Socio Political Oppression and Emotional Turbulence in Anita Rau Badami’s Can You Hear the Nightbird Call?

Abstract

Ours is a secular nation with a rich heritage and varied cultures.  The unique pride of our nation is unity in diversity and the spirit of brotherhood that we exhibit to each other.  In a pluralistic country as that of ours, where equality is applauded, oppression of any form would be devastating. Anita Rau Badami’s novel Can You Hear the Night bird Call, throws light on this threat to secularism.  The novel gives voice to the agony and cry of the Sikhs during a certain period in the history of India.  It pictures the plight of individuals, whose fate is determined not by their deeds, but by the socio political happenings around them. Historic instances referred in the novel like the Partition of India, Golden Temple massacre, Assassination of Indira Gandhi, and Air India Bombing assert that, it is the society that inflicts havoc in the life of innocent individuals. The failure of Komagata Maru, has its impact in the life of Kanwar and Sharajeet Kaur. The chaos caused during the Partition of India, shatters the life of Nimmo and the fear of riots, continue to haunt her throughout her life.  The Golden Temple massacre instils the pain of negligence in the mind of Sikhs.  Assassination of Indira Gandhi, gives vent to ruthless massacre of innocents.  Pathetically, the same plight befalls Nimmo for the second time. Hands that should have protected them turn to betray. Brutal fire of hatred engulfs her husband Satpal, her son Pappu and daughter Kamal.  The pain and agony of loss infuses Jasbeer, who is a witness to all that happens around him.  The novel concludes with Air India Bombing (1985), a tit for tat, in which everyone onboard is killed.  Hatred, suppression and cornering could at anytime be a threat to secularism.  Tolerance and respect for the other is the only way to make this world a better place to dwell in.