Bengal Partition Stories: An Unclosed Chapter


Edited by Bashabi Fraser. Anthem Press 2006.

This book throws new light on post-colonial evaluations of the Partition and its effect on eastern India. Until very recently, a striking state of ‘near silence’ has existed concerning the violence encountered by those who fled across the Bengal border. Bengal Partition Stories addresses this silence through the retelling of stories inspired by the division of Bengal, the mass exodus that followed and their repercussions on the cultural, social and economic character of the region, modern India as a whole and the newly-formed nation of Bangladesh. Despite numerous critical enquiries into the history, politics and social dynamics that contributed to the partition of Bengal, there remains a distinct lack of in-depth exploration into the personal experiences of those directly affected. Through oral histories, interviews and fictional retellings of the event and its aftermath, Bengal Partition Stories seeks to fill this gap by unearthing and articulating the collective memories of a people traumatised by the brutal division of their homeland. Through oral histories, interviews and fictional retellings of the event and its aftermath, Bengal Partition Stories seeks to fill this gap by unearthing and articulating the collective memories of a people traumatised by the brutal rupture of their homeland.


 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Dandesvara and Mahamaya Mandir, Karnagarh, West Medinipur

Image
  This is a group of two temple which is dedicated to Mahadev and Mahamaya which is associated with the ancient fort of Karnagarh. Which stand unhurt and excellent in thin structure.  The Anadilinga Dandeshwar temple is 60 ft tall and is nearly 20.6 ft long. It is an example of the Orissa school of architecture. There is a stone natmandap of about 4 ft in height and a deul or biman. A Shivalinga inside the temple is worshiped by Kharagaeswar Mahadeva. The Mahamaya temple stands on the left of the Dandeshwar temple. It is also built in the Orissa style and dedicated to the mother goddess mahamaya. The temple is 33 ft tall and the jagmohan itself is about 20 ft high. Karnagarh is famous for Chuar Revolt led by Rani Siromoni in April 1798. David J. McCutchion mentions the Dandesvara temple as having a pirha larger than the main temple, measuring 13’ 6” square + 25’ square, built of laterite having stucco decoration. The 60’ high Anadilinga Dandesvara and the Devi Bhagabati Mahama...
Read more

Manasa Mangal Kavya

Image
  Behula sails with her dead husband, scene from Manasa Mangal. [Preview of Manasa Mangal Mayne Chitrakar (Naya/Bengal): The exhibition "Singing Pictures, art and performance of Naya's Women" takes place at the National Museum of Ethnology in Lisbon from July 5 to December 31, 2007.] Manasamangal Kāvya (Bengali: মনসামঙ্গল কাব্য) is the oldest of the Mangal-Kāvya and narrates how the snake-goddess Manasa established her worship in Bengal(Bangala/Banga) by converting a worshipper of Shiva to her own worship. Manasa was a non-Aryan deity and her worship was an ancient one in Bengal. It is believed she came to Bengal with the Dravidians who worshipped her in the hope that she would protect them against snakes. Manasa is also known as Bisahari, Janguli and Padmavati. Depiction of the goddess Manasā in 20th century Bengali popular art. The story of Manasamangal begins with the conflict of the merchant Chandradhar or Chand Sadagar with Manasa and ends with Chandradhar becoming a...
Read more