The partition of India has been horrific ,gruesome, ghastly that it affected million of women, girls and children. The violence that took during the displacement of place, the exodus tells us of the suffering of women.  This paper aims to bring out the pain and pathos of women during 1947 partition through literary narratives like novels, poems and short stories.

The Historical of Context Partition

The Partition of India resulted in the division of British India into two independent dominions, India and Pakistan. The announcement of partition unleashed a wave of communal violence leading to the displacement of approximately 15 million people and the death of estimated one to two million. Amid this chaos, women faced unprecedented brutality, including abductions , rapes , forced conventions and murders.

Womens Suffering In Literary Narrations

Literature has served as a potent medium to depict the harrowing experiences of during Partition. Several  novels stand out for their vivid portrayal of women’s suffering and resilience.

“Train to Pakistan” by Khushwant Singh is a seminal works that captures the essence of Partition’s brutality. The novel is set in Mano Majra, a fictional village on the border of India and Pakistan. Through the character of Nooran, a muslim girl in love with a Sikh boy, Jugga Singh portrays the fear and helplessness of women caught in the crossfire of communal hatred. Nooran’s plight symbolises the countless women who were forced to flee their homes, leaving behind their lives and loves

“The world seemed  to have

Suddenly gone mad. Nooran clung

to Jugga, her body trembling

with fear. ‘what will happen to us ? ‘

She whispered, her voice choked with

Tears.”

“ Shanta’s beauty become her

Curse. In a world gone mad, it was

her downfall. They took her, and the

gentle touch of her hands, the

soft ------ of her voice, were

lost to us forever”

Amrita Pritam’s  ‘Pinjar’ (The skeleton) is another poignant tale of partition, focusing on the abduction of Puro, a Hindu girl, by Rashid, a muslim man. The novel delves deeply into Puro’s internal struggle and eventual acceptance of fate. Pritam's portray of Puro's transformation from a victim to a survivor is both heart-wrenching and empowering.

"Puro looked at herself

in the mirror no longer

seeing the girl who once

dreamed  of love and happiness.

She saw a woman forged in

pain , a survivor of the times

standing resilient amidst the

ruins of her past."

Urvashi Butalia's " The other side of silence”  though not a novel is an essential work that compiles oral histories of Partition survivors , with a significant focus on women's stories. Butalia's work highlights the often histories of partition survivors, with a significant focus on women's stories. Butalia's work highlights the often overlooked narrative of women who experience the trauma of Partition first hand .Their stories of abduction, violence and survival are crucial to understanding the full impact of this historical event.

"They took us from our homes,

our families, our lives. But in

the silence that followed, we

found our voices. In our pain

we discovered a strength we

never knew we had."

The novel “Sunlight on the Broken Column’’ signifies decay of the Muslim Taluqdar family and their traditions. The novel directly does not focus on the partition of India. India’s freedom struggle can be seen along with Laila fighting for her personal freedom from the dominant patriarchy.

The novel begins when Laila, the protagonist of the novel is fifteen years of age. It covers the twenty years of India’s socio-political life, parallel with Laila’s life, beginning from 1932 to 1952. It is divided into four parts. The first part of the novel reveals that Laila is an orphan and is brought up by her paternal aunts Abida who is unmarried and Majida, in her grandfather’s home. Baba Jan, patriarch of the family is ill. To take care of him Aunt Abida is shifted to her father’s apartment. Soon after Baba Jan’s death Aunt Abida is married off and Laila’s cousin Zahra, Majida’s daughter, is also married off. The two brothers Asad and Zahid, Majida’s sons, are sent to other states to pursue education. Laila moves into her uncle’s house.

As per the wishes of Laila’s deceased father she is permitted to continue western education. Laila like her aunts observes purdah. Laila stops observing purdah in uncle Hamid’s care, as he holds liberal ideas. Despite these ideas, Hamid is unable to come out of the family tradition of autocracy.

The second part begins with the new phase of Laila’s life. Laila has joined college and made friends. Laila’s friends are from different socio-political backgrounds, and this shows the nature of the pre-partition society. The third part presents a conflict in Laila’s personal life. Uncle Hamid’s two sons, Kemal, an ICS officer and Saleem, a lawyer, returned from England after completing their education. Uncle and Aunt want her to marry any one of their sons. Laila and her cousins do not accept it. Through her cousins Laila is introduced to many people and one among them is Ameer, a lecturer. Laila soon falls in love with him. She plans to pursue her education and joins post-graduation. Her affair with Ameer is disclosed. She goes against the wishes of her family and marries Ameer. In the last section of the novel, that is, in 1952 Laila visits her ancestral home. Through flashback and her memories readers come to know that Ameer is killed during the chaos of India’s partition.

“Surely he couldn’t die, this powerful man

who lived the lives of so many people for

them, reducing them to fearing automatons” (p.31)

It describes Baba Jan’s character and the patriarchal atmosphere in the Taluqdar Muslim family that was common in all the  households of the time. After Bab Jan’s death it is Uncle Hamid who decides the fate of all the family members. The novel is said to be a personal account of Attia Hossain’s life. Attia Hussain refrains or does not directly bring in the partition chaos as it is seen in other partition fiction. She depicts the Muslim Taluqdar family’s routine life. Effect of changing political scenario are seen and heard as well as the partition but it majorly emphasises on the family system and the loss of by gone era. Laila’s character is shown in contrast to her female friends and cousins. The freedom to choose a life partner acts as a symbol of freedom that is denied to all the women of the novel. It is Laila who goes against the wishes of her family and writers her own story. Laila gains her personal freedom.

Zahra says “I was brought up to do my duty.” (p.147) for Zainab marriage is all about luxurious life “jewels and nice clothes.” (p.295) and she says

“Now I serve my mother and father and brothers,

then I’ll serve my husband, my father-in-law

and my mother-in- law.”

Sita loves Kemal. She considers that love is a personal issue whereas marriage is a public affair. Thus she decides to marry a person of her parents’ choice. She says,            

“My parents are the best judges of the

man with the best qualifications for 

being the husband. They have a wider choice;  

it is only love that narrows it down to a pin point. (p.216)…

What has love to do with marriage?

It is like mixing oil and water?

Love is anti-social, while matrimony preserves

the world and its respectability.” (p.296)

Laila does not submit to the patriarchal norms and fights for her rights. Marrying a man of her choice is to declare her personal freedom.

The Themes of Pain and Resilience

The novels and narratives on Partition reveal several recurring themes related to women experiences. These include: The Abduction and sexual violence --The abduction and rape of women were tragically common during partition. Women were seen as symbols of community honor , and their violation became a means of inflicting collective shame. In 'Pinjar', Puro's abduction and forced marriage  highlight the brutality women faced . And their struggle for agency in a patriarchal society.

 Displacement and Loss -- The mass displacement caused by partition uprooted millions from their homes. This loss of homeland and identity is powerfully depicted in "Train to Pakistan", where characters like Nooran face an uncertain future, from their familiar surroundings and loved ones.

Survival and Agency  -- Despite the immense suffering ,many women demonstrated remarkable resilience and agency. In "Ice candy man", Shanta's eventual return to her community, though scarsed signifies the strength and perseverance of women. Similarly , Puro’s transformation in 'Pinjar' from a victim to a woman who forges a new identity for herself is a testament to the indomitable spirit of women during Partition.

The Importance  of Remembering Women's Stories -- The pain and pathos of women during Partition are not just historical footnotes but essential components   of the larger narratives. Their stories provide a more comprehensive understanding of the human cost of geopolitical decisions. Literature plays  a crucial role in preserving these memories and ensuring  that the suffering and resilience of women are not forgotten.

By   engaging  with novels like ‘Train to Pakistan',  'Ice candy man', and ' Pinjar', and the works like 'The other Side of Silence', readers gain insight into the multifaceted experiences of women during Partition. These stories compel us   to acknowledge the past's horrors and the enduring strength of those who lived through it.

1. Butalia ,Urvashi. The Other Side of Silence. New Delhi ,Penguin Random House ,1998
2. Hossain, Attia. The Sunlight on a Broken Column. New York: Penguin Books, 1961.
3. Naik,Ramani, Partition and the Legacy of Violence A Study of Select Novels,
4. Singh, Kushwant.Train To Pakistan. New Delhi: Ravi Dayal, 2007. Ph.d thesis, Sambalpur University 2023
5. Sidhwa, Bapsi. Ice- Candy Man. New Delhi: Penguin, 1989.
6. Varshney, Sarika. The partition of India and its reflections in the select English and Hindi novels A comparative study. Ph.D thesis ,Mewar University 2018
7. Pritam, Amrita . Pinjar. New Delhi:  Tara press,1950