Lajwanti : Stark reality of many Women abducted during Partition
Lajwanti : Stark reality of many Women abducted during Partition By Rajinder Singh Bedi Though for majority of Indians, Independence signified liberation from colonial rule, for the two states of Punjab and Bengal, the azadi was one of bewildering loss: of place and property, community, of stable relationships and of a coherent identity. Over eight million people crossed the newly created borders of these states while half a million lost their lives in widespread communal violence. As it happens, the cost of Partition had to be borne mostly by women and children, the two most vulnerable sections of mankind. Lajwanti is a tale that reflects the stark reality of many women who were abducted during the Partition. The story is about Sundar Lal and his reunion with his abducted wife, Lajwanti. Set amidst brutal violence, the story explores the plight of hapless women who were abducted on both sides of the newly-etched border – and their subsequent rehabilitation. Bedi masterful