Geopolitical Divisions

The characters’ personal lives are often affected by geographical and political divisions, and in this way, the novel seeks to examine how sociopolitical changes can be integral factors in shaping one’s personal trajectory. The character of Tha’mma represents a major example in the novel, as her personal life and perspective are shaped by political phenomena. For example, in Tha’mma’s backstory her senses of home and identity have been disrupted by political changes. She was born in Dhaka, but she moved to India after marriage. The narrator notes, “[Tha’mma] had no time to go back to Dhaka in the next few years. And then, in 1947, came Partition, and Dhaka became the capital of East Pakistan. There was no question of going back after that” (123). Thus, she became separated and estranged from members of her family due to the redrawing of borders...