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A review by ninnysakshi
Remnants of a Separation: A History of the Partition through Material Memory by Aanchal Malhotra
5.0
Remnants of a Separation is a first of its kind book on India’s history. The book is a series of narratives by a generation which has seen probably the best and worst this country had to offer – the Independence, and the Partition. What makes the book different from others on the same topic is the method. Instead of simply relying on documents, or history books, the author has delved into another dimension of the whole matter – the people and their objects. She has skillfully brought out an aspect of partition that has been lost among the crude facts and recital of the days leading up to and after the partition as a milestone to be taught, instead of one to be felt, understood, and passed on to the next generations.
The thing that stands out most for me in the book is that even though the objects under considerations are different, the memories associated with them are diverse, and the stories they behold are stretched as far as the land between Sindh and Mymensingh, the emotions they are based on and the emotions they evoke, are almost always the same. Every single person who has been part of the book says that they never expected the partition to actually happen. For them it was just a rumor for how can people who had always lived together suddenly be separated based on religion. And how can the same people leave their homeland simply because their religion did not match the one officially proclaimed by the government.
I believe that good books like this one leave a mark on you, but if good books are read at the right time in your life, they become a part of you. “The feeling of loss can often catch you off guard – arrive when you least expect it,” says Azra Haq, one of the interviewees in the book. This book, read at the right time, has settled itself into a part of my life. The beauty of this narration arises from the various people who have recounted their memories, often digging deep into the recesses of the past – to times they have consciously forgotten, for it was too difficult to remember and move on from what happened. But the author has brought them out, with her curiosity, her respect and love, but most importantly her patience.
For our generation, the Partition is a phase in the history of the country, about which we read in books, then forget, only to re-surface when news of conflict between the two suffering nations arises. Through this book, the author has tried to look at the nuances of the of the historical event that changed the tide of the people of these nations. She has made it personal, it is not just a recall of mere facts anymore, but a portal to transfer us to those times, to give us that experience, and make us learn invaluable lessons. Remnants of a Separation is a gift to our generation, one that is not static, for it ignites within the reader the curiosity to understand that which was always known to us but never understood. It is gift to be essentially accepted, enhanced and passed on. Only then, will it achieve its true purpose.
The thing that stands out most for me in the book is that even though the objects under considerations are different, the memories associated with them are diverse, and the stories they behold are stretched as far as the land between Sindh and Mymensingh, the emotions they are based on and the emotions they evoke, are almost always the same. Every single person who has been part of the book says that they never expected the partition to actually happen. For them it was just a rumor for how can people who had always lived together suddenly be separated based on religion. And how can the same people leave their homeland simply because their religion did not match the one officially proclaimed by the government.
I believe that good books like this one leave a mark on you, but if good books are read at the right time in your life, they become a part of you. “The feeling of loss can often catch you off guard – arrive when you least expect it,” says Azra Haq, one of the interviewees in the book. This book, read at the right time, has settled itself into a part of my life. The beauty of this narration arises from the various people who have recounted their memories, often digging deep into the recesses of the past – to times they have consciously forgotten, for it was too difficult to remember and move on from what happened. But the author has brought them out, with her curiosity, her respect and love, but most importantly her patience.
For our generation, the Partition is a phase in the history of the country, about which we read in books, then forget, only to re-surface when news of conflict between the two suffering nations arises. Through this book, the author has tried to look at the nuances of the of the historical event that changed the tide of the people of these nations. She has made it personal, it is not just a recall of mere facts anymore, but a portal to transfer us to those times, to give us that experience, and make us learn invaluable lessons. Remnants of a Separation is a gift to our generation, one that is not static, for it ignites within the reader the curiosity to understand that which was always known to us but never understood. It is gift to be essentially accepted, enhanced and passed on. Only then, will it achieve its true purpose.