There has not been much fiction-writing either in India or Pakistan on the subject of settlement of Punjabi refugees after the partition of Punjab in 1947. One significant book on the theme is Yashpal's Hindi novel "Jhutha Sach" published between 1958 and 1960. There has been a number of novels and short stories written by Hindu, Sikh, as well as Muslim writers about the event itself, but not about the sufferings of refugees during their deracination and settlement in a distant land.
"Lost Generations," written by author Manjit Sachdeva, is a tragicomic, and at times hilarious, saga of a well-off Sikh family that was forced out of Rawalpindi during the partition of Punjab in 1947. This story follows the family's struggles and partial rehabilitation as they settle in Delhi while they attempt to keep up the appearances of their affluent past and preserve their old mores. Around them, however, the world is disintegrating, and eventually, they face death, destitution and an uncertain future once again in 1984.
"Lost Generations" is a thought-provoking fictional historical novel of misogyny, sexism, racism, intolerance, corruption, exploitation, and materialism-all innate to Indian society. More than anything else, it vividly reflects the experience of these refugees who, for decades, have focused instead on their survival rather than their stories.
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About the Author
Manjit Sachdeva was born in Lahore (now in Pakistan) in 1945. At the time of the partition of Punjab in 1947, the family took refuge in India staying in refugee quarters in Allahabad for 15 years. The author studied mechanical engineering at Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur (1962-67), and industrial engineering at Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (1976-77). He and his family, settled in Delhi in 1984, witnessed the genocide of refugee Sikhs in November 1984. They immigrated to Australia in 1988 and have been settled there since then. He is married and has two well-settled children. "Lost Generations" is his first novel.
Lost Generations * by Manjit Sachdeva
A Historical Novel
Publication Date: July 30, 2013
Trade Paperback; AU$39.99; 493 pages; 978-1-4836-6770-6
Trade Hardback; AU$59.99; 493 pages; 978-1-4836-6771-3
Ebook; AU$3.99; 978-1-4836-6772-0
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Xlibris books can be purchased at Xlibris bookstore. For more information, contact Xlibris at 1-800-455-039 or on the web at http://www.Xlibris.com.au.
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