S Nithiyasri Sekaran, Prem Shankar Pandey

Echoes of Trauma: The Interplay of Bodies and Borders in Gitanjali Shree's Tomb of Sand

Introduction

Echoes of trauma: the interplay of bodies and borders in gitanjali shree's tomb of sand. Explore trauma, bodies, and borders in Gitanjali Shree's Tomb of Sand. Analyzes WWI & India's Partition's impact on memory, women's experiences, and intergenerational trauma.

Abstract

This research paper explores traumatic memory associated with bodies and boundaries in the aftermath of World War I as represented in Tomb of Sand written by Gitanjali Shree. The contention of this paper is to analyse how witnessing violence and migration creates a sense of shock by transmitting the trauma in the selected novel of Gitanjali Shree Tomb of Sand. This research probes how the narrative depicts the painful aftermath of India's partition, emphasising the interplay of bodies, borders, and memory, particularly concerning women's experiences. Gitanjali Shree represents the influence of trauma in the mind of the individual by presenting the character Ma and how intergenerational trauma embodies her and restricts her way of living. This study analyses the novel through the lens of Cathy Caruth's notion of trauma, as stated in her seminal work Unclaimed Experience. The role of delayed, fragmented, and repetitive experiences of trauma is emphasised through this theory which, provides a crucial framework for understanding the characters’ psychological and emotional landscapes. Tomb of Sand with its nonlinear storytelling aligns with Cathy Caruth’s ideas and mirrors the disorienting and haunting nature of trauma. This research enhances our understanding of how literature relates history, collective memory, and personal experiences that serve as a site of trauma, healing, and recollection. Thus, providing the readers with an engaging storytelling method Shree's Tomb of Sand serves as a healer to partition sufferers.

Review

The proposed paper, "Echoes of Trauma: The Interplay of Bodies and Borders in Gitanjali Shree's Tomb of Sand," promises a timely and significant contribution to post-Partition literary studies and trauma theory. The selection of Gitanjali Shree's Booker Prize-winning novel, *Tomb of Sand*, provides a compelling and rich text for exploring complex themes of memory, identity, and the lasting impact of historical violence. The abstract clearly articulates a strong theoretical foundation, leveraging Cathy Caruth's influential work on trauma, which is particularly apt given the novel's non-linear narrative and exploration of profound psychological landscapes. The paper's explicit focus on women's experiences and intergenerational trauma further enhances its relevance, addressing crucial dimensions often overlooked in broader historical narratives. The core contention, aiming to analyze how witnessing violence and migration transmits trauma, is a robust starting point. However, a significant point of clarification is immediately apparent: the abstract initially states the paper explores trauma "in the aftermath of World War I," yet subsequent sentences correctly identify the focus as "the painful aftermath of India's partition." This discrepancy needs immediate rectification, as *Tomb of Sand* is unequivocally set against the backdrop of the 1947 Partition, not WWI. Assuming the latter is the intended focus, the application of Caruth's notion of delayed, fragmented, and repetitive trauma appears highly suitable for interpreting Ma's character and the novel's structure, aligning well with Shree's distinctive storytelling. To strengthen this application, the paper would benefit from a clearer outline of how the "interplay of bodies and borders" specifically interacts with Caruth's framework, perhaps through an explicit discussion of somatic memory or the territorialization of trauma on the female body. Despite the aforementioned inconsistency, this research holds considerable promise for enhancing our understanding of how literature navigates historical trauma, collective memory, and individual experiences. By positioning *Tomb of Sand* as a site of trauma, healing, and recollection, the paper aims not only to interpret the novel but also to underscore its therapeutic potential for "partition sufferers." Should the paper effectively demonstrate how Shree's narrative functions as such a "healer" through its engaging storytelling and empathetic portrayal of trauma, it will offer valuable insights into the social and psychological functions of literature. This study has the potential to be a vital addition to the growing body of scholarship on Partition literature, literary trauma studies, and the enduring power of narrative to confront and process historical wounds.

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