Why should you read “Midnight’s Children”? - Iseult Gillespie

Dive into Salman Rushdie’s masterpiece, “Midnight’s Children,” a work of magical realism that deals with India’s transition from British colonialism to independence.
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It begins with a countdown. A woman goes into labor as the clock ticks towards midnight. Across India, people wait for the declaration of independence after nearly 200 years of British rule. At the stroke of midnight, an infant and two new nations are born in perfect synchronicity. These events form the foundation of “Midnight’s Children.” Iseult Gillespie explores Salman Rushdie’s dazzling novel.
Lesson by Iseult Gillespie, directed by Tomás Pichardo-Espaillat.
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Thank you so much to our patrons for your support! Without you this video would not be possible! Pavel Maksimov, Victoria Soler-Roig, Betsy Feathers, Samuel Barbas, Therapist Gus, Sai Krishna Koyoda, Elizabeth Parker, William Bravante, Irindany Sandoval, Mark wisdom, Brighteagle , Beatriz Inácio, Mighterbump, Pamela Harrison, Maija Chapman, Liana Switzer, Curtis Light, The Brock, Dianne Palomar, Edgar Campos Barrachina, Maria Lerchbaumer, Ever Granada, Marin Kovachev, Ravi S. Rāmphal, Penelope Misquitta, Tekin Gültekin, Jhuval, Hans Peng, Gaurav Mathur, Erik Biemans, Tony, Michelle, Katie and Josh Pedretti, Vaibhav Mirjolkar, Thomas Bahrman, Allan Hayes, Aidan Forero, Uday Kishore, Mikhail Shkirev, Devesh Kumar, Sunny Patel, Anuj Tomar, Lowell Fleming, David Petrovič, Hoai Nam Tran, Stina Boberg, Alexandrina Danifeld, Kack-Kyun Kim, Travis Wehrman, haventfiguredout, Caitlin de Falco and Ken.

[@burnburn2644]

"To understand me, you'll have to swallow a world" *existential crisis begins*

[@AnitaSingh-nu7by]

Le stomach and mouth : *Am I a joke to you*

[@lovepeaceisneverguaranteed7385]

Why could that even make sense amd the fact ted ed log it makes it bizzare😂.

[@burnburn2644]

“Who what am I? My answer: I am everyone everything whose being-in-the-world affected was affected by mine. I am anything that happens after I’ve gone which would not have happened if I had not come. Nor am I particularly exceptional in this matter; each ‘I’, every one of the now-six-hundred-million-plus of us, contains a similar multitude. I repeat for the last time: to understand me, you’ll have to swallow the world.” ― Salman Rushdie, Midnight's Children I had to pause and reflect after hearing that from ted ed's vid ahahaha

[@lalagvrl9947]

"For an instant, silence, noisier than a waterfall"

[@jeannedarc143]

Felt that

[@yuvrajmandlik9465]

We seriously need more videos of why you should read genre..

[@vittxrio5198]

Yes! It encourages people to read various amazing books.

[@ryusensei7300]

AGREE!👍

[@PuprleFox]

These are my favorite!

[@kachoman6225]

Absolutely!

[@RaviSingh-nz3bc]

100%

[@jia9420]

I hope these animators are paid as much as they deserve

[@AvgJane19]

+

[@alexandermorrison2218]

How much do they deserve? Lol jk

[@fjtappedout4623]

401st like

[@issameslimani2951]

@@alexandermorrison2218 They only get 40 USD for a cut and it take them half a day to make it. Animators are too underpaid at least in Japan coz I don't know how much they get elsewhere

[@alexandermorrison2218]

Not bad

[@shamimeemamally7466]

Why is Ted so good at animationn!? Well done!

[@RuinsOfTheUnknown]

2:35 shows the famous signing of the Pakistani instrument of surrender to end the 1971 war and to form Bangladesh

[@umangsharma4346]

They are good at animation. Yet they showed wrong map of India. Kashmir and Siachen were shown in Pakistan. 😑😑😑. I don't get why US and UK are running this propaganda of misinforming people in other nation.

[@acebalistic1358]

I thought Ed did the animations

[@shamimeemamally7466]

@@acebalistic1358 .

[@acebalistic1358]

@@shamimeemamally7466 ill let myself out

[@kennethsummers6857]

Such fluidity in animation coupled with synchronized narration.

[@AnitaSingh-nu7by]

I love it when they bring literature stuff like this randomly and it perfectly matches my interests. Thanks!

[@AnitaSingh-nu7by]

I literally got a heart just a moment after the comment!!!!! Never saw such a big channel communicate with fans so well! Wow!

[@TEDEd]

@@AnitaSingh-nu7by We love hearing from you guys!

[@aashiyanaashfaqueiv-aroll-4131]

@@AnitaSingh-nu7by Ted-ed never replies to my comments 😭

[@sayokbhattacharya]

When i read a hundred years of solitude, it reminded of Midnights children, guess it falls in the same genre of magical realism

[@swarajkanr]

In an Interview, Salman Rushdie said when he read 100 Years of Solitude he was reminded of his home India & saw in those characters his own country's people.

[@escapistreader3860]

Which one was better in your opinion?

[@KaranArora227]

and reverse is happening to me. I read one hundred years of solitude first and currently reading midnight's children which have unbelievably similar characteristics.

[@aloshyreji4313]

Yes...

[@matthewvp8507]

@@KaranArora227 yeah, me too! Both incredible pieces of literature

[@Organic.Mechanic]

You should read every book to understand not only the world which we live in but also to understand what the author has went through in his life to write the particular book. His motivations and his view of the world around him.

[@sharanyavlogs7174]

Have you read Forced to Maroon by Abhigya smiti?

[@aloshyreji4313]

Please read Joseph Anton...the perspective on Midnight's children changes a bit

[@beng3551]

Him or her

[@georgepaul341]

My aunt born on the strike of midnight August 15 always has perfect advice for me. I think I now know why

[@elikaraji723]

this is one of the best books i have ever read. Though slow in start its a wild roller coaster ride thats simply dazzling and a joy to read. I would personally recommend to anyone. The animation of this video is simply stunning and really engaging to watch.

[@RoKuSa007]

That's some quality content on a regular interval. Keep up the good work of igniting minds across the world. love from India

[@umangsharma4346]

Bruh They showed wrong map of India . Didn't u notice???

[@denischungkham6779]

@@umangsharma4346 it was both pak and ind

[@jaqenhghar5794]

@@umangsharma4346 pakistan was a part of india so it was included

[@omchadha5549]

Midnight's children echoes what an entire generation of Indian subcontinent lived and passed on....

[@plontetris3297]

The animation is stunning as usual

[@hsryu5569]

Ted Ed is uploading more than ever, it's amazing!

[@cyoul8ter677]

Please do more "Why you should read" videos, the animations are great and I can find a new book to relish. :)

[@TEDEd]

Hey ActChili! We also have a more extensive Book Recs page if you're looking for a new book to read: bit.ly/TEDEdBookRecommendations Hope you can find something to relish!

[@lavan6298]

as an Indian i could not be more grateful to TED-Ed for bringing Indian history to the forefront like this. thank you.

[@divyanshsingh2661]

the book is grasping and intense, it stays with you for a long time..

[@TheDay3110]

this series has gotten me back into reading. thanks!

[@diazpayne2075]

I HAD GOOSEBUMPS ALL THROUGHOUT THE VIDEO The narration and animation is masterfully done. I've read Midnight's Children thanks to this channel's recommendation but I come back to this every now and then because the animation is so satisfying to watch and it makes me appreciate what a good magnitude of a book it is.

[@Ankit-ce3jm]

I love how they start videos with quotes and important gist of the topic!

[@somanathmaharana3219]

Yes, Midnight's Children was a wonderful read right from the first page itself. Never imagined to see TED cover this video! Amazing animations as always! Bravo!

[@theocruex]

i really wish ted ed features El Filibusterismo and Noli Me Tangere by Jose Rizal from Philippines. those novels will teach a lot lessons to a lot of people. it's my favorite novel based on history and it really changed Philippine history in a lot of ways too.

[@fluffycloudsandvelvetskies2813]

Yes!!! Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo are catalysts of the Philippine Revolution. These books exposed the unfairness and tyranny of the Spanish Colonialists and inspired the Filipinos to fight back. It revolves around Crisostomo Ibarra as he navigates society after studying abroad for so long. One of the themes it shows is the hypocrisy of the Christianity's leaders at the time. Maria Clara, who is Crisostomo Ibarra's love interest, is a priest's (who is supposedly sworn to celibacy) child. Later on, she becomes a nun and is subjected to r*pe by another priest.

[@goldengifts3830]

Gasp?!! KAMUSTA FELLOW FILIPINOS! Well... I am just guessing that some of you are filipinos. But if you are, HIYA!!

[@misslockwood6530]

*y e s, m y d u d e s*

[@theocruex]

MultiDimwit i'm only suggesting ted ed to feature the books' historical impact among Filipinos. i think it's not a waste of time. tbh i don't think considering el fili and noli as a ripoff of count of monte cristo would bring justice to both masterpieces serving a different purpose in the first place. Ted Ed features a lot of ideas that may enlighten a lot of people as well. it's not your call to shut me up or consider any form of literature a waste of time and effort. you shut it. you're not ted ed.

[@misslockwood6530]

@MultiDimwit yeah, and they made a video that covered the Aneid, which was basically inspired by the Iliad and the Odyssey. It doesn't matter if it is a ripoff or whatever. If it is a good book and has a story that made an impact, I'd watch TedED's video on it.

[@divyaakashdutta4038]

Anybody else who noticed that the animation style used here is the exact same one used in the NCERT textbooks? * M I N D B L O W N * P.S. TED did really good research here.

[@adventureawaits3860]

Not really....I guess it is quite similar to Civics books of NCERT, but exact same?!? Definitely not.

[@harshilldhingra4984]

@@adventureawaits3860 that civics and economics book of class 9 and 10 iirc is a masterpiece in design

[@meghajain1712]

True

[@tejasshrees.5559]

Yes in social science

[@samvictor217]

yeah could be inspired by the arts used in NCERT

[@rosalynredwood4542]

This is so beautiful..I'm teary eyed. Gotta read this ASAP.please never stop this series.

[@meto2854]

This is without a doubt one of the most spectacular works of fiction ever written. His prose is stunning and so illuminative. Only a mind of utter clarity and genius could have put this story together.

[@opportunitymatters7866]

hey man waiting for you guys to hit 10 million subscribers because you guys damn deserve it. you guys are great teachers respect to all Ted Ed members.

[@cmarchello]

Love that y'all are making videos about contemporary classics

[@TheCarenne17]

This video has one of the best animations I've seen from TED Ed. Amazing story too! This is the 2nd book from your series that I'm compelled to read, next to Fahrenheit 451

[@alialidrissi4163]

Please keep making “why you should read” videos I love them

[@user-gh9bw7yc4n]

I will show this video to my students at my lecture next week! Great job. Many thanks from Japan.

[@thefluffyguy8574]

I have been thinking about reading this book and now i am ordering one. Thanks for the unconscious inspiration.

[@blimeygirl4357]

I love this book. It is written in such an interesting way.

[@blahblahshutup6024]

I'm absolutely in love with you, TED.

[@gtedujyfuyfuyfikyr6rsrioug70]

Just amazed!!!!! I'm gonna read the book right away....great work. Thank you TED-Ed.

[@jinhunterslay1638]

I wish TED can do more “why you should read” from some classic Asian literature such as “Tale of Genji” from Japan or “Journey to the West” from China

[@leobelcolona4721]

This is Asian tho. Do you mean East Asian?

[@jinhunterslay1638]

@@leobelcolona4721 I know this is Asian. I mean I'm happy to see one representation and hope to see more And there ARE more in the 2 years since this one came out

[@madhubansingh2670]

Oh My God! Wow! This really made me want to read this book as soon as possible. Thank you, TED-ed! I always love your videos. :)

[@harshchoudhary3370]

Ted-Ed is one of the best youtube channel 😍😍

[@userunknown19]

Truly, it's an incredible book and Rushdie is a remarkable writer. Thanks, TED-Ed - you've made me want to dig out my old copy and read through it again!

[@articraft_magic]

🥺get well soon,sir.

[@AmitSingh-fr8du]

This is perhaps one of the most deliciously put works that I've ever read..

[@shwetam622]

You guys do mind blowing book reviews that make me love the books I love even more.

[@karlchandran4631]

The book was amazing to read. It is brilliant as a work of cultural history. It is an epic, magically realistic novel. The video is profoundly beautiful!

[@suntzu2102]

Ted Ed at it’s best It yet astounds again:)

[@adventureawaits3860]

I have read this particular book. It is rather difficult to read And the storyline sometimes gets off the track, But ultimately, This story is enchanting and describes The indian subcontinent through the eyes of the one connected with India by fate. This video describes the book better than I do, though. Edit- I would suggest this to someone who knows a bit about Modern Indian History to read this.For someone who does not know anything about the colonial rule and post colonial rule in India, I would suggest you to first consider knowing the modern history of India.

[@ITheNoobBot]

It's awesome thanks for the suggestion I'm gonna recommend other's too didn't knew about such a great literary work existed about the hard phase of our country love TED

[@escapistreader3860]

This has been on my reading list for a while now. Guess, need to read asap after such power narration and animation.

[@augustocardoso6173]

i bought this book because of this video and it was one of the best experiences i ever had reading something❤

[@bookish.calirican]

I’ve read that book before but it was a few years ago. This made me want to reread it and reminded me why I enjoyed it.

[@Sh67817]

Everytime a new Ted ed video pops up i get excited for the content as well as for the animation. You guys are so good at it. 👍👍 p.s.- This book is enthralling. It will linger on once you read it.

[@ebitoro4590]

"A child who changes genders when immersed in water" I cant be the only one who thought of Ranma 1/2 That being said, what a fascinating premise. I cant believe I've never heard of this book before and cant wait to read it. Also the narrator's voice gives me the chills

[@yeru737]

+

[@debapriyagupta1788]

Actually the book does not discuss the other childrens' life in much detail except some tidbits here and there. That is the way the narrator (Saleem Sinai) wanted it to be..

[@harshitarao2225]

Anime reference

[@apogeelord7013]

That character is just a minor supporting character in the book

[@briandoherty8535]

A little misleading. The child immerses as a male and comes out of the water as a female--doesn't just change "when immersed."

[@MaxChaser17]

I can't explain how amazed I am with the narrator's voice. He sounds like a great teller of tales of ancient epic and legends! Can someone say his name?

[@TEDEd]

His name is Adrian Dannatt!

[@fridayschild722]

TED-Ed he sounds lovely. He should do audio books.

[@OleanderProducing]

It is one of my favourite books! Also one of my favourite authors. I loved the narration and animation in this video, well done!

[@millythecreator]

I'd love to see more of these types of videos. I'm ordering the book now 🙂

[@kamiyolky]

Beautiful art and narration!!

[@jennadominguez4786]

This is why I love to read. Thank you for the animations.

[@maishamanarat3902]

I was in dilemma what book I should read next, I guess I found the perfect book thanks to Ted. btw the animation is on top. great work

[@bulgna]

Informing me that this book exists was a great birthday gift, thank you Ted ed

[@khunii2188]

This book introduced me to Salman Rushdie's other works. I still recommend Midnight's Children to friends who enjoy reading.

[@sayondeepchoudhury7558]

The week I spent reading Midnight's children was one of the best weeks of my life. I used to read and re-read and re-read the chapters over and over and over again.

[@leftmorningstar6954]

Why is Ted so good at animation!? Well done!

[@shamimeemamally7466]

I swear you copied top comment.. it's fine though

[@leftmorningstar6954]

@@shamimeemamally7466 ty

[@Fatima-rs6bv]

Yay another book recommendation!💃

[@Techtips200]

A thumbs up for the contributors of this video...

[@tasniaamin8572]

Very well animated

[@RaeWakefield]

I can stop marvelling over the animations

[@abhishekbillowria9317]

Thank you Ted ed for bringing such good titles to us

[@trigcat3107]

You got to read "India Unbound" to look into Historical and Economic aspect of india. Although this one book leaves an imprint on readers brain. Appreciated piece of work

[@redhedgehogocarina]

Man. I wish these were commercials on TV. More people might be compelled to read and/or be exposed to books they might otherwise not come across, or ever heard of. The videos are very well done and I LOVE that there are no spoilers.

[@jearanio_19]

Beautiful Lesson Ted-ed!

[@singmusic123]

it really frusturates me how there are never recommendations for classics in other cultures. i love this.

[@narenchauhan3241]

"Ted - Ed" Best Channel i have ever came across..

[@rockngelement]

Just because you i have an audible account. And i got back to reading books. A big thanks for that.

[@jlee4039]

My favorite novel of all times, hands down.

[@eoalvarez]

My favorite book for years after high school. I was able to compare it to other magical realist and go beyond the borders of culture and see the similarities of the dreams of humanity.

[@cristianfuller9261]

Amazing animation 👍🏻 and an equally great book to read

[@valeriacarrasco6788]

Thank you for making an animation about this book,CAUSE IM DOING A BOOK REPORT ABOUT IT

[@kamalnath4606]

Very satisfying animation

[@jyotasama]

Thank you for shedding light on one of India's favourite books. :)

[@birijumsi7877]

I could sleep listening to this voice the whole day☺️

[@JazonCertus]

Immediately ordered this book after watching your video 👌

[@ramyarao4499]

I just completed reading One Hundred Years of Solitude because of these videos Thank you soo much😊😊😊

[@ritagreenwood9397]

This is a book I've had in the cupboard for perhaps now a decade. Listening to the description here, the 'magical realism' aspect has thrown me off a bit as I struggled to get through even a quarter of '100 Years of Solitude", by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I want a story that's going somewhere, does this book do that?☺

[@osamanour2619]

i indeed have no comment this video with it's narration it is magnificent

[@jamesakim8873]

The animator gave me chills.

[@abhaysapra6401]

Getting back to tales of our grandparents... *Shivers*

[@gary_t5862]

Now I want to read this book The animation is on this video is calming

[@mrnarason]

1:45 "changes gender when impressed in water" sounds like the plot to ranma 1/2

[@swarajkanr]

Instant like for this one. Absolute favourite.

[@worldalicious]

I read this book and absolutely loved it...☺

[@harshalbhanarkar]

Now I am definitely going to read this book!

[@indiangirl874]

Thank you for this ted ed🤗 I differently gonna read this

[@muthuramanan1862]

I was waiting for this. Best of the Booker's.!

[@SS-nx2xx]

Thanks Ted, for undertaking the Mammoth venture of animating Rushdie's extremely intricate modern epic

[@marissabones]

Thanks for making this video 🙃

[@Berries20]

2:34 Even though I'm not that patriotic, I always get a surge of pride whenever I hear my country (Bangladesh) getting mentioned in videos even just once. 3:24 oops it's nonexistent again

[@debapriyagupta1788]

As the video mentioned, the book does discuss the freedom struggle of Bangladesh. But it is discussed from a different perspective, mainly the experience of fighting a war in a strange land and then there is a whole section on Sunderbans

[@Berries20]

@@debapriyagupta1788 Ah thanks, that makes sense why there's not much specifications

[@monali73]

Excellent ya!❤️

[@sharada5458]

As an Indian, I didn't know about this book but am going to read it now thanks to you ted❤

[@habibapatel7503]

It's incredible how this book reminds me of a Netflix series I saw: Sense8

[@saketkumar10]

I was also thinking of sense 8😂😂

[@dzbarah9840]

I was thinking if a video on one of the books of the famous German writer Herman Hesse could be the next in this series of video. A video on Siddhartha or Narcissus and Goldmund could be, potentially, a really great video to focus on. ☝🏻

[@dukeofmars4847]

I would love to see you give this treatment to 'the curious incident of the dog in the night-time'. The way the book is written alone will make for some great visuals.

[@ninie7375]

One of my fav books!