Sunday, October 7, 2012
When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine
"When I said I thought that was the date of India’s independence from Britain, my father said, “That too. One moment we were free and then we were sliced up,” he explained, drawing an X with his finger on the countertop, “like a pie. Hindus here, Muslims there. Dacca no longer belongs to us.” He told me that during Partition Hindus and Muslims had set fire to each other’s homes. For many, the idea of eating in the other’s company was still unthinkable" (When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine).
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The quotation is an allusion. After India gained independence from Britain, it was split into Pakistan and India, which was known as the Partition of India. We can further infer that Hindus in India and Muslims in Pakistan were enemies since they set fire to burn each other's houses.
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