Pandeys article - Book Report/Review Example

Pandey’s article, “The evidence of the historian” The article focuses on a moment of rupture and genocidal activities; this makes the elimination of the regime difficult. It also focuses on the development of new states that claim the legitimacy of the nation-statehood, sociality and history. “The evidence of the historian” analyzes the role of rumor and testimony in the historical discourse of Partition. It also depicts on the violence that women and casualties encounter in the society (Pandey, 67).

From the article we learn that Genocidal violence ended but it left a shattered historical race in the society. The records left are fragmented and this reminds individuals of the bitter past they survived. The first incident reports entail of the cases that concern individual instances of rape, looting and murder. It is evident that the first reports based on incidences of violence that are produced by the mass media are referred as rumors. From the article the aspects of rumor are depicted which focus on the record of violence more than the aspect of history evaluation.

Rumor generalizes issues in contrast to the provided testimony and this promotes deluge. There is a close relationship between memory and history, whereby the figure of the abducted women becomes symbolic to the border crossing. Their social and cultural rights are violated and rape and loots are common, with many losing their lives (Pandey, 83). According to Pandey, the discourses surrounding the war towards women are based mostly on rape and this contributed to the progress of the war. This resulted to the development of tales and account of bravery in the traditions which were meant to restore pride and self-respect of the women despite their humiliating circumstances.

Pandey states that it is important to note that it is important that individuals find the actual truth on a matter instead of relying on the first reports (Pandey, 90). An example of such incidences is the massacre that occurred in November 1946 during the Garhmukhteshwar fair.Work CitedPandey, Gyanendra. Remembering Partition: Violence, Nationalism, and History in India. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2001. Internet resource.