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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
adventurous
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Things, materials and objects are the only tangibles that any generation forwards to the next or the one after. Although largely left out of the history of conquests and winners, these personal objects are the nucleus around which memories and nostalgia flower. That is the essence of this absolutely brilliant book by Aanchal Malhotra.
The premise to track partition stories(through a dialogue) through things of those deeply affected by the separation of the two countries and the bloodbath that followed is intelligent and ingenuine. The author backs it up with brilliant writing . There is a poetry lingering in every chapter which leave an aftertaste of sadness, disgust and nostalgia. Of particular note is the chapter telling the stories of poet Prabhjot Kaur.
This is certainly the best book I have read this year, perhaps one of the bests of the decade. Pick it up. You wont be dissapointed.
The premise to track partition stories(through a dialogue) through things of those deeply affected by the separation of the two countries and the bloodbath that followed is intelligent and ingenuine. The author backs it up with brilliant writing . There is a poetry lingering in every chapter which leave an aftertaste of sadness, disgust and nostalgia. Of particular note is the chapter telling the stories of poet Prabhjot Kaur.
This is certainly the best book I have read this year, perhaps one of the bests of the decade. Pick it up. You wont be dissapointed.
This book is exquisite, both in content - and even physically, with glossy pages whose weight seems appropriate for the subject matter. This was one of the most powerful texts I've read in a very long time. The stories that Malhotra evokes from the survivors of Partition, through the objects they carried across with them, are poignant. This should be required reading for every single person on the Subcontinent and those of us who are part of its diaspora, particularly during this time when the 75th anniversary nears, these stories get buried deeper, and the lessons learned are at risk of being lost and forgotten.
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
This book made me miss my late grandmother a lot. How I wish I could ask her about her story of partition and see any material memory. :(
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
Almost everyone who studied in India learns of the Partition. What you get more in this book is all the details. Whether it was about the horrors of how it happened, the remnants that people have left with them, or just the memory of good things on both sides before this mass event. Highly recommend this book. I would give one practical advice which is that give yourself a break and not attempt to read this book in one go, these real stories got heavy and do to full justice to each of the 21 remnants a break is necessary
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
The intermingling of language with the presence of English as a byproduct of the empire is very well represented. The stories and interviews capture the essence of the people, and reminds the reader of a sordid time in history - whilst maintaining a very good sense of time and place. Would recommend this to anyone looking for short accounts of the partition of the Indian subcontinent
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Colonisation
emotional
reflective
medium-paced