A Life of Preindependence Lucknow

Attia Hosain's novel and collection of short stories are considered as monuments of the past in the history of North India, before Partition. Like her books are delicate and tender, and they stir with life, and they play in sunlight and rain. When it is read, it is as if one had parted a curtain, or opened a door, and strayed into the past. One can find charm in her writings. Sometimes it appears like wrapping oneself up in one's mother's wedding sari and lifting the family jewels out of a washed-out box and admiring their glitter, inhaling the musky perfume of old silks in a camphor chest.

Partition Novel: According to the survey done in the Indian fiction, 'Sunlight on a Broken Column' is frequently mentioned. Translated into several languages, including Urdu. It is remarked as "Partition" novel, as much of the novel was written before the division of Pakistan and modern India of 1947. During this period, a number of novels mentioned horrific violence, but we could find very often in this. The novel has depicted the changes that took place in the 1930s and considered a new generation, and introduced the life patterns and beliefs of their elders. The author presented nostalgia for the departed glittering world of the old aristocracy, and has balanced it with profound criticism in their way of life, particularly in its effect on the lives of Women. The novel combines the pleasure of nostalgia with sharp social criticism for those who enjoy upper class society.

The novel presented brief scenes that are crowded together. The novel needs to get the attention of the reader to follow the action otherwise, it is not a difficult thing to understand. At the front of the Penguin edition list of names of major characters explains their relationship and a few bits of vocabulary. Many non-English terms are incomplete in the glossary, and those are not in alphabetical order.

After the arrival of the British, one can find the suppression of the Nawabs by them. On one side, the younger generation tries hard to get freedom for the country and on the other side, the elders show authority in the old joint family that has traditionally dominated Indian life. Hosain's most interesting and realized characters are female and she explored how these changes affect women and in fact her interesting characters are female.

A Rich Multicultural Life of Pre-independence Lucknow: There is a description of a rich multicultural life of pre-independence Lucknow, where the members of the community celebrated together the religious holidays with an expectation that there could be narrow-mindedness which could cause much trouble later for the children all are like festive ones like shubrat (Shab-e-Barat), a day of the dead festival which is similar to American Halloween.

Later, her grandfather dies during the ritual ceremony of the Shia, martyrs on the tenth of Muharram; people argue over the holiday. "Sunlight on a Broken Column" presented the Shiite tradition that dominated among the North-Indian Muslim population, which laid great emphasis on the ceremony of ancient grievances. When Muslim procession damaged a tree unknowingly, which Hindus considered sacred, the result is bloody riot.

British Colonialism: The author presented the unhappiness because of British domination throughout he moved and presented a character who is happy to cooperate with emulate their colonist rulers. Laila's tutor Mrs. Martin expresses one of the incidents of Muharram festivities that are more colorful, but the girl reminds her that Indians were issued who pass by the Britishers to attend the celebration unless they wear European clothes. Mrs. Martin after hearing believed that she had become a Congresswallah – a participant in the independence movement and actually Laila was very much interested in the movement. One of the themes of the novel, we could say, is about the spread of anti colonial sentiment among the young throughout the first half of the twentieth century.

After the death of her grandfather, Laila comes under the supervision of her Uncle Mohsin, who provides education, but restricts and believes responsibility of parents to decide their marriage. Asad actually likes to marry Zahra, but he is forbidden to court Zahra, not because he is a distant relative-marriages between cousins are actually encouraged in this family – but because he is poor. "A wall of Silver rupees" separates him from Laila and Zahra.

The author mentioned by introducing a character, who participated in the Khilafat movement under the leadership of Maulana Mohammad Ali and Shaukat Ali. Though Hindu dominated congress party, there was a good relation or cooperation between Muslim-Hindus. But indirectly exposed how time changed and increasingly divided Indians or Hindus from other religions.

Hosain presents the ideas and views of Laila's friends who are different in their perspective. Nina believes that her involvement in social activities may take her into prison, like most of the congress Leadership. Nadira is orthodox by nature. Joan is the character, who believes and shows sympathy towards Britishers as she is the Anglo-Indian, Romana, the romantic woman who lives in a fantasy world. Most of the South Asian novels depict the women as passive victims but Hosain provided the world of young women with different characters because they emphasize variety.

Laila is strong enough to face problems. Being a Muslim girl ran away with her Hindu lover, as their families would not accept it. She is very much influenced by English Literature or stories of love where love overcomes obstacles through only struggle. After marriage, she realizes the mistake she has made. But before that, Romana, one of her friends, considers it as an idea of romantic love is an escapist dream, for Laila and it is a vehicle for social criticism. The novel tells that women need to be pure so that they could seek the help of relatives in difficult situations.

Laila and Zahra: The narrator of the novel, Laila, an orphan teenager brought up by her old fashioned grandfather, believes education is not good for them. Those days, the marriageable age for girls – teenagers. Her cousin, Zahra, reaches seventeen-year-old and so the members of the family decide to marry her to a boy of thirty. She has no choice but to marry and even her would-be-in-laws plans about children for the family. The adults make clear that the girl's opinion is unimportant in any matter.

There is an unconventional story of the servant girl Nandi. We can compare the roles of Zahra and Nandi in contrast. Zahra is submissive and conformist, while Nandi is rebellious and wild. Both of them gave the same instructions, but the sequences or conditions for a lower class girl are less, so Nandi is different from Zahra. Well, both of them have disastrous relationships, Nandi sometimes can follow her heart and can blame only herself, whereas Zahra has no choice but to accept a happy marriage which she also thinks is good for her. In many ways, Nandi is freer than Zahra.

Zahra's Marriage: Through the character of Nandi, cruelty is shown and so the novel should be considered as social critique with an event of injustices. In chapter 8, for instance, one can see a scene of buying lavish jewelry for Zahra's marriage paired with a cruel attitude towards the poor old woman, who arrives there to get some help.

The author mentioned that baradari was once the royal palace of the local ruler named Wajid Ali Shah, Nawab of Oudh, whose kingdom was captured by the British in the mid-nineteenth century when he was exiled. Thereafter, the Britishers selected one of the local leaders who was very loyal to them. The Britishers gave higher position to Taluqdars and made that loyal person as Taluqdar actually belong to Laila's family, and hence, they had a good relation with the British. Hosain presented corrupt, tangled alliance in the party, and in one of the scene there are few young students shout the denunciation "toadies." As the Palace left in the hands of Britishers. Here Zahra points out that the Taluqdars have an equal right as the king of England, Laila goes into reminiscence where her humiliation at school by a lowly English girl, called her 'nigger.' Brian's Paul, 'Modern South Asian Literature in English', Greenwood Press, Westport.

The celebration of an old alliance provided an opportunity for Laila to get into the arms of Ameer, the poor but idealistic young man and married in spite of defiance of her family.

In one of the occasion of Indian-British Unity, followed by the massive student anti-British demonstrations where Asad is wounded and Nita dies. For the young people, it is not a matter of conflict; it is revolt that began to achieve the results.

The author presented Marxism and Satyagraha, respectively. Hosain herself became involved in Marxism and the effort led by Gandhi is depicted and some youngsters have hope and others are in despair, but one is sure of what would happen in future.

For historical context, explore Britannica – Lucknow and learn about the Partition of India. For the book, visit Sunlight on a Broken Column on Goodreads.

Also read: A Better Quality Health and Work-Life Balancing Act — explore more insights on personal growth and balanced living.

A Life of Preindependence Lucknow from Attia Hosain — get the book on Amazon.