Despite the Burden of the Border - In Conversation with Aanchal Malhotra

“This is the burden of the border. Ki Humein pata hi nahi ki woh kaise hai; unhe nahi pata hum kaise hai. When we meet, we are almost mirror reflections of each other. We are not antonyms.” In this episode, Priyam Moonka is in conversation with oral historian and writer Aanchal Malhotra. They talk about all things that continue to transcend the geo-political borders created by the Partition of the Indian Subcontinent – elements of nature, words that travel, dreams, untainted memories that have preceded the drawing of the Radcliff Line, traditions, languages, culture, and human connections. Aanchal speaks about the precious nature of cross-border friendships, the relationships she has built and nurtured over the years with everyone who shared their stories with her, and the process of weaving the web of a unique multigenerational cross-border family for herself. She also discusses her time carrying out research in Pakistan, the isolating act of writing, moments in which India and Pakistan come together, and forces that make that happen, also underscoring the importance of familiarity of language in the process.