Books on Partition that show hate is the only border

Partition is a very touchy subject on both sides of the border -- be it India, Pakistan or Bangladesh. The terror it created in the minds of the people of these nations is still as horrifying as it was during that period. The hatred we cultivated for our neighbours, have been dimmed by the beautiful stories written by many eminent figures who themselves witnessed the horrors. Authors, poets, and every creative person wants us to remember Partition, but not the hatred associated with it. There is such immense vile animosity between the neighbouring countries even today, that it has almost attained an illogical situation. To remember Partition, to read about it, and to feel the horrors is not about building up wrath against neighbours, but to learn how to sympathetic for their loss and rage as well. Here, we have some jewels of literature that show us that the real border between two countries is just hatred.
Photo: Pixabay

Raghavan's well-researched book spans the 70 years of Indo-Pak relationship. The author illustrates its narrative with several anecdotes, events and personalities that revive the hostility, nationalism and nostalgia defining every facet of the relationship. Not just political, military and security issues, the books chronicles other perspectives: divided families, friendships, and the cultural ties of both the countries.
Photo: Pixabay, HarperCollins

Bhisham Sahni’s portrayal of violence that erupted during the communal riots between Hindus and Muslims is magnificent. Set in a small-town frontier province just before Partition, "Tamas" tells the story of Nathu, a sweeper who is bribed and deceived by a Muslim politician to kill a pig for a veterinarian. When the pig's body is discovered, riots ensue and and people of two communities rage to massacre each other. Even after the killings stop, the memories remain fresh and the communities never trust each other ever again.
Photo: Pixabay, Penguin India

A stunning story, Kamila Shamsie's "Kartography" is a love story set in the onset of Partition. A love story of Raheen and Karim, the story follows their journey to find the mystery behind their family's dark secrets.
Photo: Pixabay, Bloomsbury

Love and education are two different concepts and both of them have powers to run our lives. In "Difficult Daughters", Manju Kapur tells a tale of Virmati, who loves her neighbour professor, a married man. But she ends up marrying him and in return, he helps her for further studies. Set during the Partition, this book shows how Virmati fights for her independence, and her freedom to pursue education.
Photo: Pixabay, Faber

Have you ever wondered what happens when you are made to choose? What happens when that choice leads to a disaster that will soon destroy your life? Tahmima Anam’s book "A Golden Age" is set in a framework of Bangladesh war of Independence and the effects it had on Rehana Haque’s perfect life with her children. Their happy bubble is burst by the war in 1971 in East Pakistan, where everyone has to choose and Rehana is forced to see her life destroyed at the hand of this raging war.
Photo: Pixabay

Khushwant Singh's magnum opus tells the reader the heart-wrenching story of Partition which affected a large population of Sikhs and Muslims. It depicts a tale of a village, Mano Majra, that maintained peace and harmony until one fateful day when a train reaches the village with dead bodies of Sikhs and Hindus from either side of the border. This instance evokes the violence that leads to a terrible bloodshed and affects the whole village socially and politically while devastating the very harmony of the village.
Photo: Pixabay, Penguin

A very enriching and a powerful satire, "Toba Tek Singh" by Saadat Hasan Manto, is a short story set in a Lahore. Manto locates his story in a lunatic asylum and thus takes the theme of Partition to the world of the insane highlighting the political absurdity of the Partition itself and at the same time lodges a note of protest against the powers that take such momentous decisions such as splitting a country into two, without ever thinking of the consequences.
Photo: Pixabay, BUCHET CHASTEL

We can call this book a bitter-sweet love story between Asha and Firoze. Based on Partition, the book follows Asha having to leave her village and the newly formed Pakistan. Her family is massacred and she somehow reaches India. After 50 years, Asha again meets Firoze and yet again, she is faced to make a terrible choice.
Photo: Pixabay, Rupa Publications India

Just like its title, "Gazing at Neighbours" talks about India and its neighbours and the lines that divide them. British barrister Cyril Radcliffe was called to set the boundaries to separate West Punjab and East Bengal from India. Bishwanath Ghosh tries to dig deep to get to the roots that led to Partition and the horrors that followed, suffered by millions.But what the book does is it strives to set a harmonising chord between the two countries, calling out on the absurdity of the invisible lines that divide them.
Photo: Pixabay, Tranquebar

Sara Naveed’s “Undying Affinity” is a tale of romance, tragedy, drama, emotional conflicts and everything that entails a good romance fiction. The story follows Zarish, who believes life is beautiful and along with her sweetheart Haroon, she stands against the world. But the story takes a turn when Zarish's life is suddenly upended by one man.
Photo: Pixabay, India Penguin

"Two" is a fictitious account of some real encounters during the Partition of India. With his debut novel, Gulzar wants to purge off his ordeals and expects the whole country to do that -- once and for all. Gulzar's "Two" is an account of violence, that urges a final outcry for eternal peace and friendship between the two neighbouring countries.
Photo: Pixabay, HarperPerennial

"Footprints on Zero Line" is a vivid book showing the effects that Partition had on the entire generation of writers and how it affects them till now. Gulzar’s powerful and compelling language, describing the struggle of writers, including himself, is so alluring that it is sure to swoon the readers with its lyrical excellence.
Photo: Pixabay. HarperPerennial

The story is set in an unnamed city struggling from the dreadful occurrences due to the onset of Civil War. The story is about Nadia and Saeed and their love, loyalty and courageous adventure to seek freedom from terror. They travel door to door but end up in being apart due to their views clashing. Once separated, they meet again after 50 years. This book is a well-acclaimed book due to the humanitarian approach Hamid presents. It is one of the most appealing books of 2017.
Photo: Pixabay, Penguin Random House