Aanchal Malhotra in conversation with KavitaPuri
By Sunaina Luthra
What will be the future of the progeny ignorant of its history?
In my opinion, it is imperative to disseminate stories of historical importance.
This is also the inspiration behind writings of oral historian Aanchal Malhotra.She finds it as a moral responsibility to preserve the partition memories of our ancestors. Her work is always ingenious.
Through her books’ Remnants of Separation’ and ‘In the Language of Remembering’ she traverses the ignominious path of partition.
Aanchal believes that Partition’ requires intervention, probing and archiving as it is the last generation to tell survival stories.
On language for trauma:
There is no language for trauma! Language is not always verbal but sometimes it can be of emotions, touch and silence. However, in an academic way, Partition scholars do build on the work done pertaining to the holocaust because there is a language too emanating from there. Hence one can add to it.
In her view ‘Partition’ apart from violence, bloodshed and trauma has a different landscape too. It is also about hope, friendship and kindness.Hence, we should not classify each story with hate.
I hope this leads to churning of creativity in the minds of budding writers and filmmakers sitting as part of the audience and give us all a sanguine approach to partition.