Ismat Chughtai, Women and Partition: Challenging Fanaticism

Women have been worst sufferers in the violence that erupted in the wake of Partition but ironically not much has been written from female perspective in the literature of the time. Ismat Chughtai with her sharp wit, deep insight and great sensitivity has woven several engaging stories which narrate the trauma of Partition and its devastating effects on the female psyche. Besides dealing with two short stories of Ismat Chughtai i.e. “Roots” and “Fragile Threads,” this article will also focus on her play “Green Bangles” and her prose piece “Communal Violence and Literature” which not only reflect the carnage that was unleashed during the time of Partition but also offer a ray of hope through such exemplary women characters which become symbol of unity and brotherhood. The essay will examine how through these works Ismat Chughtai voices her concerns as a female writer and challenges intolerance while negotiating the concepts of home and nation.