Published Paper Details:

Abstract: One of the most painful events in Indian history has been the Partition of India in 1947. Historians and authors have sought to reflect the profound trauma, impact on human values and its enduring consequences in various literary writings , capturing the human tragedy of unforeseen violence, loss of human identity, displacement and loss of domestic identity, trauma of sexual violence faced by women and just the unmeasurable extent of violence that was experienced by people impacted by this tragedy. The literature available captures not merely the facts and numbers but also the emotional personal experiences of people who experienced the tragedy. One literary piece that really captures the pain and tragedy of partition is the "Train to Pakistan" written by Khushwant Singh. Published in 1956, this is a very powerful rendition of the impact of partition and the tragedy that followed the partition, while at the same time, sharing a message of hope that amidst all this, humanity is still alive and it wins in the end. Victory of good over evil. The story is based in a fictional town of Mano Majra along the border of India and Pakistan, a village like any other where people from all communities lived peacefully and in harmony with each other. However, on a fateful day during the partition period, this peace was shattered when a train arrived in the village from Pakistan carrying bodies of slain Hindu and Sikh who were fleeing from current Pakistan to India. The troublemaker (Hukum Chand) strokes communal tension and lights up the fire of conflict in the erstwhile peaceful village, but hope still prevails when Juggut Singh, against all odds, helps Muslims fleeing from the village to reach current Pakistan, safely. The story is written beautifully capturing the impact of politics on human life and how human beings react to an event that they did not create, both tragic and hopeful. Another powerful literature reflecting the human angle of the impact of the struggles of partition is the "A Bend in the Ganges" by Manohar Malgonkar, written in 1964. This story spans a period from the civil disobedience movement to the time of partition in 1947, and weaves through various twists and turns in the lives of its two characters - Gian Talwar and Debi Dayal. These are two revolutionaries, jailed in Andamans, however, while Debi is depicted as a revolutionary who is willing to go to every extent including using violent means to fight the British, Gian is a staunch Gandhian, believing in the principles of non-violence. As the story unfolds it weaves through the trials and turbulations in the relationship between the two characters and how it tests their friendship, as both seek to achieve a common goal while treading different paths, very vividly taking us through the minds of people impacted by the tragedy of partition and the harsh realities of life Literary phrases such as "Revolution is not a meal consumed at night; it is an act of blood and fire" illustrate the viewpoint of Gian's who sought the aggressive and violent approach in dealing with the enemy , while on the other hand another phrase in the book - "Friendship is not measured in tranquility, but tested amidst the turmoil of politics" highlights the strain in the relationship between Gian and Debi as both the characters seek to pursue different paths in achieving their nationalistic objectives. Unlike Debi, Giani believed that to love one's own country does not necessarily mean harming people or having an aggressive attitude. These characters with such different ideologies and assertions signify the impact of political occurrences in a society and how they shape the personal destinies of ordinary individuals as they pass through this socio political turmoil. In both the literary marvels, one very beautiful common thread that emerges is that, during difficult times, many regular people merge as heroes while those that always seemed to be heroes, can at times turn out to be ordinary when the going gets tough. It is the trying and adverse moments, when there is a clash between lofty ideals and harsh realities, that the decisions made by individuals, reflect their true character and strength.