A Terrible Division in the Land

 

A terrible tragedy occurred in India in 1947. It was not an earthquake, or a tsunami. There was no pandemic or military attack from the outside. But, it was the desperate tearing apart of families and friends. It was the forced migration from home to a newly formed country called Pakistan. Great Britain released India from their colonial control and left the people to form their own governing institutions. The reasons for the mobs, protests, and murders are complex and hard to understand, but we know people were hurt and mad. This leads to terrible social unrest. You can see on the map the green regions that are Pakistan. Pink indicates India. The main difference lies in that age-old conflict that results from differences in religions.  I do not write of faith and trust in GOD or other deity. I speak of religious practices that are as varied as humankind.  British and Indian leaders made the decisions to set the borders you can see on the map. Pakistan is literally torn in two regions. There were leaders who fought to keep the regions intact. Gandhi was one such leader who fought the turmoil with his deeply felt desire for peace and nonviolence. But, he lost and thousands of people were slaughtered. 

The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani tells the story of one little girl caught up in the madness. She and her twin brother live in their home with the dad and grandmother. She tells her story through writings entered in her letters to her dead mother. It is a diary but takes on special meaning as each entry goes to a mother who she believes can "look down" and see her as she is writing and living out her days during the Great Partition. of India.  The Night Diary helps the reader see life lived during migration, violence, hunger, and sickness. This sounds like heavy reading for middle school students, but the story is softened with beautiful descriptions of family life in India. The preparation of food and sharing of meals is a special feature of Hiranandani's writing. Throughout the book you can literally smell and taste the delicious Indian cuisine. 

Sadly, differences in religious customs tear families apart. Even the teachings in the Christian Bible warn of strained relationships that are unequally yoked.  Our protagonist in the story constantly questions how people, who are so religious, can hurt each other so deeply. Her deeply rooted faith goes beyond custom. It suggests a better way to live-out relationships that will set the reader into thinking about his or her own personal faith and getting along with others who may be different. 

Veera Hiranandani is a fascinating author. She is the daughter of Jewish and Hindu parents. Although she grew up in what might considered a highly privileged environment, her writings are beautifully focused on acceptance and grace extended to others. This is an excellent book in the Historical Fiction genre.

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