The Pangs of Partition in ‘East West’ by Sunil Gangopadhyay

The partition of India in 1947 played havoc with the emotions of common men who did not have much to do with the political nitty-gritties of partition. The anguish and frustration of the common people at the sudden and unwanted political development have been reflected in many vernacular writings. In case of the Partition of Bengal people coming from East Bengal had horrific experiences. History is often unable to present the emotion which is aptly expressed through the medium of literature. Sunil Gangopadhyay’s novel ‘East West’ explores the pangs of rootlessness of a Bengali middle-class family.