Crossing Over: Stories of Partition from India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh

Mānoa: A Pacific Journal of International Writing

by Frank Henderson Stewart (Editor)

In their rich diversity of languages, religions, traditions, and ethnicities, the two billion people in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh are unmatched in the world. For nearly a century, Britain directly ruled the region as a colony. But when the British hastily departed in 1947, giving India and Pakistan independence, communities that had lived side by side in relative peace were torn apart by unfathomable sectarian violence. The stories in Crossing Over depict the responses and emotions of ordinary people caught in a tragic turning point in history, when tolerance, respect, and compassion broke down. Written by some of the region's finest writers, these works make us aware that such responses are not exclusive to South Asia. They are possible everywhere.

284 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2007

Reviews

[Balu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eyeopening stories on how many Pakistans, Indias and Bangladeshs were created during and after partition. Stories by some of the best storytellers of all times.

[Sneha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Partition literature still remains restricted beyond the Asian subcontinent unlike other cultural response to traumatic events such as the Holocaust. However, Crossing Over, published by the University of Hawaii press, brings together diverse voices to portray the deep scars left by the horrors of 1947. The analysis of the after effects of partition has been conducted with political, social as well as deep personal insight. Each story comes with a promise of a sting that convinces those beyond the clutches of the described tragedy of the horrors of losing everything in the blink of an eye. Personally, I enjoyed the amalgamation of renowned writers like those of Manto and Rajinder Bedi with lesser known authors. Gulzar's appearence in the contents was simply a cherry on the top. Perhaps, only the addition of Ismat Chughtai could have managed to further elevate this compilation but then again that's just a personal fancy. Overall, a deeply moving read !