Perspectives

Literary perspective

The short story “The Return” by Saadat Hasan Manto is an example of postcolonial fiction, a term that …

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Historical perspective: the Partition

The short story “The Return” explores events that take place during the Partition of India, in 1947. The final political act of the British Empire in India was the separation between India (the Hindu side) and Pakistan (the Muslim side), which had tragic consequences. 

The lack of religious tolerance between the two sides led to millions of people being displaced and both countries dealing with a refugee crisis. Millions of people migrated between the two countries, which often led to brutal acts – like the ones described in “The Return” – or deaths. The violence of the Partition led to tensions and hostility between India and Pakistan, which affect the countries’ relationship even to this day. 

The Partition ended with the Indian Independence Act that passed in August 1947, which led to the formation of the Constitution of India.

You can read more about the Partition in our topic guide on India. 

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Works with the same theme or by the same author

We recommend you read the short story “The Dutiful Daughter” written by Saadat Hassan Manto, which might help you have a better view of the author’s writing style. The events described in “The Dutiful Daughter” take place soon after the Partition of India and tell the story of an old Pakistani woman looking for her daughter. When the old woman finally finds her Pakistani daughter, she realizes she is married to an Indian man, much to the woman’s shock. The story explores the theme of determination and love, which reminds readers of Sirajuddin’s love and determination to find Sakina. 

You could also read the short story “Another Community” by Rasipuram Krishnaswamy Narayan, which presents events set in India before the beginning of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. The story does not give a name to the two communities it describes, and the author refrains from accusing one community or the other. Instead, the story’s focus is on the violence of the conflict, as well as on the effects of mob mentality. Like “The Return”, Narayan’s story explores how political unrest can lead to loss of humanity and acts of violence.