The main protagonist of the novel Azadi by Chaman Nahal is Lala Kanshi Ram. He is a grain merchant living in the city of Sialkot in West Pakistan. Lala Kanshi Ram is portrayed as a middle-class Hindu nationalist who deeply loves his motherland and language (Urdu) and is a firm believer in Gandhi. The story revolves around his experience of loss—his identity, home, and family—during the Partition of India, and his subsequent quest to find them again in the new India. He becomes a spokesman for the Hindu community troubled by the political upheaval and communal violence of that time. His family includes his wife Prabha Rani and his son Arun, and the novel also explores their personal struggles amid the broader historical events
. In summary, Lala Kanshi Ram is the central figure whose life and perspective drive the narrative of Azadi , reflecting the human impact of the Partition.
