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The Partition Child
The Partition Child
Chitralekha Khemka’s memoir of her Bengal childhood covers her earliest recollections, the last gasps of the dying British Raj and the turbulent birth of independent India. It transports us to the little-known town of Sitabgunj, introducing us to the plants and the animals, the gods and the heroes, the family and the friends, the towns, temples, cities, railways, schools and picnic spots that made up her world.
Affectionately known as Pipi, she was the child of well-off Marwari parents and lived in a factory colony, surrounded by the beauty of nature. The story brings this little world to life and invites us to share it, if only for a moment. Meanwhile, out in the big world, the countryside was wracked by political agitation, communal violence, famine and a growing fear for what the future might hold. Pipi and her family could sense that they would soon have to make hard choices, and that nothing would stay as it was.
This tale realises the hazy yet vivid world of Chitralekha’s girlhood and places it against the tumultuous events of Indian history, focussed on the 1940s but stretching back as far as the eye can see. It offers readers a fresh, enchanting and dismaying perspective of the events leading up to the Partition, and will stay in memory long after the final page is read.
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ISBN : 978-93-47435-07-2
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Description
Chitralekha Khemka’s memoir of her Bengal childhood covers her earliest recollections, the last gasps of the dying British Raj and the turbulent birth of independent India. It transports us to the little-known town of Sitabgunj, introducing us to the plants and the animals, the gods and the heroes, the family and the friends, the towns, temples, cities, railways, schools and picnic spots that made up her world.
Affectionately known as Pipi, she was the child of well-off Marwari parents and lived in a factory colony, surrounded by the beauty of nature. The story brings this little world to life and invites us to share it, if only for a moment. Meanwhile, out in the big world, the countryside was wracked by political agitation, communal violence, famine and a growing fear for what the future might hold. Pipi and her family could sense that they would soon have to make hard choices, and that nothing would stay as it was.
This tale realises the hazy yet vivid world of Chitralekha’s girlhood and places it against the tumultuous events of Indian history, focussed on the 1940s but stretching back as far as the eye can see. It offers readers a fresh, enchanting and dismaying perspective of the events leading up to the Partition, and will stay in memory long after the final page is read.
Author/Editor
Chitralekha Khemka
At 88 years of age, Chitralekha Khemka lives in Ghaziabad. Widowed in 2007, she has built an independent and fulfilling life with remarkable resilience, courage and quiet determination. Through life’s many challenges, she has remained optimistic, self-reliant, and deeply committed to those closest to her.
Although she enjoys the love and companionship of family and friends, she also treasures the peace and solitude that allow her time for reflection and reading.
A person of deep faith, Chitralekha has for many years led weekly discourses on spirituality. These gatherings are consistently well attended, reflecting the respect and affection she has earned within her community. She continues to possess a keen intellect, a curious mind, and a remarkable memory.
This is her first book—a heartfelt memoir that preserves not only her personal recollections but also the hope and enduring spirit of a generation whose lives were forever changed by one of history’s greatest upheavals.
Book Details |
|
|---|---|
| Author/Editor | Chitralekha Khemka |
| ISBN | 978-93-47435-07-2 |
| Subject | Biography |
| Number of Pages | 120 |
| Weight | 312 |
| Publisher | Har-Anand Publications Pvt Ltd |
| Publication Year | 2026 |
| Language | English |
| Binding | Hardback |
