Conflict (OCR GCSE English Literature): Revision Notes

Partition

By Sujata Bhatt (b. 1956)

Context

• Sujata Bhatt's poem "Partition" reflects on the traumatic events surrounding the partition of British India in 1947, which led to the creation of India and Pakistan as separate nations. The partition was intended to separate the Muslim and Hindu populations, but it resulted in widespread violence, chaos, and the largest mass migration in human history. Millions of people were displaced, and hundreds of thousands lost their lives in the ensuing riots and sectarian violence. The poem is deeply personal, recounting the memories of Bhatt's mother, who was a young woman during this period. The mother's feelings of regret and guilt for not helping those in need are central to the poem, as is her disbelief at how such a massive event was handled by people who knew little about the region.

The Poem

She was nineteen-years-old then

and when she stood in her garden

she could hear the cries of the people

← Auditory imagery

stranded in the Ahmedabad railway station.

She felt it was endless – their noise –

a new sound added to the city.

Her aunt, her father's sister,

would go to the station every day

with food and water –

But she felt afraid,

felt she could not go with her aunt –

So she stood in the garden listening.

Even the birds sounded different –

← Imagery

and the shadows cast by the neem trees

brought no consolation.

And each day she wished

← Metaphor

she had the courage to go with her aunt –

And each day passed with her

listening to the cries of the people.

Now, when my mother

tells me this at midnight

in her kitchen – she is

seventy-years old and India

is 'fifty'. 'But, of course,

India is older than that,' she says,

'India was always there.

← Nostalgia

But how I wish I had

gone with my aunt

to the railway station –

I still feel

guilty about that.'

And then she asks me:

'How could they

← Rhetorical question

have let a man

who knew nothing

about geography

divide a country?'

5 Quotes + Analysis to Achieve a Grade 9

1. Language device = Auditory imagery. "She could hear the cries of the people" Analysis: The auditory imagery of "the cries of the people" immediately establishes the sense of suffering and chaos surrounding the partition. The fact that the mother can hear these cries but does not act on them highlights the theme of helplessness and guilt that runs throughout the poem. This line also reflects the overwhelming nature of the events, where the pain of others becomes a constant, haunting presence.

2. Language device = Auditory imagery. "Even the birds sounded different" Analysis: The idea that "the birds sounded different" suggests that the partition has disrupted not just human life but also the natural world. This change in the environment highlights the far-reaching impact of the partition, showing that it has altered everything, even the familiar sounds of nature. The phrase conveys a sense of loss and alienation, as the familiar has been irrevocably changed.

3. Language device = Emotive language. "And each day she wished she had the courage" Analysis: The repetition of "each day she wished" emphasises the mother's deep regret for not helping those in need during the partition. This line conveys the mother's ongoing struggle with her regret and inability to act during the partition. This internal conflict highlights the central theme of guilt, as the mother continues to struggle with her lack of courage long after the events have passed.

4. Language device = Nostalgia. "India was always there" Analysis: By stating that "India was always there," Bhatt uses nostalgia to give the country a timeless, almost living presence as if it were eternal and beyond the events of history. This view reflects the deep connection the mother feels to her homeland and conveys resilience and pride in the face of historical trauma. This emphasises that the partition, though significant, is just a brief moment in India's long history.

5. Language device = Rhetorical question. "How could they have let a man who knew nothing about geography divide a country?" Analysis: This rhetorical question reflects the mother's disbelief and frustration at the way the partition was handled. The "man who knew nothing about geography" refers to Cyril Radcliffe, the British lawyer tasked with drawing the borders, despite his lack of knowledge about the region. This question captures the injustice of the situation, highlighting the lasting anger and confusion felt by those who lived through it.

Form

• Free Verse:
  • The poem is written in free verse, allowing for a natural and conversational tone that reflects the personal nature of the memories being recounted. This form supports the narrative style of the poem, where the mother's recollections flow freely and naturally.

Structure

• Volta:
  • The poem is structured around a volta, or turn, on line 20, where the narrative shifts from the mother's memories of the partition to her present-day reflections. This shift allows the poet to show both the immediate and long-lasting effects of the partition on individuals and their families.
• Repetition:
  • The repetition of phrases like "each day" and "she wished" emphasises the ongoing nature of the mother's regret and guilt. This repetition mirrors the repetitive and haunting nature of her memories.
• Use of Dashes:
  • Dashes are frequently used throughout the poem to create pauses, reflecting the mother's hesitations and struggles to express her feelings. These pauses suggest the difficulty of talking about such a painful subject and add to the poem's emotional intensity.
• Short, Indented Lines:
  • Towards the end of the poem, the lines become shorter and some are indented, reflecting the fragmented and halting way the mother speaks as she confronts her guilt and the enormity of the partition's impact.

Example Paragraph for a Grade 9 Answer:

In "Partition," Bhatt presents the theme of regret through the mother's memories of the partition and her failure to act. The repetition of "each day she wished" emphasises the mother's deep and ongoing regret for not helping those in need. The line "she could hear the cries of the people" underscores the haunting nature of her memories, as the sounds of suffering remain with her even decades later. The rhetorical question "How could they have let a man who knew nothing about geography divide a country?" reflects the mother's frustration and disbelief at the way the partition was handled, adding to her sense of guilt. Through these elements, Bhatt conveys the long-lasting impact of regret and the way it shapes the mother's identity and memories.