes, she shares it all with honesty and detail. The book reads like a blend of personal diary and travel journal, and the collection of old photos really brings her world to life. It was truly fascinating to step into her world and see what life was like back then. If you’re interested in history, personal stories, or just love a good memoir, this one’s definitely worth a read!
Mehreen –
What a beautiful memoir of Iris Leghari written by Humaira. The way Iris’s story has been put in words so beautifully, thoroughly enjoyed reading it!
Ibrahim Saeed –
Iris Leghari was one of the strongest and most beautiful ladies i ever met.
She had a remarkable calm about her that was always striking, and a depth that poised her every thought shared in understsnding that formed a memorable bond.
Her memoirs immediately wraps one in her radiance, that has come alive through Humaira”s commitment to share her inspirational life to heal ours…
Lesley Walker –
Iris Leghari – wow, what a lady! Her courage, strength and resilience are to be admired and applauded. Her life in India, the political history and her travels all make for a very interesting read!
Gizelle Rahman –
The life and times of Iris Leghari is a brilliant and inspirational historical memoir. It is the 30/s and love at first sight when a young, spirited, horse loving woman, passionate about training racehorses, meets and marries an Indian under-graduate at Oxford University destined for an illustrious career in the Indian Civll Service. We are plummeted into another time, another world and watch life unfold as the young couple sail to India, as Iris discovers Atta’s family in the heart of a major Balouchi tribe in Balouchistan. As she accompanies Atta on his numerous exotic postings in Northern India scaling often remote, treacherous but breathtakingly beautiful mountainous terrains where no western woman has ever set foot. To say nothing of their spontaneous adventure in an Austin from England to Pakistan across the little known Middle East.
What makes this book, apart from Iris’ non judgemental, keen sense of observation is her zest for life and the art of living, as she imbibes this exotic, faraway society. It is in the understanding of their exemplary marriage modelled on values of love, duty, mutual respect and liberty. And how these values helped them to transcend the hardships of the second world war and the dévastations of partition. They had both wished for a girl, but she bore her beloved Atta 4 strong Balochi boys. Iris remains in her western clothes throughout her life in Pakistan, and continues to be a passionate rider and huntswoman, as well as a sterling pioneer in the horseracing world of Pakistan. I could read it again and again.