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A review by thebooksatchel
Remnants of a Separation: A History of the Partition through Material Memory by Aanchal Malhotra
5.0
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