1971 was a decisive moment in the history of the subcontinent, one that had profound social, historical and cultural reverberations throughout the region. The birth of Bangladesh, once a part of Pakistan, in many ways overturned the lessons of 1947 and laid bare the ironies and contradictions of history.
Like any violent historical moment, the euphoria, nightmares and memories of 1971 have also spawned contested accounts. Tracing the journey of a nation that has celebrated fifty years of its birth, the stories, poems and ‘memory texts’ collected here, from Bangla, Urdu and English, are varied in their understandings of and responses to 1971. This anthology probes the intersection of literature and history through the eyes of writers and poets on both sides of the borders who attempt to capture and recount those turbulent months of euphoria and trauma. It is also an homage to all those who fought and lived through the aftermath, trying to shape modes of reconciliation and peace.
Bringing together the most compelling voices from Bangladesh, Pakistan and India, many translated into English for the first time, this unique volume will appeal to readers and scholars of Partition and South Asian history, as much as to keen lovers of literature.
Rakhshanda Jalil is an acclaimed writer, critic, literary historian, and translator from Urdu and Hindi.
Debjani Sengupta teaches English Literature at Indraprastha College for Women, New Delhi.
Publishers’ Acknowledgements Acknowledgements Introduction I Debjani Sengupta Introduction II Rakhshanda Jalil ESSAYS 1. With the Hamzapur Tigers Kaiser Haq 2. The Unputdownable 70s: Memory Matters Manas Ray 3. Between Remembering and Forgetting: 1971 and an Inheritance of Loss Meher Ali FICTION 4. The Raincoat Akhtaruzzaman Elias Translated from the Bangla short story Raincoat by Debjani Sengupta 5. Sleep Intizar Husain Translated from the Urdu short story Neend by Rakhshanda Jalil
6. The Story of Amina and Madina Selina Hossain Translated from the Bangla short story Amina O Madinar Golpo by Ali Ahmad
7. A Long Conversation between Cain and Abel Rasheed Amjad Translated from the Urdu short story Habeel aur Qabeel ke Darmiyan Ek Taweel Makaalma by Tabinda J. BurneyandAlvira Burney
8. Durba Grass, Tin Roof and Alakananda Papree Rahman Translated from the Bangla short story Durba Ghash, Tiner Gher, O Alakananda by Shehreen Ataur Khan
9. Versions of Truth Masood Ashar Translated from the Urdu short story Apni Apni Sachaiyan by Khalid Hasan
10.She Knew the Use of Powdered Red Chillies Shaheen Akhtar Translated from the Bangla short story Gura Morich by Shabnam Nadiya
11. The Dagger’s Tongue Agha Sohail Translated from the Urdu short story Zabaan-e Khanjar by Rakhshanda Jalil
12. The Odd Bird of the Cage Wasi Ahmed Translated from the Bangla short story Khancha O Acheen Pakhi by Afsan Chowdhury
13. Betel Leaf Sameena Nazeer Translated from the Urdu short story Paan ka Beeda byHaider Shahbaz 14. The Green Card Trishna Basak Translated from the Bangla short story Shobuj Card by Kalyani Dutta 15. Bingo Tariq Rahman 16. The Woman with the Matted Locks Jhumur Panday Translated from the Bangla short story Jotawali by Debjani Sengupta 17. The Beginning of the End Raihana Hasan Extract from the English novel Sips from a Broken Teacup 18. Breaking Links Razia Fasih Ahmad Extract from the English novel Breaking Links, translated from the Urdu Sadiyon Ki Zanjeer by Razia Fasih Ahmad 19. Noor Sorayya Khan Extract from the English novel Noor POETRY 20. Beyond Question Alokeranjan Dasgupta Translated from the Bangla Proshnateet by Subhoranjan Dasgupta 21. Mohenjodaro Naushad Noori Translated from the Urdu Mohenjodaro by Rakhshanda Jalil 22. Joshor Road Moushumi Bhowmik Translated from the Bangla Joshor Road by Rimi B. Chatterjee 23. Upon Returning from Dhaka Faiz Ahmad Faiz Translated from the Urdu Dhaka Se Wapsi Par by Rakhshanda Jalil 24. The Hero of Our Nation Jharna Rahman Translated from the Bangla Maanchitrer Pranpurush by Kamrul Hassan 25. We Should Forget Afzal Ahmad Syed Translated from the Urdu Humey Bhool Jaana Chahiye by Rakhshanda Jalil 26. What Answer Can I Give, Poetry? Minar Monsur Translated from the Bangla Kobita Ki Jobab Debo by Mainul Hasan Chowdhury 27. Send Mercies upon Us, O Prophet Ji Zehra Nigah Translated from the Urdu Bhejo Nabi ji Rehmatein by Rakhshanda Jalil 28. The Poetry of 1971 Bimal Guha Translated from the Bangla Ekattorer Kobita by Debjani Sengupta 29. He was a Fellow-Traveller But He and I were Never Compatible Naseer Turabi Translated from the Urdu Woh Hum-safar Thha Magar Uss Se Hum-navaii Na Thhii by Rakhshanda Jalil 30. The Bangla Victory Jan Nisar Akhtar Translated from the Urdu Fateh Bangla by Rakhshanda Jalil
Glossary Bibliography Notes on Contributors