1st clear light of day blog

Anita Desai: one of India's most renown authors, who creates stunning and realistic work captivating different issues faced in India such as religious disputes, partition, women and their roles in society, and simply everyday life. This writer has been described as very deep, in carefully giving each of her characters true depth and perspective. She captures readers through these traits in her style of writing. Though her work is fictional, she very accurately describes actual events in India. She is so powerful that she represents India, an eastern land of a very different and stereotyped culture in ways that are accepted, understood and greatly appreciated by international audiences, as well as favoured and praised by the local audience.
This exceptionally talented author of novels and childrens books started with humble beginnings. Born on the 24th of July 1937 in the hill station on Mussoorie, Uttah Pradesh, India; she was one of four children. In her youth India was a British colony. Her mother was German, which she says helped her to develop the objectivity, and maturity with which one examines varying perspectives. She viewed India both through the eyes of an outsider as well was through the eyes of an insider. She grew up with knowledge of English, German and Hindi and was surrounded by Muslim, Hindu and Christian neighbours in her home in Old Delhi and witnessed her society tear apart because of the Hindu-Muslim conflict. No doubt, these factors contribute to the passion and versatility demonstrated through her work. She started writing at the age of seven and by age nine, she was publishing her very own literary works.


The Partition in India
On August 14th and 15th of 1947, British India underwent a major change. The reason there is now the Islamic republic of Pakistan, India, and the People's Republic of Bangladesh is because of this social change that British India underwent. The partition was part of the act of Indian independence from Britain's 350 years of residency. The partition, however, was instigated in 1906 when a group called the 'All India Muslim League' came to be. Muslims were becoming suspicious of the Indian majority being Hindus in the Indian National Congress. They requested the independence from Britain as well as the separation so that Muslims could reside separately to the others. Under Britain's rule the partition due to religion was encouraged because they believed in a divide and rule strategy, when classifications were made amongst the society which separated persons because of religion and other factors, and treated they differently as a result. Britain complied to the Muslim conference because Muslims has a very strong hold in India. The Hindus and Muslims began to disagree because of religious reasons. The Islams called for a muslim communal society. Muslims refused to learn english and refused to associate with the British, however Hindus were, in the meanwhile excelling in positions of government so there was some amount of jealousy involved. The Hindus, however had some resentment towards the Muslims because of them being the nation's past rulers.
The partition left both India and Pakistan in bad conditions. The riots took the lives of many, and displaced up to 12.5 million people. Migration occurred across the border.



Differences between a Muslim and Hindu
In researching about these two religions one can come up with several distinctions between the two. For one, Hindus believe in many gods whereas the Muslims believe in one that is Allah and that name belongs to that one true god of the Muslim religion. Hindus worship idols whereas Muslims worship graves. It is emphasized to the persons of both religions, to consider surroundings and nature as well as appreciate it for it's divine creativity and acknowledgment of their god. Muslims feel that it is a representation of God's divine creation rather than considering it as belonging to god as the Hindus do. The islamic faith believe that all men are created equal where as Hindus take pride in the execution of their caste system ranging from lowest to highest. Hindu men are only allowed to marry one woman whereas Muslim men can have as many wives as are desired. The Hindus also consider cows to have a high level of divinity, therefore it is not eaten in their faith, but rather only by the Muslims of the land. Finally, the Muslims believe in an afterlife which depends heavily on the deeds part-taken in the previous life, meanwhile the Hindus describe what happens after death as a cycle where the soul and the body become one after death, and one's rank in the second life is determined by how you lived the one previous.


Traditional Roles of Women in India
The roles of women in India have changed over the years. Scholars believe that originally, women enjoyed a status of equality with men, then the roles and status began to decline, but in modern India, women undergo many improvement activities, like reformers fighting for the upliftment of women in India. Women have a very strongly felt role within society, they are free to excel in the areas of politics, literature and others, achieve high levels in education and so many other rights. They were free to have opinions but there is always the universal traditional role to taking care and catering to their men, settling down and forming part of the stabilizing force for a successful household. Women in India however, were permitted to be very ambitious. There is animosity between the two sisters Tara and Bimla when, as a child, Tara expressed no more ambition than to simply be a mother. Bimla was expected to go far in her achievement of education, and decide on an ambition which did not involve any dependency. The dependency of a female on her male counter-part is traditional, however, and her care and nurturing of his needs as well as the family's is a traditional role.


Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi is a legendary man to India's citizens. He spent a lot of years in prison and soon after, died in 1948 after leading a life filled with the excitement of leading several acts of civil disobedience. It was he who was a major pioneer in gaining India it's independence from Britain; a foreign domination. During a riot in India, he displayed great bravery is personally making an attempt to make peace in the land. He lead campaigns, encouragement of women rights, easing poverty and even land-tax discrimination.
In his youth he traveled to London to train in law and as a barrister. Later in life he traveled to South Africa where he wrote many articles on Black people and experienced incidences of discrimination such as being barred from several hotels. These events in his youth were what brought about the development in his personality where he became more aware and conscious, this is part of why he became such a social activist. Gandhi went so far as to attend a meeting in Delhi during the latter part of World war 1 where he could further emphasize his case of India's desire for independence. During world was 2, Gandhi supported strategies of non-violent and moral support to the British.
Gandhi's death was sudden. It occurred as he was approaching a platform at a prayer meeting, suddenly, he was shot and died. The act of homicide was as a result of persons holding the opinions the he ruined and divided India.