PARTITION: Loss of identity and culture

 PARTITION 

loss of culture and identity 

NAME: SAMANA P KATTI 

REGISTER NUMBER : 20SJCCC349

Bishan Singh at a crossroads between India and Pakistan; a sheep stuck in between two power hungry nations trying to disintegrate centuries-long traditions of cultural identity. 

 For him, his whole identity is linked to the place he is from; to the soil and lands that have provided him a home. 

 A resentment stemming from the throes of having nowhere to call home. The geographical factors are not the only thing to be considered in this Partition; the barbed wire fences do nothing to eliminate the growing incongruity between the two countries. 

REPORT 

The mode of creative expression was through a piece of art which depicts my understanding of Bishan Singh’s state of mind  all through the talk about the partition till he was taken to the borders and was going to be handed over to India. The piece of art consists of Bishan Singh trying to hold on to two aspects of his life which I consider he holds dear to his heart. Although it seems to be  inscrutable to actually put together or fathom what actually was running in his head but his behaviour and certain gestures and phrases gives us a brief idea of his mental state of mind. Although we cannot be absolutely sure of this. Drawing from that idea I could sense a strong theme of identity crisis in Bishan Singh and also this could also be recognised as a common  subject matter during the India-Pakistan partition. With my creative expression I tried to depict how Bishan Singh is trying to hold on to whatever he thinks his identity is. Albeit he is from a Sikh community and he was given prior notice that his family had already been moved to India from Toba Tek Singh, he still held onto the idea of Toba Tek Singh.  Maybe holding onto the few memories of him he had there is why I feel it was important for him to find out where exactly Toba Tek Singh was and whether it formed a part of India or Pakistan. It could also be interpreted that Bishan Singh was holding on to the pleasant and fond memories from Toba Tek Singh and didn’t want to be plagued with the constant thought of how although he has been in the same place, the asylum for fifteen years his family, specifically his daughter has moved on with life. He had his house in Pakistan but his entire family had been relocated to India. He must have been faced with the fear that after being away from them for so long would it be the same as it was before, would just his family give him the sense of home. Or just being in his homeland be a better alternative than trying to face reality. It is clearly seen that Bishan Singh is trying to hold on to his memories of Toba Tek Singh as he uses it in what he says as well and constantly brings it up after the announcement of the partition. I think he feels that by letting go of the memories and connections from his homeland would maybe lead to losing a part of himself. The sight of his family moving on with their lives. The piece of art depicts that very thought, It shows how he is trying to hold on to both. While on one side he wants to go back home and feel a sense of normalcy and be at a place he is familiar with and around people he knows and loves no matter their caste. But also he does not want to lose his biological family. This and all the other little stories of the other patients depict how just this one event, the partition bought so much chaos and differences between people who once lived harmoniously together without even batting an eye. But now all of a sudden religion and caste was being thrown into everything. Bishan Singh can be used as a symbol to depict what had happened to millions of people who lost their land, families, religion or their life just in the name of political independence and declaration. 

Bishan Singh did not care about his religion, did not care about where his family was, all he knew was that he wanted to go back and that is why in the piece of art we can see that he is looking towards Toba Tek Singh. He just wanted to go back as he must have felt an emotion as though he has lost his place in society and the only place that had a place for him was a place where he was not allowed to go anymore.  

 

A creative mode of expression is a better way to help us understand and feel the emotion that is being felt or that comes with a particular event. It helps us grasp the feeling, passion and sentiment of a particular piece much better. And I feel like that is the case here. The piece of art helps us understand and really relate to Bishan Singh. 

The partition can be considered as one of the biggest tragedy and episodes of violence in the history of independent India. The communal venom and destruction tainted the entire ordeal, the ramifications for both the countries population’s. All through the text, the tragedy and its tone are loud and clear. We reinterpret the tale from the viewpoints of various characters, including the authorities and inmates. The partition brought separation of families and friends and nationalities. Almost overnight people became strangers in their own homes 

We can also notice that right after the announcement of the partition there was a mental shift amongst people. One example was when Bishan Singh did not believe a person who called himself god on the pretext that he was not a Sikh god. We see how millions of people lost their friends and neighbours just because they were born into a different religion and cannot stay in the same region because of a decision taken by those in power.

 

The partition must have caused so many ramifications and possibly continues to do so even today. Just as Bishan Singh felt that if he couldn’t live in his homeland then he would rather be in a land of nobody than go to the other side. There must be so many similar cases and this would have torn apart so many families. The partition has caused so many to lose or get departed from their loved ones. This entire text depicts how strong the emotion that people feel for where they belong and where they were born and brought up.