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In the Language of Remembering: The Inheritance of Partition
Oral historian Aanchal Malhotra's first book, Remnants of a Separation, was published in 2017 to mark the seventieth anniversary of India's Partition. It told a human history of the monumental event by exhuming the stories lying latent in ordinary objects that survivors had carried with them across the newly made border. It was acclaimed for the freshness of its approach to a decades-old, much-written-about subject. But more significantly, it inspired conversations within between the generation that had witnessed Partition and those who had only inherited its memories.
In the Language of Remembering, as a natural progression, explores that very notion as it reveals how Partition is not yet an event of the past and its legacy is threaded into the daily lives of subsequent generations. Bringing together conversations recorded over many years with generations of Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis and their respective diaspora, it looks at how Partition memory is preserved and bequeathed, its consequences disseminated and manifested within family, community and nation. With the oldest interviewees in their nineties and the youngest just teenagers, the voices in this living archive intimately and sincerely answer questions such Is Partition relevant? Should we still talk about it? Does it define our relationships? Does it build our characteristics or augment our fears, without us even realizing?
As the subcontinent marks the seventy-fifth anniversary of Partition, In the Language of Remembering will most importantly serve as a reminder of the price this land once paid for not guarding against communal strife - and what could happen once again should we ever choose division over inclusion.
In the Language of Remembering, as a natural progression, explores that very notion as it reveals how Partition is not yet an event of the past and its legacy is threaded into the daily lives of subsequent generations. Bringing together conversations recorded over many years with generations of Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis and their respective diaspora, it looks at how Partition memory is preserved and bequeathed, its consequences disseminated and manifested within family, community and nation. With the oldest interviewees in their nineties and the youngest just teenagers, the voices in this living archive intimately and sincerely answer questions such Is Partition relevant? Should we still talk about it? Does it define our relationships? Does it build our characteristics or augment our fears, without us even realizing?
As the subcontinent marks the seventy-fifth anniversary of Partition, In the Language of Remembering will most importantly serve as a reminder of the price this land once paid for not guarding against communal strife - and what could happen once again should we ever choose division over inclusion.
756 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 10, 2022
66 people are currently reading
1,231 people want to read
About the author
Aanchal Malhotra
7Ìýbooks486ÌýfollowersAanchal Malhotra is a writer and oral historian from New Delhi. She is the co-founder of the Museum of Material Memory, and the author of two critically acclaimed books, Remnants of a Separation and In the Language of Remembering, that explore the human history and generational impact of the 1947 Partition. The Book of Everlasting Things is her debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
May 29, 2022
I love Partition Literature � it tells me about my ancestors and their way of life, which I didn’t bother asking about when they were alive. Partition Literature is more than just novels or oral history. It goes beyond grief, loss, and belonging. I love Partition Literature because I was always so safe knowing who I was, not fearing about displacement, not knowing any better, till I did.
My grandparents � both maternal and paternal � migrated to India in July 1947, right towards the end, from Pakistan. I was all of eight years old when my paternal grandmother died and I wasn’t born when my paternal grandfather died. My parents don’t remember much about the Partition either. My mother never asked her parents about it. Neither did my aunts and uncles on both sides. That says a lot about trauma and grief, about what we remember and what we forget, and what we do not want to know about.
In the last couple of years, I have read Aanchal Malhotra’s Remnants of a Separation at least three times to make sense of where I come from � at least some of it. I believe art saves you, and it does, and it has, whenever I have turned to it. It is painful to read about the Partition but in a way it is also very cathartic. As a third-generation resident of independent India � who has only heard about the Partition in snatches of stray conversations � trying to make sense of pain and loss, reading about the events can be a means of providing closure, even if in the smallest of ways.
Aanchal Malhotra’s In the Language of Remembering is a book for me, for people who belong to my generation or after, for anyone who wants to understand the Partition from where we are now. It is a book about remembering � of conversations Malhotra had over the years with generations of Indians, Pakistanis, and Bangladeshis. She speaks to them about identity, about the relevance of the Partition today, whether we wish to talk about the Partition, and the need to preserve the painful past.
While growing up I used to think of the Partition as an event in my grandparents� lives. It was cut off from my existence. I didn’t realise till much later that I too am a product of the painful past in one sense or the other � of two people whose parents had memories, who could never forget what they endured, about how they crossed the border, and how long it took them to build a new life.
In the Language of Remembering has been published at a time when the country is in the grips of a destructive chaos � when relationships have taken a back seat and religion is at the fore, when Muslims are being othered, and people are being categorised as “minority� and “majority�. The book has been published at a time when we need it the most � to understand where we have come from and how far we have come, and what it will take to be truly secular.
I never understood what the Partition meant to me, and how it perhaps even impacted me till I read about it. It all began with Kamleshwar’s Partitions in the year 2000, and after twenty-two years and having read about some forty-and-odd books on the subject, I feel we still don’t have enough Partition Literature. We constantly need to look and relook at it, to understand ourselves better, and perhaps generate some more empathy within us � to be kinder to each other and ourselves. I admit, it isn’t as simple as that. Sadly, we have a long way to go since maps and borders continue to be an integral part of our existence, whether we like it or not.
In the Language of Remembering makes us aware of what we carry within ourselves. Malhotra’s book is about regrets, losses, hopes, about what we gained, and what we were separated from. It is about the choices one made, about family, about generations, and how some incidents are not passed over, not told as stories, not revisited because of how painful they are and the need to talk about them � both in order to look ahead and constantly keep looking back so as not to lose a part of ourselves.
My grandparents � both maternal and paternal � migrated to India in July 1947, right towards the end, from Pakistan. I was all of eight years old when my paternal grandmother died and I wasn’t born when my paternal grandfather died. My parents don’t remember much about the Partition either. My mother never asked her parents about it. Neither did my aunts and uncles on both sides. That says a lot about trauma and grief, about what we remember and what we forget, and what we do not want to know about.
In the last couple of years, I have read Aanchal Malhotra’s Remnants of a Separation at least three times to make sense of where I come from � at least some of it. I believe art saves you, and it does, and it has, whenever I have turned to it. It is painful to read about the Partition but in a way it is also very cathartic. As a third-generation resident of independent India � who has only heard about the Partition in snatches of stray conversations � trying to make sense of pain and loss, reading about the events can be a means of providing closure, even if in the smallest of ways.
Aanchal Malhotra’s In the Language of Remembering is a book for me, for people who belong to my generation or after, for anyone who wants to understand the Partition from where we are now. It is a book about remembering � of conversations Malhotra had over the years with generations of Indians, Pakistanis, and Bangladeshis. She speaks to them about identity, about the relevance of the Partition today, whether we wish to talk about the Partition, and the need to preserve the painful past.
While growing up I used to think of the Partition as an event in my grandparents� lives. It was cut off from my existence. I didn’t realise till much later that I too am a product of the painful past in one sense or the other � of two people whose parents had memories, who could never forget what they endured, about how they crossed the border, and how long it took them to build a new life.
In the Language of Remembering has been published at a time when the country is in the grips of a destructive chaos � when relationships have taken a back seat and religion is at the fore, when Muslims are being othered, and people are being categorised as “minority� and “majority�. The book has been published at a time when we need it the most � to understand where we have come from and how far we have come, and what it will take to be truly secular.
I never understood what the Partition meant to me, and how it perhaps even impacted me till I read about it. It all began with Kamleshwar’s Partitions in the year 2000, and after twenty-two years and having read about some forty-and-odd books on the subject, I feel we still don’t have enough Partition Literature. We constantly need to look and relook at it, to understand ourselves better, and perhaps generate some more empathy within us � to be kinder to each other and ourselves. I admit, it isn’t as simple as that. Sadly, we have a long way to go since maps and borders continue to be an integral part of our existence, whether we like it or not.
In the Language of Remembering makes us aware of what we carry within ourselves. Malhotra’s book is about regrets, losses, hopes, about what we gained, and what we were separated from. It is about the choices one made, about family, about generations, and how some incidents are not passed over, not told as stories, not revisited because of how painful they are and the need to talk about them � both in order to look ahead and constantly keep looking back so as not to lose a part of ourselves.
August 27, 2022
The greatest thing I have learnt from Partition is to not tolerate religious intolerance, because I know what it has done to my family and so many others. It devastated an entire way of lite, a community, a syncretic culture.
More of a sequel to her first book , In The Language of Remembering looks to explore the psyche and thoughts of the second and third generation of those who were affected by the Partition. The book mainly focuses on one's identity, and how the future generations of the victims of the Partition look at their life and roots knowing their family history.
'You know about this better than anyone,' he resumes, 'how hard it is to find the line between where you're recalling an old trauma and where you're asking about a memory that your ancestor may not wish to bring up, or have any idea about themselves. It is difficult sometimes to determine which silence it is.'
The book is divided into multiple chapters, where various stories are told by the tech-savvy younger generation and how they have investigated their family history, both on the paternal and maternal side, while trying to understand what this tragic event meant for them and their grandparents. Aanchal Malhotra gives the book a very unique touch with stories in chapters named Love, Loss, Separation and Reunion, etc., trying to characterize the different emotions and tragic incidents that the refugees went through.
For many Indians and Pakistanis, loving their nation means hating the other, as if they are antonyms of one another. But, in fact, they are twins, mirror images, born from a bloody cleave in one land. When I read anything hinged on this kind of hate, I need to remind myself that the border between our two countries is man-made, and hence, the natural landscape is undivided. However, to accept this requires deep and continual personal effort to unlearn any unreasonable, accumulated hate. And so, for the most part, the legacy of Partition remains defined by otherness. Even in the way that we address our neighbour - the other side - indicates someone who is different from us, thereby laying the boundaries of our identity as well as theirs.
As you can see, I started reading the book in June for my Freedom Project, but could only finish it in the end of August. A heartbreaking read, it took me a really long time to get through the book. The book made me cry at many places, especially the below story from Mirpur where people preferred dying by suicide rather than being murdered by the rioters.
Amidst all this, I have a faint memory of a boy coming up to us and saying, "Ram naam ki goli le lo."
'What was it?' I ask.
'Tablets, he gave us some tablets.'
'Tablets of... poison?' I ask instinctively, recalling this to be a frequent feature from the time.
'Poison,' confirms her husband, nodding.
'My brother took the pills, broke them into smaller pieces and distributed them amongst the family. He told everyone to just place a piece in their mouths, and' - she clicks her tongue-'one by one, they all fell to the ground. Some vomited, some reacted in madness with strange side-effects, and some died then and there. It would be many years before I learnt that the pill- Ram naam ki goli - must have been cyanide. It was given to us so that we could take our own life and not be at the mercy of the enemy.'
In Conclusion
Highly recommend this one. I will always read anything and everything written by
More of a sequel to her first book , In The Language of Remembering looks to explore the psyche and thoughts of the second and third generation of those who were affected by the Partition. The book mainly focuses on one's identity, and how the future generations of the victims of the Partition look at their life and roots knowing their family history.
'You know about this better than anyone,' he resumes, 'how hard it is to find the line between where you're recalling an old trauma and where you're asking about a memory that your ancestor may not wish to bring up, or have any idea about themselves. It is difficult sometimes to determine which silence it is.'
The book is divided into multiple chapters, where various stories are told by the tech-savvy younger generation and how they have investigated their family history, both on the paternal and maternal side, while trying to understand what this tragic event meant for them and their grandparents. Aanchal Malhotra gives the book a very unique touch with stories in chapters named Love, Loss, Separation and Reunion, etc., trying to characterize the different emotions and tragic incidents that the refugees went through.
For many Indians and Pakistanis, loving their nation means hating the other, as if they are antonyms of one another. But, in fact, they are twins, mirror images, born from a bloody cleave in one land. When I read anything hinged on this kind of hate, I need to remind myself that the border between our two countries is man-made, and hence, the natural landscape is undivided. However, to accept this requires deep and continual personal effort to unlearn any unreasonable, accumulated hate. And so, for the most part, the legacy of Partition remains defined by otherness. Even in the way that we address our neighbour - the other side - indicates someone who is different from us, thereby laying the boundaries of our identity as well as theirs.
As you can see, I started reading the book in June for my Freedom Project, but could only finish it in the end of August. A heartbreaking read, it took me a really long time to get through the book. The book made me cry at many places, especially the below story from Mirpur where people preferred dying by suicide rather than being murdered by the rioters.
Amidst all this, I have a faint memory of a boy coming up to us and saying, "Ram naam ki goli le lo."
'What was it?' I ask.
'Tablets, he gave us some tablets.'
'Tablets of... poison?' I ask instinctively, recalling this to be a frequent feature from the time.
'Poison,' confirms her husband, nodding.
'My brother took the pills, broke them into smaller pieces and distributed them amongst the family. He told everyone to just place a piece in their mouths, and' - she clicks her tongue-'one by one, they all fell to the ground. Some vomited, some reacted in madness with strange side-effects, and some died then and there. It would be many years before I learnt that the pill- Ram naam ki goli - must have been cyanide. It was given to us so that we could take our own life and not be at the mercy of the enemy.'
In Conclusion
Highly recommend this one. I will always read anything and everything written by
March 15, 2023
I'd give this book 10, 50 stars if I could!
Here's what I said on my Instagram stories last night:
"I spent 2.5 months with it, feeling every emotion across the spectrum, knowing exactly how I would feel at the end. And yet, I was not prepared. I feel bereft now that the book has ended. Aanchal Malhotra's kind, compassionate telling of these people's stories without any embellishment but with the right amount of fact and feeling is what makes this book the star that it is. Just. Wow."
I finished it at around 3 AM and I was in tears, trying to comprehend the enormity of what I'd just done. Phenomenal!
My reading vlog for this book is up on my YouTube channel. If you'd like to check it out, here's the link:
Here's what I said on my Instagram stories last night:
"I spent 2.5 months with it, feeling every emotion across the spectrum, knowing exactly how I would feel at the end. And yet, I was not prepared. I feel bereft now that the book has ended. Aanchal Malhotra's kind, compassionate telling of these people's stories without any embellishment but with the right amount of fact and feeling is what makes this book the star that it is. Just. Wow."
I finished it at around 3 AM and I was in tears, trying to comprehend the enormity of what I'd just done. Phenomenal!
My reading vlog for this book is up on my YouTube channel. If you'd like to check it out, here's the link:
August 28, 2022
I would not even know how to review such personal piece of literature. All I can say this, read this. This book Might just make you more empathetic!
December 29, 2022
I cannot describe in words what this book means to me. Just know... I am grateful to have read this beautiful piece of work. Surely one of the books I will re-read in future.
May 17, 2022
Review to follow
July 25, 2022
Aanchal Malhotra has done a great service to the partition saga - survivors and inheritors. Sensitive, empathetic and vast in its scope, this is a must-read Partition literature.
July 2, 2024
I completed reading In the Language of Remembering by Aanchal Malhotra on June 29th, a day that holds significant meaning for every Indian as the anniversary of our World Cup victory after 13 long years. This book will forever be etched in my mind. It is the longest book I've read this year, not just in terms of pages but also in its detailed exploration of the subject.
Previously, I read The Remnants of a Separation, my first encounter with Aanchal Malhotra’s work. Her writing captivated me with its rawness and the meticulous effort she put into gathering every important detail. Her personal meetings with people to collect their stories were impressive. The minute details she unearthed and how beautifully she wove them into words were truly remarkable.
In the Language of Remembering is my second read by Aanchal Malhotra, and I am at a loss for words to fully appreciate her work. This book is a deeply researched account of how people felt about the Partition, their experiences, and their emotions. It delves into what they feel, what might have happened if Partition had never occurred, their regrets, and the blessings they recognize now and then. It highlights what they missed the most and the heartbreaking stories of the cruelty during the Partition. The book vividly describes how people spent their days in pain, grief, and fear.
It took me an entire month to finish it because I was so engrossed in the book that I read it slowly, savoring every moment. I wanted to stay with everyone out there for as long as possible, to feel their pain through their words, and to console them for many hidden and unspoken stories that they don't even want to remember.
This book contains interviews not only with individuals or single families but with millions who faced the Partition. It covers a wide range of topics, from families, long-lost friendships, and lovers to their homes, beloved neighbors, abandoned children, and even those who took their own lives in front of family members. Partition should not be forgotten. It should be known by this and our upcoming generations to understand the foundation of our history.
I feel like my words will not do justice to this book. All I can say is just read it. It should be read by everyone out there so that you realize how blessed we are and that our hard times are nothing compared to what our ancestors went through during the Partition. You will definitely feel more empathetic. I am so blessed to have read this gem and even more blessed to have met this prodigious author in person. You inspire us to always feel blessed and show gratitude for whatever we have.
Aanchal Malhotra has done a great service to all the Partition saga survivors and inheritors. This is such a great book for Partition literature.
Aanchal Malhotra's ability to capture these emotions and stories in such a detailed and poignant manner is extraordinary. This book is a testament to her dedication to preserving these memories and experiences for future generations.
Thank you, Aanchal Malhotra, for choosing this way to educate us about our history.
Previously, I read The Remnants of a Separation, my first encounter with Aanchal Malhotra’s work. Her writing captivated me with its rawness and the meticulous effort she put into gathering every important detail. Her personal meetings with people to collect their stories were impressive. The minute details she unearthed and how beautifully she wove them into words were truly remarkable.
In the Language of Remembering is my second read by Aanchal Malhotra, and I am at a loss for words to fully appreciate her work. This book is a deeply researched account of how people felt about the Partition, their experiences, and their emotions. It delves into what they feel, what might have happened if Partition had never occurred, their regrets, and the blessings they recognize now and then. It highlights what they missed the most and the heartbreaking stories of the cruelty during the Partition. The book vividly describes how people spent their days in pain, grief, and fear.
It took me an entire month to finish it because I was so engrossed in the book that I read it slowly, savoring every moment. I wanted to stay with everyone out there for as long as possible, to feel their pain through their words, and to console them for many hidden and unspoken stories that they don't even want to remember.
This book contains interviews not only with individuals or single families but with millions who faced the Partition. It covers a wide range of topics, from families, long-lost friendships, and lovers to their homes, beloved neighbors, abandoned children, and even those who took their own lives in front of family members. Partition should not be forgotten. It should be known by this and our upcoming generations to understand the foundation of our history.
I feel like my words will not do justice to this book. All I can say is just read it. It should be read by everyone out there so that you realize how blessed we are and that our hard times are nothing compared to what our ancestors went through during the Partition. You will definitely feel more empathetic. I am so blessed to have read this gem and even more blessed to have met this prodigious author in person. You inspire us to always feel blessed and show gratitude for whatever we have.
Aanchal Malhotra has done a great service to all the Partition saga survivors and inheritors. This is such a great book for Partition literature.
Aanchal Malhotra's ability to capture these emotions and stories in such a detailed and poignant manner is extraordinary. This book is a testament to her dedication to preserving these memories and experiences for future generations.
Thank you, Aanchal Malhotra, for choosing this way to educate us about our history.
July 13, 2024
It’s tough to read books that have truth penned extensively, they evoke strong emotions that flood the mind and heart only to uproot the comforting facade of a self accepted reality of the bygone times. As a reader, for some strange reason; grief resonates the most with me. Be it in fictional characters, memoirs or in this case, accounts of those displaced by the arbitrary partition of undivided India that are layed bare by subsequent generations living this legacy truest to their knowledge of personal history.
ITLOR, is Aanchal Malhotra’s second masterpiece, exploring the allure of nostalgia and consequences of a human catastrophe; that shook humanity to its core creating horrors for those who wished to move to the other side of a blur border. Either with a hope to return or to establish a home and sanctuary for the generations to come. Suppressing the emotions of “belonging� and “leaving home� have been endured by those who braved the thought of crossing sides.
Accounts of second and third generation interviewees reminisce the partition and its presence in their lives in myriad ways than just a direct conversation about the event. Absolute silence, stored old letters, property deeds, photo albums, jewellery are just a few remnants possessed by the witnesses and their families who lived this dark phase of history, this book records reactions and emotions recalled by the following generations when they’ve discussed or attempted discussion about this unsettling truth making its way into daily living in mysterious ways. Expression, observation and interpretation deliver the legacy of partition with emphasis on foresight of those who left for different sides anticipating a sense of community, security and growth at the cost of identity.
Adapting to a new landscape and its ways are apparent changes for the Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi diaspora in such situations but living with the weight and bulk of emotions like hope, loss and regret implicitly either through past stories or a persistent but subtle subconscious nudge of not belonging to the new land are also penned gracefully signifying, this essential yet uncalled for inheritance of partition.
This one of a kind, comprehensive, compassionate account of partition which preserves the history of a time engulfed in turmoil and loss with just as much hope. Evocative and deeply contemplative, often overwhelming but profound by all means, ITLOR is a social record that’s unmissable!
ITLOR, is Aanchal Malhotra’s second masterpiece, exploring the allure of nostalgia and consequences of a human catastrophe; that shook humanity to its core creating horrors for those who wished to move to the other side of a blur border. Either with a hope to return or to establish a home and sanctuary for the generations to come. Suppressing the emotions of “belonging� and “leaving home� have been endured by those who braved the thought of crossing sides.
Accounts of second and third generation interviewees reminisce the partition and its presence in their lives in myriad ways than just a direct conversation about the event. Absolute silence, stored old letters, property deeds, photo albums, jewellery are just a few remnants possessed by the witnesses and their families who lived this dark phase of history, this book records reactions and emotions recalled by the following generations when they’ve discussed or attempted discussion about this unsettling truth making its way into daily living in mysterious ways. Expression, observation and interpretation deliver the legacy of partition with emphasis on foresight of those who left for different sides anticipating a sense of community, security and growth at the cost of identity.
Adapting to a new landscape and its ways are apparent changes for the Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi diaspora in such situations but living with the weight and bulk of emotions like hope, loss and regret implicitly either through past stories or a persistent but subtle subconscious nudge of not belonging to the new land are also penned gracefully signifying, this essential yet uncalled for inheritance of partition.
This one of a kind, comprehensive, compassionate account of partition which preserves the history of a time engulfed in turmoil and loss with just as much hope. Evocative and deeply contemplative, often overwhelming but profound by all means, ITLOR is a social record that’s unmissable!
August 19, 2023
“She once told me that it was the day the soil lost its heartbeat because everyone was just viciously ripped apart from where they had been � knowing that your home was being carved up and having no say in it, feeling helpless.�
In the Language of Remembering reveals how Partition is not yet an event of the past and looks at how Partition memory is preserved and bequeathed, its consequences disseminated and manifested within family, community and nation. Most importantly, it serves as a reminder of the price this land once paid for not guarding against communal strife - and what could happen once again should we ever choose division over inclusion.
The book is exquisitely written and captures memories so evocatively that I took as much time as I could to savour them. The book consumed me in its entirety. I slept with the stories running over and over in my head. I read passages aloud to my mother. Felt my voice quiver with every word, eyes filling up, blurring my vision.
As a third-generation resident of Independent India I feel a deep loss for the missed opportunity to understand the partition as experienced by my grandmother. But Malhotra’s layered account helps make sense of it.
An insightful, original piece of work, In the Language of Remembering is a trove of history that was buried deep within the memories of partition survivors and now illuminates our past for present and future generations before it is lost into oblivion.
For complete review, visit
Find me on other platforms via
In the Language of Remembering reveals how Partition is not yet an event of the past and looks at how Partition memory is preserved and bequeathed, its consequences disseminated and manifested within family, community and nation. Most importantly, it serves as a reminder of the price this land once paid for not guarding against communal strife - and what could happen once again should we ever choose division over inclusion.
The book is exquisitely written and captures memories so evocatively that I took as much time as I could to savour them. The book consumed me in its entirety. I slept with the stories running over and over in my head. I read passages aloud to my mother. Felt my voice quiver with every word, eyes filling up, blurring my vision.
As a third-generation resident of Independent India I feel a deep loss for the missed opportunity to understand the partition as experienced by my grandmother. But Malhotra’s layered account helps make sense of it.
An insightful, original piece of work, In the Language of Remembering is a trove of history that was buried deep within the memories of partition survivors and now illuminates our past for present and future generations before it is lost into oblivion.
For complete review, visit
Find me on other platforms via
April 10, 2023
I gasped. I cried. I smiled. And in between all these fluctuating emotions, my eyes were filled with hope. A hope for peace. A hope for forgiveness. A hope for reconciliation. Aanchal Malhotra's In the Language of Remembering: The Inheritance of Partition, is a memoir of the tragedy that unfolded some 75 odd years ago. A memoir of not just a single person or a single family but rather those millions of people who were tragically uprooted and forced to carve a different life altogether. But here's the twist. The account is prominently second hand memory. The sons-daughters, grandsons-granddaughters who had the curiosity, the courage, the heart to ask their ancestors the questions to which the answers buried deep in the corner of their minds, wanting to forget. to forgive. The books contains vast interviews on various topics ranging from families, long lost friendships, lovers, home. It took me 2 long months to complete this spectacular book and every moment was worth it. Partition should never be forgotten. This generation and the one coming later should know on what their history is shaped from. And Malhotra makes sure, we don't forget that.
April 4, 2024
Partition - One of the most significant event which has happened in Indian history and one of the least spoken / taught piece in History classes in India.
Aanchal Malhotra does a fantastic job of capturing the various aspects of Partition - 1947, 1971 etc. How did it impact families - in good manner and in bad. She captures very well the actual belief of people - how partition was assumed to be temporary, how did migration happen, how did humanity lose in partition as well as how did humanity triumph.
More importantly, she brings out the stories of people which are rarely spoken about. She brings to light how human behaviour of those who were impacted by partition got affected - how some people never speak about it and how some people talk a lot about it, how did core tendencies and defense mechanisms got inbuilt in generation of the families. And more importantly impact of partition on 2nd and 3rd generation and how it impacted identities of individuals.
Aanchal Malhotra does a fantastic job of capturing the various aspects of Partition - 1947, 1971 etc. How did it impact families - in good manner and in bad. She captures very well the actual belief of people - how partition was assumed to be temporary, how did migration happen, how did humanity lose in partition as well as how did humanity triumph.
More importantly, she brings out the stories of people which are rarely spoken about. She brings to light how human behaviour of those who were impacted by partition got affected - how some people never speak about it and how some people talk a lot about it, how did core tendencies and defense mechanisms got inbuilt in generation of the families. And more importantly impact of partition on 2nd and 3rd generation and how it impacted identities of individuals.
February 4, 2024
If your roots are in the subcontinent, irrespective of where you live, you have to read this book. I cannot even describe in words, the plethora of emotions I have experienced going through the narratives presented in the book, even though I have no family history of directly being impacted by partition. The book did propel me to ask my parents, if our previous generations experienced any displacement because of what happened. But it’s not just about displacement, is it? It’s about everything which got affected due to 1947. The way the author weaves the many recollections is brilliant. Took a long while to finish this book, as it’s not one you can just browse through. You have to let it sink in. Pick it up, as the book will help you reflect emphatically on what being human is.
January 29, 2023
The long-term implications and enduring echoes of history from Partition are undeniable. With well crafted storytelling, Aanchal Malhotra covers it all � not just the horrors of the event itself but also the deafening silence of 1st and 2nd generation Desis that followed. At times, it's not an easy book to read as it lays bare our collective inheritance of grief.
In the Language of Remembering is beautifully written. It's rich with tales of the human impact of Partition; love, separation, yearning, loss, and healing.
This is the most I’ve ever gifted a book.
In the Language of Remembering is beautifully written. It's rich with tales of the human impact of Partition; love, separation, yearning, loss, and healing.
This is the most I’ve ever gifted a book.
September 26, 2022
I honestly was terrified to start this book. I thought it would take me the rest of the year to finish because of how big it was but I ended up reading it in 3 days. It was un-put-down-able. The author has captured so many stories: of pain, hope, love, separation, and ultimately longing. A longing for home, and, you can feel this seep through the pages, for a syncretic past.
This book and remnants, dreamers, desperately seeking SRK, are, in my opinion, must reads!
This book and remnants, dreamers, desperately seeking SRK, are, in my opinion, must reads!
April 23, 2025
The Great Indian Partition is something I feel strongly about and have read many books on it. This book by Aanchal Malhotra is a combination of experienced and inherited memories of the time. But no matter what, each story moves you with it poignance and makes you think how unnecessary this division was.
October 28, 2022
PLEASE READ THIS BOOK.
Can't recommend enough and can't write enough give someone the true justifications of how important literatures like these are important and interesting at the same time. Aanchal is a great writer and her way of narration is just a cheery on the cake.
Can't recommend enough and can't write enough give someone the true justifications of how important literatures like these are important and interesting at the same time. Aanchal is a great writer and her way of narration is just a cheery on the cake.
May 24, 2022
An absolutely brilliant and important and timely book.
My full review can be found on my blog.
My full review can be found on my blog.
May 26, 2022
A 3.5, this one. Will write a detailed post on my thoughts on this book soon.
July 16, 2022
4.25/5
There were some parts where I couldn't connect the dots. But overall a good read. And *chef's kiss* to the amazing writing.
There were some parts where I couldn't connect the dots. But overall a good read. And *chef's kiss* to the amazing writing.
October 1, 2022
Aanchal Malhotra has beautifully recounted the legacy left behind by those affected by Partition & how the generation that comes after are preserving it.
October 15, 2022
"History which can provide remedial insights into the past is often cast aside"
February 10, 2023
few of my favorite bits:
1. the story of jehangir and sunil da
2. the conversation with saba and her husband, who are a cross-border couple and the chequebook bequeathed to them as a wedding present
3. how aanchal helped trace the Sial surname
4. the division that she has done between emotions - what a novel way to organise stories of partition
1. the story of jehangir and sunil da
2. the conversation with saba and her husband, who are a cross-border couple and the chequebook bequeathed to them as a wedding present
3. how aanchal helped trace the Sial surname
4. the division that she has done between emotions - what a novel way to organise stories of partition
March 10, 2024
While Aanchal Malhotra's Remnants of a Separation is an account of Partition as experienced by people, this book illustrates the Millennial/Gen-Z understanding of the things their grandparents witnessed. It impresses upon the reader the importance of history and the need to remember, without bias, what happened. That this isn’t natural, or easy, is something Malhotra deals with. And while some of the over-optimism of interviewees in context of Indo-Pak relations felt a little iffy, it is to Malhotra’s immense credit that she captures the multitude of feelings: the good, the bad, and even the ugly. And while reiterating that her writing is just a pleasure to read is the same as saying water is wet, I’d be amiss in not noting that.
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