The book presents an exhaustive study of the Indian English novels written on the theme of the partition of the Indian subcontinent that took place in 1947. It throws light and analyses objectively the causes and effects of the fateful decision of the partition rendered millions homeless and forced them to migrate and an equal number to face horrible atrocities, arsons, abductions, rapes and unforeseen violence.
The selected authors are Indians and their selected novels are written and published after partition. They are well conversant with Indian milieu before and after partition. Their grassroorts are found in families affected by partition. Hence their rendering of situation is highly appealing and profoundly moving. They react to historical phenomena of partition alike while their individuality gives their novels a unique touch. The subject of partition is commonly shared by them. Such theme has its own demands from the novelists and at the same time each novelist feels free to give expression to his own views on the event from a different perspective. Therefore we have various versions of partition.
The book contains Khushwant Singh's version of partition in Train to Pakistan, Attia Hosain's version of partition in Sunlight on a Broken Column, Manju Kapur's version of partition in Difficult Daughters, Manohar Malgonkar's version of partition in A Bend in the Ganges, Chaman Nahal's version of partition in Azadi and Amitav Ghosh's version of partition in The Shadow Lines.
Written in a very simple and lucid style, the book will certainly help the scholars and the students of Indian Writing in English. |
