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A Tale of Two Countries: a Comparative Study of Partition

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A Tale of Two Countries: a Comparative Study of Partition A Tale of Two Countries: A Comparative Study of Partition Literature of India and Finland By Ms. Marja-Liisa Wallenius Guiding Teacher Professor K. Sripad Bhat Professor of English GOA UNIVERSITY TALEIGAO PLATEAU, GOA INDIA 403 206 February 2020 DEDICATION I dedicate this work to the memory of my mother, Maija Wallenius, widowed at 55 and laid to rest at 93. I salute her strength, resilience and self-sacrificing love. Having had first-hand recollections of the war in Finland, having watched their home burn and having buried two beloved brothers who served, it is her stories that planted, in my mind, the seed of this work. Her example of hard work and determination spurred me to pursue and complete this degree. Sinulle, Äiti. Her accounts and those of whom I met in Delhi—first-hand survivors of the Indo-Pak Partition, inspired me to pull up to light historical accounts that must be preserved. These links of suffering and survival bind humanity into one world-wide race. May we never forget! DECLARATION As required under the University Ordinance, OB-9A.9 (v), I hereby declare that the thesis entitled, A Tale of Two Countries: A Comparative Study of Partition Literature of India and Finland, is the outcome of my own research undertaken under the guidance of Professor K. Sripad Bhat, Professor, Department of English, Goa University. All the sources used in the course of this work have been duly acknowledged in this thesis. This work has not previously formed the basis of any award of Degree, Diploma, Associateship, Fellowship or other similar titles to me, by this or any other University. Ms. Marja-Liisa Wallenius Research Student Department of English Goa University Taleigao Plateau, Goa Date: CERTIFICATE In fulfilment of the provision of the Goa University Ordinance OA-19.8 (viii), I hereby certify that the thesis titled A Tale of Two Countries: A Comparative Study of Partition Literature of India and Finland submitted by Ms. Marja-Liisa Wallenius for the award of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy is the record of her own work done under my guidance and further that it has not formed the basis of any award of Degree, Diploma, Associateship, Fellowship or other similar titles to her. Professor K. Sripad Bhat Professor of English Research Guide Date: ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I must first acknowledge my profound gratitude to my guide Professor K. Sripad Bhat. His proficiency and professionalism I have great respect for; but even more, his kindness and thorough feedback has helped me become a better communicator. He never let me "settle" and it is an honour to submit this work under his tutelage. In undertaking a dissertation, our need for others becomes blatantly apparent! I can never forget the help extended to me by Dr. Nina Caldeira, who was the Head of the Department of English, Goa University. I am also ever grateful to Dr. A. Rafael Fernandes, my V.C's Nominee, for his valuable suggestions. On the way, I have developed friends for life. I am unashamed to say it has been a case of "With a lot of Help From My Friends" (to edit the Beatles' popular hit!): Ms. Isabel Santa Rita Vas, Ms. Lucy James, Ms. Glenis Mendonca and Ms. Svetlana Fernandes have been stalwart encouragers—reading, re-reading and giving me their valued time and input. In every paper, there must be the presence of an angel—that place falls without question to Dr. Geetha Bhat. She has the way of making the worst criticism take on the gentlest tones. I cannot thank her enough for her Samaritan intervention and meticulous attention to detail in the compilation of this thesis. I would like to acknowledge my sister who cared for my mother in my absence and urged me to stay on course. My deepest thanks to my closest friend, Probhita Shew, for her faithful motivation and her irreplaceable help and consistent support in this endeavour. She believed in the work and the writer! Finally, my appreciation to my supportive church family and close friends who have rallied, cheered and helped me complete my course—I realise that the greatest wealth a heart can hold cannot be mapped or measured. It is held within. It is fellow pain, love, death, sorrow and triumph and unfeigned goodwill that links us all equably on the same plane for the unpredictable course of life. I am the richer for these findings during the course of this study. Marja-Liisa Wallenius TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Chapter One: Introduction ......................................................... 1-22 1.1. General Introduction ...................................................................... 1-5 1.2. Aims and Objectives of the Study ................................................. 5 1.3. Scope of the Study ......................................................................... 6 1.4. Delimitations of the Study ............................................................. 6-7 1.5. Primary texts .................................................................................. 7-8 1.6. Literature Survey .......................................................................... 8-15 1.7. Hypotheses ................................................................................... 15-17 1.8. Methodology ................................................................................ 17 1.9. Plan of the Thesis ......................................................................... 17-20 1.10. Relevance of the Study ................................................................. 20-22 2. Chapter Two: Theoretical Framework ..................................... 23-39 2.1. Comparative Study ........................................................................ 24-33 2.2. The Psychoanalytic Aspect of Memory in Relation to Partition Narratives ...................................................................................... 33-36 2.3. Gendering of Partition Narratives ................................................. 36-39 3. Chapter Three: The Historical Background of the Partition of Finland and India ........................................................................ 40-63 3.1. Introduction ................................................................................... 40-41 3.2. Partition History of Finland ........................................................... 41-51 3.3. Partition History of India .............................................................. 52-63 4. Chapter Four: Psychoanalytical Analysis of Partition Narratives ..................................................................................... 64-128 4.1. Introduction ................................................................................... 64-66 4.2. The Role of Memory in Partition Narratives ................................ 66-108 4.3. The Effect of 'Shame Culture' and 'Culture of Silence' on Partition Narratives ...................................................................................... 108-127 4.4. Conclusion ..................................................................................... 127-128 5. Gendering Partition Narratives ................................................. 129-181 5.1. Introduction ................................................................................... 129-131 5.2. A Few Aspects of Feminist Ideology with Reference to Partition Narratives ...................................................................................... 131-133 5.3. Historical Evolution of Feminist Thought ..................................... 133-139 5.4. The Role of Patriarchy in Partition Narratives .............................. 139-142 5.5. The Role of Gender Politics in Partition Narratives ...................... 142-170 5.6. Post-Partition and Women ............................................................. 170-178 5.7. Conclusion ..................................................................................... 178-181 6. Conclusion .................................................................................... 182-204 Bibliography ......................................................................................... 205-222 Chapter One Introduction "It was the best of tiMes, it was the worst of tiMes . ." A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens 1.1 General Introduction 1939 - the world is at war again. Only twenty years after the Treaty of Versailles, a barely healing world is once again at arMs. Just as virtually every part of the world was affected then, so also World War II (WWII hereafter) proves to be no different. The depths of despair, the tragic loss of human life and the devastating effects of the war iMpacted every continent. AMong these, two countries on opposite sides of the Greenwich Meridian - with varying cultures and different iMpacts, rise to reveal a scar that reMains a comMon haunting feature. This scar, a siMple line drawn on a map, would be a rift, a fissure so deep, that it will irreversibly tear its country's political boundaries, rip apart faMilies and lacerate to destruction an unsuspecting legacy and a way of life that had thrived in prosperity and peace for generations. For the purpose of this study, the focus will be on two countries in particular which were greatly iMpacted by WWII: Finland and India. Both of these nations were desperately fighting for their sovereignty and independence. Finland was battling the Soviet Union in order to protect her newly acquired independence; and India was struggling to wrest hers from the hold of the British EMpire. In his masterpiece A Tale of Two Cities (1859), Charles Dickens brings together two
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