The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani

I really wasn't planning on reading this quick book. Someone on another group mentioned books on Partition and one book reco tumbled over another. The book cover had my attention. And what more intriguing than pieces of writing from someone's diary.

It wasn't just any diary. It was the diary of Nisha, a 12 year old who wrote about her day to her mother, who died when she and her brother were born. Nisha lived with her brother, Amil, her doctor father, her old Daadi (grandmother) and the cook Kazi in Mirpur Khas, the other "whole" India. The nation without borders.

Nisha's diary entries are simple and child like. It is quite commendable that the author brings out so many details in this epistolary book. For example, there are these diary entries where Nisha mentions Amil's disinterest in studies. She adds that Amil finds the letters dancing on the paper. Which brings the reader to realize that Amil may have dyslexia. She also mentions how talented Amil is without even going to school. He draws beautifully, just like his late mother who loved to paint.

Nisha's diary entries mention how she, along with her family are displaced and are forced to leave their home to go away to another place. The difficulties they face as they walk towards the border and how she is unable to understand how people, who lived so peacefully till the previous day could suddenly become enemies. She failed to understand how people could turn hostile overnight.

I remember being at Wagah Border and the chills that passed over me. What was the border anyways? Just a gate. All one could do was open the gate and walk across...they would be in the neighbouring country. We sat there and watched the events that happen at the Wagah border. Its a little bit hyped...all the patriotic songs playing and all that ... and despite all the political and logical reasoning, I felt forlorn. I watched how birds could fly in the sky above irrespective of the divide. I wondered about families who got separated. I could not fathom what it might have felt to leave all your belongings behind and going away to never return.

This book does give some insight to what may have happened during Partition. Was Partition worthwhile? Did Partition do any good for the people involved? Did Partition bring peace? Did it stop the birds and bees to cross over? Did the waters stop flowing? Maybe, being human is not all that great after all; who got caught in the quagmire of politics.

Disclaimer: I am not a political person hence do not like to pick any discussion on politics. However right or wrong. Kindly take the review in the manner it should be.