Background information

The novel Brick Lane by Monica Ali follows the life of Nazneen, a Bangladeshi immigrant who lives in London. While much of the novel is set in England and follows the Bangladeshi immigrant community, Bangladesh is also a significant setting in the novel.

Bangladesh was formed as an independent country through a series of historical events and political struggles. The journey towards its independence began with the Partition of British India in 1947, which led to the creation of two separate nations: India and Pakistan. Pakistan was formed as a Muslim-majority state, comprising two geographically and culturally distinct regions on either side of India: West Pakistan (present-day Pakistan) and East Pakistan (present-day Bangladesh).

Initially, the political power was concentrated in West Pakistan, resulting in a significant inequality between the two wings. The people of East Pakistan faced economic and political underrepresentation, leading to widespread discontent and demands for autonomy and equal rights. The language issue played a crucial role in the formation of Bangladesh. In 1948, the Pakistani government declared Urdu as the sole national language, disregarding Bengali, which ...