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95 reviews for:
Remnants of a Separation: A History of the Partition through Material Memory
Aanchal Malhotra
4.51 AVERAGE
95 reviews for:
Remnants of a Separation: A History of the Partition through Material Memory
Aanchal Malhotra
4.51 AVERAGE
As I read through the book, chapter after chapter of poignant memoirs, juggling between the text and the endnotes or references section, I am overcome with such powerful emotions of longing and loss. I am witness to a series of nostalgia, suffering, migration, and pain of so many people through this 400-page book, author Aanchal Malhotra’s careful, sensitive and emotional archiving of oral histories around The Partition of the Indian Subcontinent in 1947 through material memory. I belong to the third generation of those who lived during this Great Divide, an event that saw the largest mass migration in human history. And what meagre knowledge I had of the partition through history books, this work of non-fiction added greatly to my perspectives, through its tales from real people who had to migrate- from there place of belonging, their homeland, to a land that was considered safe according to their and was assigned to them.
https://www.magic-moments.in/2020/05/remnants-of-separation-review.html
https://www.magic-moments.in/2020/05/remnants-of-separation-review.html
Great book. Reads like fiction. Good for those who are interested(which sadly i was not) in reading about partition but find the history books boring. Loved the concept of material memory and how intimate the writing seemed.
Easily one of the best books I’ve read all year, Aanchal Malhotra’s Remnants of a Separation: A History of the Partition Through Material Memory is an enchanting read.
Born out of a project she undertook while studying in Canada, Remnants… delves into the memories of those who experienced Partition in some way through objects in their possession. Quite often, these objects are, to use a word Malhotra used in an interview, banal. At other times, they are impressive. And yet, they don’t seem to carry anything more than a form of external beauty (in some cases) when one sees a picture preceding the account about the object.
Once Malhotra has narrated the account, however, the seemingly innocuous object is transformed into a carrier, a witness of history. Malhotra isn’t partisan either – the book contains accounts of Pakistanis as well, and of people from different walks of life, giving it a well-rounded narrative.
Lastly, one comes away marvelling at Malhotra’s ability as a storyteller. With a single line noting a narrator’s expression, she is able to move you – a quality of her writing that comes through best in the chapters about her grandparents. You feel each beat, each movement, each word.
Remnants… is an absolute must-read. Literally. Order it now. Or sprint to your nearest bookshop or whatever.
For more reviews: https://varunbhakay.wordpress.com/category/bookshelf/
Born out of a project she undertook while studying in Canada, Remnants… delves into the memories of those who experienced Partition in some way through objects in their possession. Quite often, these objects are, to use a word Malhotra used in an interview, banal. At other times, they are impressive. And yet, they don’t seem to carry anything more than a form of external beauty (in some cases) when one sees a picture preceding the account about the object.
Once Malhotra has narrated the account, however, the seemingly innocuous object is transformed into a carrier, a witness of history. Malhotra isn’t partisan either – the book contains accounts of Pakistanis as well, and of people from different walks of life, giving it a well-rounded narrative.
Lastly, one comes away marvelling at Malhotra’s ability as a storyteller. With a single line noting a narrator’s expression, she is able to move you – a quality of her writing that comes through best in the chapters about her grandparents. You feel each beat, each movement, each word.
Remnants… is an absolute must-read. Literally. Order it now. Or sprint to your nearest bookshop or whatever.
For more reviews: https://varunbhakay.wordpress.com/category/bookshelf/
Actual Rating 4.5 Stars
Disclaimer: A Huge Thanks to Harper Collins India for providing a review copy of this wonderful book. But the thought, opinions and feelings expressed in the review are entirely my own!
To say that I am writing a review for this book would be sacrilegious – not only is this book filled with emotions of real human beings; but it is also a reflection of a time that I consider to be one of the defining moments for both India and Pakistan’s history!
It was never an easy time learning about this bloody time in my country’s history – and it became all the more difficult reading this book; for I had lost my Grandfather two years back; a man who became the head of his family just before Independence and who has been a source of pride and inspiration for me.
Reading these memories, I understood now (like I hadn’t understood before) how difficult it would have been for my Grandpa to share his experience – and he only shared it once. A time that I cherish because it was his and mine; a time that I understood how far along he had come, not only him but how far along he had bought his family.
This is an emotional book to read – the memories tell me, as a young Indian, how important it is to hold on to my history, to my country’s struggles; to my country’s struggle for the future it so desperately needs.
"History isn’t history if it doesn’t teach you the path to the Future."
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This book is one of my favourite reads of 2017. I read very few non fiction titles this year and I was amazed by how touching the stories are. I cannot even talk about the passages I have underlined or marked because there are that many! Aanchal Malhotra’s Remnants of a Separation tells the history of partition through heirlooms and gifts smuggled across the borders - thus revisiting the past through material memory.
Long before partition, Muslims and Hindus co-existed as neighbours, friends or business partners. Then came the partition. Friends became enemies; neighbours became betrayers and relationships changed. Aanchal interviews many who witnessed the partition on either side of the border and writes their stories in the book
What I loved?
-perfect size for each story. Not too long; not too short.
-captivating storytelling
-great attention to details
- accurate description of monetary value in those times for easy comparison with today's scenario
- stories of women who raised families, served government, became writers, fought against fate etc.
- POVs of people on both sides of the border.
Be warned you will well up several times and even break down crying while reading the stories. I definitely broke into a great many ugly sobs.
For a longer review, visit http://www.thebooksatchel.com/remnants-separation-aanchal-malhotra/
Much thanks to Bahrisons Booksellers for a copy of the novel. All opinions are my own.
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Long before partition, Muslims and Hindus co-existed as neighbours, friends or business partners. Then came the partition. Friends became enemies; neighbours became betrayers and relationships changed. Aanchal interviews many who witnessed the partition on either side of the border and writes their stories in the book
What I loved?
-perfect size for each story. Not too long; not too short.
-captivating storytelling
-great attention to details
- accurate description of monetary value in those times for easy comparison with today's scenario
- stories of women who raised families, served government, became writers, fought against fate etc.
- POVs of people on both sides of the border.
Be warned you will well up several times and even break down crying while reading the stories. I definitely broke into a great many ugly sobs.
For a longer review, visit http://www.thebooksatchel.com/remnants-separation-aanchal-malhotra/
Much thanks to Bahrisons Booksellers for a copy of the novel. All opinions are my own.
Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook