Understanding partition literature as testimonial writings through urvashi butalia’s text “the other side of violence”

Abstract

The literature of Partition became a witness to the atrocities committed during the partition riots. They have portrayed the trauma that people had to undergo during the chaos and how the violence has left a scar on their psyche which they carry for the rest of their lives. The writings testify to the worst of the butchery unleashed during this time madness.The paper attempts to understand The Other Side of Silence, byUrvashiButaliaas oral narratives presenting itself astestimonios that have been interspersed with historical facts. It has attempted to counter mainstream narratives and testify the life during partition riots by gathering individual experiences, narrating their pain and trauma as witnesses to the horror and violence inflicted on the common people. Butalia focuses on the marginalised sections like the women, children and lower castes within the society and thereby becomes the voice of the subaltern.