Displacement and Motherhood: A Partitionist Study of Manik

Bandopadhyay's “The Final Solution” by Sudip mandal student

of kaliachak college , malda, kaliachak
ABSTRACT
The Bengal Partition exposed deep cracks in social and moral structures, especially for
women. It displaced millions of families overnight. It created a world where survival often
broke the boundaries of morality. Among the most affected were refugee women, who lost
not only their homes but also their social identity and safety.Manik Bandopadhyay’s The
Final Solution captures this harsh reality through the story of Mallika, a mother battling
hunger, shame, and despair.This project explores how milk, blood, and survival become
powerful symbols in her journey. Milk symbolizes maternal care and desperate hope; blood
symbolizes violence, pain, and ultimately, resistance.When Mallika realizes that even her
suffering is being used for others’ selfish needs, she decides to fight back. Her final act—
killing Pramatha—is not simply an outburst of rage, but a bold message against injustice.
This study shows that, in the hardest times, motherhood can become a powerful way to fight
back and survive with dignity.

KEY WORDS
Partition, Displacement , survival, maternal sacrifice, resistance .

INTRODUCTION
The 1947 Partition of India was the most traumatic event . It divided the country into two
nations—India and Pakistan. In particular, Bengal suffered deeply. It split Bengal into West
Bengal (India) and East Bengal (later East Pakistan, now Bangladesh). This division was not
just political—it caused a massive human crisis.Bengal, once a land of cultural and emotional
,was suddenly split by political lines, leaving behind a trail of blood, hunger, and broken
lives. For Bengal, Partition was not only a border shift—it was a humanitarian disaster.
Millions became refugees overnight, and women faced the deepest scars. Stripped of home
and safety, many were pushed into silence, shame, and desperate choices.
Manik Bandyopadhyay is one of very few Bengali authors whose works have been
translated into so many Indian, English, and other languages abroad.He remains one of the
most powerful voices in Bengali literature, known for capturing the silent sufferings of the
poor, the displaced, and the socially marginalized.One of his most acclaimed works, Padma
Nadir Majhi, is celebrated worldwide and reflects his deep empathy for the
underprivileged.Manik Bandopadhyay's "The Final Solution" the storyy revolves around a
family that migrates to West Bengal after the Partition of Bengal, turning them homeless,
devoid of an identity, anonymous in the crowd.
Mallika, a mother and refugee struggling to survive. She's forced to make difficult
choices to feed her hungry child, even if it means sacrificing her own dignity. This story
shows how Mallika's journey of hunger, violence, and resistance transforms motherhood into
a powerful act of defiance. Her final decision, though sad, is a brave stand against a world
that's losing its humanity.
CHAPTER 1
Historical Context of Partition

The Partition of India in 1947 was one of the most painful events in the subcontinent’s
history. It created two separate nations—India and Pakistan.This political decision led to
massive violence,riots and the displacement of millions of people.For Bengal , partition
meant a permanent scar on both land and soul.
In 1905, the British government divided Bengal, claiming that the province was too
large to govern. But the real reason was political—they wanted to weaken the unity of
Bengalis by separating Hindus and Muslims. East Bengal had a Muslim majority, while West
Bengal had a Hindu majority. This division led to strong protests, especially from Hindus,
and sparked widespread unrest. As a result, the British were forced to reunite Bengal in 1911.
In 1911, they put the two parts back together, but the problems between Hindus and
Muslims continued. This led to another division in 1947.Bengal was split again—into West
Bengal (India) and East Bengal (then East Pakistan), leading to mass displacement,
communal violence, and a refugee crisis that deeply affected the lives of ordinary people,
especially women.Since independence, many writers have written about the Partition of the
Indian subcontinent in 1947. Among them, Manik Bandopadhyay's short story The Final
Solution stands out as one of the most powerful and important literary works on this topic.
Manik Bandopadhyay's story the final solution focus not only on politics, but also on the
deep human suffering caused by Partition, especially for ordinary peoples.
The Partition led to the sudden displacement of millions of people. In Bengal, families
that had lived together for generations were forced to cross newly drawn borders overnight.
People had to leave behind their homes, land, culture, and memories. They became refugees
in their own land, often with no food, money, or shelter. The trauma was not only physical
but also emotional, especially for women, who were the most vulnerable during this time.In
The Final Solution, Manik Bandopadhyay brings this history to life through the story of
Mallika, a refugee mother struggling to survive in the cruel world created by displacement.
She has no home, no food, and no protection. Her story reflects how Partition destroyed not
just borders but also lives—especially the lives of women, who had to bear both the pain of
losing everything and the burden of keeping their families alive.Through this story,
Bandopadhyay shows how displacement is more than just a physical journey—it is a deep
emotional wound that affects identity, dignity, and human values. Mallika’s experience is not
just one woman’s pain—it represents the silent suffering of thousands of refugee women
during Partition.
CHAPTER 2
Identity and Displacement
The partition of Bengal , particularly the 1905 and 1947 divisions, significantly impacted
identity formation and caused an identity crisis for many Bengalis. The 1905 partition
sparked nationalist sentiments and protests, while the 1947 partition led to mass displacement
and a re-evaluation of social roles and loyalties. During Partition, many people were forced to
leave their homes and become refugees. They lost not only land but also their identity. In the
story, Mallika loses her home and becomes just a poor refugee woman. She is treated like a
burden. This loss of identity is a deep wound that affects her every day.

2.1 Identity Crisis

In The Final Solution, the idea of identity is deeply shaken. Mallika, who once lived a
normal life as a wife and mother, suddenly becomes a nameless refugee after the Partition.
She doesn’t just lose her house or land — she loses the role that defined her. No one sees her
pain, her past, or her worth anymore. People only see her as a poor, helpless woman with a
hungry child. This is what Partition did to many — it destroyed their sense of self. Mallika’s
struggle is not just about hunger or safety; it’s also about trying to hold on to who she is in a
world that keeps trying to erase her. She is no longer seen as a full person, but as a problem, a
burden, or worse — an object. Her crisis reflects the larger identity loss of thousands who
were uprooted, forgotten, and forced to start again from nothing.
2.2 Religion
In 1905, the British government divided Bengal. they wanted to weaken the unity of
Bengalis by separating Hindus and Muslims. East Bengal had a Muslim majority, while West
Bengal had a Hindu majority. This division led to strong protests, especially from Hindus,
and sparked widespread unrest. Although the story does not directly focus on religion, its
shadow is everywhere. The Partition of India in 1947 happened mostly because of religious
tension between Hindus and Muslims. Because of this, many innocent people like Mallika
were forced to leave their homes, not due to personal choices, but because of fear, violence,
and religious conflict. Mallika, a Hindu woman, is now stuck in a land that doesn’t feel like
hers anymore. She faces danger not just from strangers but from the whole system that has
broken down after Partition. Religion, which should be a personal and peaceful matter,
becomes the reason behind war, fear, and division. Mallika’s pain reflects how religion, when
mixed with politics, can destroy lives—even when someone has no role in the conflict. It
shows that the Partition didn’t only hurt people physically, but also made them feel like
outsiders in their own land.
2.3 Social Collapse
The story shows how society, after Partition, becomes selfish. The moral values that
once protected women and children seem to disappear. People like Pramatha pretend to help,
but only use their power to take advantage of the weak. For Mallika, every door is closed
unless she sacrifices her dignity. She faces hunger, shame, and constant fear—not just from
the outside world, but also from people who should care. This shows a total breakdown of
humanity. Women like her are not just displaced from their homes—they are also pushed out
of society’s safety net. The story makes us question: when society fails to protect its most
vulnerable, what kind of society is left? The exploitation Mallika faces reflects a deeper
social wound, where the poor and powerless are left to suffer while others use them for
personal gain.

CHAPTER 3
Displacement as a Gendered Experience
Displacement and dispossession are the crucial points of discussion in the narrative as
Bandyopadhyay writes, "Even a few days back, one could see the forlorn dispossessed
people, spending their days and nights, huddled together like herds of cattle, and goats in the
shelter of a railway platform.(p. 51)" . This story about the pain and struggles of people after
the Partition of India in 1947, especially women. It shows how Hindu families were forced to
leave East Pakistan because of violence and fear. When they came to West Bengal, they had
no proper place to live. Many stayed in crowded refugee camps or on train platforms like
Sealdah Station. The main character, Mallika, came to Kolkata with her small son, husband,
and sister-in-law. They lost everything and lived in a tiny space with only a few belongings.
The story shows how hard life was for refugees—no food, no home, and no safety. But
women like Mallika suffered even more. They had to deal with not only hunger and poverty
but also shame, exploitation, and helplessness in a male-dominated society. This story helps
us see how displacement during Partition hurt women the most, both physically and
emotionally.
While displacement during Partition affected everyone, women suffered in unique and
painful ways. The loss of home, identity, and social structure placed them in the most
vulnerable positions. Women bore the brunt of this suffering. Many were abducted, raped, or
forced into prostitution. Others were left to care for their children with no resources or
support. The burden of survival fell heavily on them, yet their stories were often silenced or
ignored.In Manik Bandopadhyay's short story, "The Final Solution," Mallika represents this
gendered experience of displacement. As a mother and a refugee, she faces a daily battle for
food, safety, and dignity. Her body becomes a site of negotiation for survival, and she is
forced to make impossible choices to feed her child.Mallika’s journey shows how
displacement is not only physical but deeply emotional. She is not only homeless, but also
powerless in a society that treats her suffering as invisible.Mallika’s pain and final act of
resistance reflect the silent struggles of many refugee women who were forced to make
painful choices. In a world full of hunger and violence, women still tried to fight back and
keep their dignity. This story reminds us that the Partition was not just a political event—it
was a personal tragedy, especially for women, whose stories are often forgotten.

CHAPTER 4
Mallika as a Symbol of Motherhood in Crisis
In The Final Solution, Manik Bandopadhyay shows Mallika as a powerful symbol of
maternal strength in the face of extreme adversity. Her husband, Bhushan, is portrayed as
weak and helpless—a figure who fails to support the family, leaving Mallika to take up the
burden of survival. With no food, no shelter, and a starving child in her arms, Mallika is
pushed into a corner. When all paths of dignity are blocked, she makes the painful choice of
selling her body—not out of desire, but as a last act of protection for her son.Mallika’s
journey reflects the heartbreaking choices forced upon displaced mothers during the Partition.
Her maternal instincts are so powerful that she is willing to sacrifice everything—including
her dignity—for the sake of her child’s survival.Mallika’s plea to Pramatha reveals the depth
of her despair: “Okay, I'll do whatever you ask: dance naked if you so wish. But you will find
a room for us first, won't you? An enclosed space and a drop of milk for my child, otherwise
he will die” (p.53). Her words are not a submission—they are the cry of a mother standing at
the edge of helplessness.
This decision, though heartbreaking, highlights her deep maternal instincts and unshakable
courage. Even as Pramatha arranges shelter and food, Mallika, broken by emotion, falls at his
feet saying, “Are you a man or god?” (p. 54). Yet this moment of gratitude quickly turns
bitter as she realizes the price she must pay—structured, manipulative sexual exploitation. In
a conversation with her sister-in-law, Asha, she painfully confesses, “I would be ready to die
if that could keep my child alive” (p. 55). Mallika’s story reveals how, in a world devastated
by displacement, survival demands impossible sacrifices—ones most often borne by women.
Her maternal courage, however, turns into resistance, reminding us that even in suffering, a
woman can reclaim her agency.

CHAPTER 5
Feminist Resistance amid Displacement
Mallika, the central figure in The Final Solution, is not only a survivor of the 1947 Partition
but also a victim of its violent gendered aftermath.Not only is Mallika a target of sexual
violence, but people like Pramatha—the so-called social workers—also have an evil eye on
every woman who is a victim of Partition violence, which leads to uprootedness, penury, and
homelessness. These so-called social workers want to exploit Mallika's sister-in-law, Asha,
and they are all too happy to kill two birds with one stone.
Mallika resorts to prostitution so that she might save her child and family from
starvation—a condition forced on them by the Partition. For a woman, it is difficult to find a
suitable job amidst such social upheaval, as all doors of employment are shut on them.
Painfully enough, it becomes easy to sell their bodies. Yet, Mallika finds it difficult to give
in. It hurts her deeply, and she opposes the sexual advances of Pramatha. Her agonized self is
laid open before the readers: “She had accepted the fact that Pramatha was going to engage
her in prostitution, but she couldn't tolerate the thought that he had planned to enjoy her first,
before introducing her to the profession” (29). Having consumed a few glasses of wine, he
draws her to himself and murmurs, “It is how I want you… come and be with me for a while
and then you can go back…” (29). This is how male-dominated society pretends to help
women just to exploit them. Men are not ready to extend a helping hand unless women
surrender something in return.
 Though prostitution is humiliating, circumstances make it a depersonalized necessity
when no one else steps forward to help. Mallika is forced into this heinous act in the hope of
a better present for her family. Pramatha’s attempt to violate her body is a personal betrayal,
which shatters her final line of tolerance. She strangles him to death. The money she takes
from the dead man’s pocket represents “the final solution.” Confronted with violence,
Mallika emerges as a heroic figure, refusing to give up despite all calamities. The trauma she
suffers is thrust upon her by a system that degrades and dispossesses women. Her act of
murder becomes empowering. “What did he take me for? Am I weak just because I’m a
woman?”
She thwarts Pramatha’s exploitation and stops him from victimizing other women.
Her final revenge brings apt closure to the misfortunes heaped upon innocent women by
heartless predators. Her courage in the face of adversity moves readers as she stays
undaunted by catastrophe and reaches her ‘final solution’ with strong will and presence of
mind.Despite its unnaturalness and shock value, the ending is justified. Her calm response
settles any doubts about her actions. She boldly declares: “Have you-all eaten? …We’ll never
be hungry again, Thakurjhi, never, ever… My son will have milk four times a day… I’ll go to
the railway station every evening in my frayed sari. The sharks will come to pick me up for
sure… But this time I‘ll be carrying a sharp knife with me, you understand Thakurjhi.” (46)
She resolves to carry a knife during every encounter, as violence has become the
currency of human negotiation during the Partition. From victim to protector, Mallika
becomes the architect of her family’s survival. Any guilt she may feel is eclipsed by fierce
maternal love. The text remains open-ended: the author does not judge her morally or punish
her legally. Even the reader is compelled to withhold judgment, considering the desperation
of her refugee experience.In her retributive action lies the courage to question dominant
social forces. She blurts out in rage: “...I've found an excellent way out. That gangster! He
thought he had got me to carry on his infamous goings-on. What did he take me for? Am I
physically weak because I'm a woman?” (p.46)
Mallika has a strong sense of self. She subverts gender-centric norms by choosing to
earn for her family. In her case, mothering results in a slow forgetting of the self, yet she
never gives up. In the end, she gains full control over both inner and outer struggles. Her final
act should be viewed as an alternative to the absence of moral order. The shock may be real,
but the justification is stronger. Her voice, firm and clear, silences every doubt.

CHAPTER 6
Conclusion
Manik Bandopadhyay's "The Final Solution" is a powerful story about the strength of women
during the Partition of India. Mallika's journey shows how women resist exploitation and
fight for survival. It brings out the silent suffering, the hidden anger, and the quiet strength of
refugee women like Mallika, who were forced to make impossible choices in the face of
hunger, loss, and exploitation.Mallika's decision to kill Pramatha is not a simple act of
revenge. It is the result of deep betrayal and years of silent suffering. When even kindness
turns out to be a trap, her violent action becomes a desperate but powerful answer. In a world
where women’s bodies are often traded for shelter or food, Mallika refuses to stay a victim.
She turns her pain into resistance. Her violence is not senseless; it is her only available
justice. This act challenges traditional notions of femininity and motherhood, portraying
Mallika as a strong and determined woman who refuses to be silenced.
The title "The Final Solution" itself carries a bitter irony. It suggests an answer to
suffering, yet what Mallika reaches is not peace but a desperate form of justice—a solution
born not of choice, but of compulsion. In a world that leaves no moral path for the displaced
and oppressed, Mallika’s final act becomes her only escape, her ultimate form of resistance.
It is not a solution imposed by the world, but one created by a woman who refuses to be
crushed by it.The story urges us to listen to the unheard voices of women who suffered
during Partition. It challenges us to rethink the moral binaries of victim and survivor and to
confront the realities women face in the ruins of historical trauma. Mallika's story is not just
hers alone; it represents the courage and strength of thousands of unnamed refugee women
who endured similar pain.
Mallika's story represents the courage and strength of thousands of refugee women
who suffered during Partition. It urges us to listen to their voices and confront the realities
they faced.In a world where survival becomes the final solution, Mallika stands tall – not as a
broken woman, but as a symbol of fierce, feminist defiance.

Ultimately, The Final Solution is not just a story—it’s a mirror reflecting the silent strength
of women who suffered during Partition. Mallika's journey reminds us that resistance doesn't
always look loud or heroic. Sometimes, it is quiet, painful, and born out of desperation. But it
is still powerful. Her voice speaks for those who had none, for women whose pain was buried
under history’s grand narratives.
Through this story, Bandopadhyay doesn’t just tell us about Partition—he makes us
feel it. He pulls us into the world of a mother who has lost everything, yet refuses to lose
herself. Mallika may seem like just one woman, but in her struggle lives the truth of
thousands—mothers, sisters, daughters—who were forced to choose between survival and
silence.Her final act may not follow traditional ideas of justice, but it comes from a place of
deep human truth. It's messy, emotional, and real—just like the experience of Partition itself.
In a world that kept failing her, Mallika chose not to disappear. And in doing so, she leaves
behind more than just a story—she leaves a question for all of us: How many Mallikas have
we forgotten?

The Final Solution asks us not only to remember these women, but to listen to them—to carry
their stories with us, and to recognize their strength in the face of overwhelming loss.
Mallika’s story, raw and unresolved, stays with us as a symbol of the courage that grows even
in the darkest corners of history.
 Works Cited

Bandopadhyay, Manik. “The Final Solution”. Translated by Rani Ray. Partition Literature:
An Anthology, edited by Debjani Sengupta, Worldview, 2018, pp. 36-46.

www.ijcrt.org
www.daathvoyagejournal.com
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manik_Bandopadhyay
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partition_of_Bengal_(1905)
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partition_of_Bengal_(1947)
www.ijfmr.com
http://www.the-criterion.com/about/
https://www.britannica.com/event/Partition-of-Bengal

1. Bandopadhyay, Manik. Shesh Porinoti [The Final Solution]. Manik

Bandopadhyayer Shreshtha Galpa [Selected Stories of Manik Bandopadhyay], Dey’s
Publishing, various editions.
Primary source; the original Bengali short story.
2. Datta, Amaresh, editor. Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature. Vol. 1, Sahitya
Akademi, 1987.
Provides background on Manik Bandopadhyay and his contribution to Bengali and
Indian literature.
3.Chatterjee, Partha. The Nation and Its Fragments: Colonial and Postcolonial
Histories. Princeton University Press, 1993.
Helps contextualize Partition and nationalism in Bengal.
4. Jalal, Ayesha. The Pity of Partition: Manto’s Life, Times, and Work Across the
India-Pakistan Divide. Princeton University Press, 2013.
Though focused on Manto, provides broader insight into literary responses to
Partition; useful for comparison.
5. Butalia, Urvashi. The Other Side of Silence: Voices from the Partition of India.
Duke University Press, 2000.
Oral histories and personal narratives that align with themes in The Final Solution.
6. Menon, Ritu, and Kamla Bhasin. Borders and Boundaries: Women in India’s
Partition. Rutgers University Press, 1998.
Explores human cost and gendered violence during Partition; relevant to
Bandopadhyay’s humanist.

Bandopadhyay, Manik. “The Final Solution”. Translated by Rani Ray. Partition Literature:
An Anthology, edited by Debjani Sengupta, Worldview, 2018, pp. 36-46.