Guest Lecture Recap: 'Mirror Cracked from Side to Side – Partition of the Self' by Dr. Amit Ranjan

 

Guest Lecture Recap: 'Mirror Cracked from Side to Side – Partition of the Self' by Dr. Amit Ranjan

On December 20, 2024, the Department of English at Carmel College of Arts, Science and Commerce for Women, Nuvem, Goa, hosted a powerful and thought-provoking guest lecture by Dr. Amit Ranjan—poet, author, and faculty at CIET, NCERT, New Delhi. The lecture, titled Mirror Cracked from Side to Side: Partition of the Self, was conducted as a value addition for students of the BA Honours course in English, particularly enriching their understanding of Partition Literature.

Dr. Ranjan delved deep into the heart of Partition as not just a political or historical event, but a personal and psychological rupture. Framing the conversation around the “partition of the self,” he traced the trauma, displacement, and identity crises that emerged in the wake of 1947—especially for women, who bore the brunt of violence, erasure, and silence.

With deft literary insight, he unpacked The Shadow Lines by Amitav Ghosh and drew compelling parallels with films like Khamosh Pani and Qissa, sparking fresh reflections among students. A special moment in the session was when he read his evocative poem Parallel Lines—a piece that resonated deeply with the audience for its emotional intensity and quiet poignancy. Adding to the academic richness of the event, Dr. Glenis Mendonça, Head of the Department, offered insights into oral narratives surrounding Partition across borders, while Dr. Brian Mendonça, who teaches the Partition Literature course, reflected on its contemporary relevance. The event was beautifully anchored by students Akaisha and Akanksha, who introduced the speaker and proposed the vote of thanks.

The lecture left students not just with notes, but with an emotional and intellectual imprint—one that challenged them to engage with the fractures of history through the lens of literature.