Urdu Literature and the Partition: Memory, Trauma, and Identity
Keywords:
Urdu Literature, Partition, Memory, Trauma, Identity, DisplacementAbstract
The Partition of British India in 1947 remains one of the most traumatic events in South Asian history, profoundly affecting individual and collective identities. Urdu literature emerged as a critical medium for documenting memory, articulating trauma, and negotiating identity in the aftermath of Partition. This article explores how Urdu writers, poets, and dramatists represented Partition through narratives of loss, displacement, and resilience. By analyzing major literary works, the study examines the interplay between personal memory and communal trauma, highlighting how literature contributes to preserving cultural memory and shaping identity. The paper also addresses the intergenerational transmission of trauma and the role of literary expression in the healing process.
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