Create a Good Definition on Partion by W. H. Auden
- Introduction
The English poet Wystan Hugh Auden wrote "Partition" in 1966. Though it never mentions him by name, the poem describes Cyril Radcliffe: the British lawyer who was tasked with drawing the boundaries during the 1947 Partition of India, which divided the country into a Hindu-majority India and a Muslim-majority Pakistan. "Partition" was published in Auden's 1969 collection, City Without Walls. The poem deals with the historical event of the partition of the sub-continent into India and Pakistan.
- More Information
Around 12 million people were displaced and millions were left homeless. Cyril Radcliffe arrived in India on July 8, 1947. This was an epic task done in haste and carelessness, resulting in a monumental tragedy. Partition along the Radcliffe Line ended in violence that killed one million people and displaced 12 million. Radcliffe burnt his papers, refused his Rs 40,000 fee, and left once and for all. The poem highlights the devastating effects of British Colonialism and remains a critical commentary on the historical and political events of the time.
- Author's Details
Wystan Hugh Auden (1907-1973) was a British-American poet noted for his stylistic and technical achievement, engaging with politics, morals, love, and religion. Some of his best-known poems include "Funeral Blues," "September 1, 1939," and "The Shield of Achilles." Auden moved to the United States in the 1940s, focusing on religious themes in his work. He won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry for his 1947 long poem The Age of Anxiety.
- Structure
The poem comprises three stanzas with varying line counts and rhyme schemes. The first stanza contains twelve lines, following the rhyme scheme “aabbccaddaee.” The second stanza contains ten lines with the rhyme scheme "aabbccddee." The third stanza has three lines.
- Quotations
"Unbiased at least he was when he arrived on his mission, / Having never set eyes on this land he was called to partition."
This line highlights the detached nature of the partition planners, tasked with dividing a land they did not understand.
- Thematic Information
Cyril Radcliffe’s decision resulted in mass migration and widespread violence as countless Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs sought safety in religious majorities on the other side of new boundaries. The poem highlights the devastating effects of British Colonialism, with a sarcastic and critical tone. Auden criticizes the hurried partition that neglected the consequences, exacerbating existing tensions.
- Conclusion
W.H. Auden's "Partition" encapsulates the profound and lasting impact of political division on human lives. It reflects the complexities of reconciliation and forgiveness amidst the chaos and suffering caused by partition. The poem prompts reflection on the deep-seated consequences of division and the elusive quest for healing in the aftermath of trauma.
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