Attia Hosain is one of the most influential Indian writers of the twentieth century. In these beautifully wrought stories, she depicts characters who are caught between worlds and cultures.
Attia Hosain Books
January 1, 1913 – January 25, 1998
Attia Hosain was a writer, feminist, and broadcaster whose work explored the complexities of human relationships and societal expectations. Her prose offered a keen insight into character psychology and a nuanced portrayal of Indian society. Hosain was noted for her feminist perspective, seeking to give voice to women often silenced within patriarchal structures. Her literary legacy lies in her courageous examination of themes concerning identity, tradition, and modernization.
"Sunlight on a Broken Column, first published in 1961, is a monumental, autobiographical novel, set against the background of Indian Partition. Laila, orphaned daughter of a distinguished Muslim family, is brought up in her grandfather's traditional household by her aunts, who keep purdah. At fifteen she moves to the home of a 'liberal' but autocratic uncle in Lucknow. Here, during the 1930s, as the struggle for Indian independence sharpens, Laila is surrounded by relatives and university friends caught up in politics. Laila is unable to commit herself to any cause: her own fight for independence is a struggle against the claustrophobia of traditional life, from which she can only break away when she falls in love with a man whom her family has not chosen for her. With its stunning evocation of India, its political insight and unsentimental understanding of the human heart, Sunlight on a Broken Column is a classic of Muslim life."--Provided by publisher
