The Birth of a New Woman of a New India: A Critical Study of Amrita Pritam’s The Skeleton

English Literature

In 1947, communal hatred was deeply rooted in the minds of Hindus and Muslims and that aggression of one community over the other was usually exhibited in physical attacks on women. This continuous torture at the hands of men from both the communities pushed women into a state of trauma. The existing research majorly looks at partition from the masculine gaze. Thus, women were pushed to the border who constitute the half of the population. Therefore, the present chapter aims to study the female characters of Amrita Pritam’s The Skeleton, who were crushed by the society, especially during Partition, however, they challenged the stereotypical representation of the patriarchal society and became resilient rather than suffering as a victim. It majorly focuses on the protagonist, Pooro who rises like a phoenix even after enduring multiple tortures. She is the finest example of such women who not only empowered themselves but also protected other women especially in 1947 when women were the worst victims of Partition.

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