Partition is an historical podcast that will discuss the 1947 Partition of India and the formation of Pakistan as told by me, Neha Aziz. I was born in Karachi, Pakistan in 1990, and always knew that Pakistan used to be a part of India. However, it wasn’t until my first trip back to my home country in 2017 that I found out the devastating truth at an exhibit at the mall. Learning about partition inspired me to dig into the subject more, especially because I have no recollection of learning about it in school, and neither my parents or relatives ever spoke to me about it. It all started when Britain decided they could no longer afford to control India.They granted them independence and announced that a new country, Pakistan would also be formed. They severed the country in such a way that friends and neighbors became enemies and murderers.
All facts said in the podcast are true and accurate, but I will be providing anecdotes and commentary as they relate to my discovery and research of Partition. This year marks the 75th anniversary, and it is high time that this story is revealed to the masses.
In the series finale, Neha discusses communities that live along the India/Pakistan border with author and journalist Nilanjana Bhowmick. Later, she is joined by Avani Tandon Viera and Ansh Ranvir Vohra, co-creators of the Pind Collective, a collaborative art project that transcends the borders between these two countries. Sources/Links: For villages divided between India and Pakistan, a map drawn long ago still causes daily struggles - National Geographic The Pind Collective Complete List of So...
Oct 17, 2022•33 min•Ep 10•Transcript available on Metacast
This week, Neha discusses the famous Wagah Border Ceremony, a daily military event that takes place between India and Pakistan. Later, she is joined by Dr. Antara Datta, a professor. who will talk about the borders at great length from a historical perspective. Sources/Links: Antara Datta Citizen Amendment Act - Columbia University Global Studies Blog Flag War - Hindustan Times Wagah Ceremony - The News Grandparents at the Taj Mahal - 1960s https://twitter.com/1947pod https://www.instagram.com/p...
Oct 10, 2022•28 min•Ep 9•Transcript available on Metacast
This week, Neha discusses a few examples of films and television shows that depict Partition. She speaks with Shanti Thakur (Terrible Children) and Fatimah Asghar (Ms. Marvel). Sources/Links: Shanti Thakur Fatimah Asghar The Crown - Corgi Thread Richard Attenborough - Gandhi Sabiha Sumar - Silent Waters M.S. Sathyu - Garm Hava Gurinder Chadha - Viceroy’s House Dr. Who The Crown Gandhi Is Deeply Revered, But His Attitudes On Race And Sex Are Under Scrutiny - NPR Voiceover for Vinay Patel is provi...
Oct 03, 2022•50 min•Ep 8•Transcript available on Metacast
This week, Neha discusses what happened to many children amidst the chaos of Partition. She interviews Nasir Dhillon and his work reuniting families, most notably two brothers, Sadiq and Sika Khan who lost each other and were reunited in 2022. Sources/Links: The Other Side of Silence by Urvashi Butalia Two brothers were separated in India during the partition. 74 years later, they have finally reunited - Washington Post Punjabi Lehar YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkgJxsi3aAs ht...
Sep 26, 2022•24 min•Ep 7•Transcript available on Metacast
This week, Neha interviews Shanti Tangri as he recalls memories from Partition. From escaping to Kashmir to meeting Gandhi, Shanti shares an array of different stories. Sources/Links: https://twitter.com/1947pod https://www.instagram.com/partitionpodcast/ https://www.instagram.com/nehaaziz/ https://twitter.com/NehaAziz13 Survivor Account - Shanti Tangri Episode Transcription See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Sep 19, 2022•32 min•Ep 6•Transcript available on Metacast
This week, Neha is joined by the founder of the 1947 Partition Archive, Dr. Guneeta Singh Bhalla and author and oral historian Aanchal Malhotra. They discuss how they preserve the stories of Partition survivors. Sources/Links: Follow Neha on Instagram and Twitter Follow Partition on Instagram and Twitter Remnants of Partition: 21 Objects from a Continent Divided by Aanchal Malhotra https://www.1947partitionarchive.org/ https://www.aanchalmalhotra.com/ https://museumofmaterialmemory.com/ Voiceove...
Sep 12, 2022•26 min•Ep 5•Transcript available on Metacast
This week, we continue our discussion about women and the Partition. Neha is joined by feminist artist, Pritika Chowdhry, whose work with anti-memorials and counter-memories aim to pay tribute to those often erased from the National narrative. Sources/Links: Follow Neha on Instagram and Twitter Follow Partition on Instagram and Twitter https://www.pritikachowdhry.com/ Genocidal Rape: Analysis of Tools and Tactics to Dehumanize a Community - Restless Beings https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/...
Sep 05, 2022•26 min•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast
During Partition women were murdered, raped, kidnapped, and abused at the hands of men. This week Neha talks to Partition survivor, Manjula Waldron, as she shares her memories of escaping with her family. In order to cope with her trauma, Manjula wrote a fictional historical novel called Love Partitioned where women are at the forefront. Sources/Links: Follow Neha on Instagram and Twitter Follow Partition on Instagram and Twitter The Other Side of Silence by Urvashi Butalia Survivor account - Ma...
Aug 29, 2022•19 min•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast
Description : In this week’s episode, Neha discusses Direct Action Day, a major event that planted one of the seeds for Partition. She also discusses some other key events and people that were integral to this moment in history. Later, Neha is joined by David Gilmartin to break down some of these events in further detail. She also talks about the way Partition is taught in schools, and interviews two former students from The University of Texas at Austin. Sources/Links: Follow Neha on Instagram ...
Aug 22, 2022•29 min•Ep 2•Transcript available on Metacast
In the premiere episode, Neha divulges how she found out the harsh truth about one of the darkest moments in South Asian History: the Partition of India in 1947, when she was 27 years old. Neha talks to her grandpa, great aunt, and mother to get their perspectives on this truly traumatic event. 2022 marks the 75th anniversary, and it is high time this story is told to the masses. Sources/Links: Follow Neha on Instagram and Twitter Follow Partition on Instagram and Twitter The Great Partition by ...
Aug 15, 2022•24 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast