BASTI: FROM HOME TO HOMELESSNESS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29121/granthaalayah.v5.i5.2017.5965Keywords:
Partition, Displacement, Nostalgia, Exile, Homelessness, Identity CrisisAbstract [English]
Basti, a novel by Intizar Hussain, encapsulates the dislocation, exile, and loss experienced by individuals during and after the Partition of India. Through the protagonist Zakir, the novel explores themes of nostalgia, identity crisis, and psychological homelessness. The narrative weaves together memories, historical events, and personal reflections, creating a rich tapestry of emotional and cultural dislocation. This paper examines the transformation from home to homelessness in Basti, analyzing the socio-political upheaval and the personal struggles of its characters. Using literary analysis and historical perspectives, this study delves into the broader implications of displacement and loss, considering how Hussain’s use of fragmented storytelling and evocative symbolism deepens the reader's understanding of exile and longing. The paper also explores the cyclical nature of history as portrayed in the novel, illustrating how the past continuously shapes and haunts the present.
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Copyright (c) 2017 Paramjit Kaur
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