ISSN: 2265-6294

Torn Maps and Fragmented Identities: A Comparative Study of Select Partition Narratives

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Aditi Mishra, Sthitaprajna

Abstract

Partitions became a major topic in South Asian cultural and revisionist history in the 1990s. Partition narratives are stories and accounts of British India's partition in 1947, which resulted in the formation of the independent countries of India and Pakistan. These stories represent a variety of perspectives and experiences, including refugees, victims of community violence, and political leaders. The partition of India was a traumatic event that led to widespread violence, displacement, and loss of life. Sectoral narratives often highlight the human cost of the event and the experiences of those directly affected. It sheds light on the ongoing tensions between Pakistan and India. The narratives of the partition generally serve as a reminder of the human cost of political decisions and the importance of understanding the historical context in which they were made. The paper aims to critically analyze the sociopolitical consequences, sufferings, and trauma faced by the people during the different partitions of India through Bapsi Sidhwa’s Ice Candy Man and Shuvashree Chowdhury’s Across Borders. It focuses on the comparison of the partition narratives of Pakistan and Bangladesh with those of India and Pakistan. This paper will further try to understand the social, cultural, and political changes that these nations underwent because of the partition. The study has undertaken a close textual analysis of the novels Ice Candy Man and Across Borders which are yet to receive critical attention as partition narratives.

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