 |
| The Night Diary |
Its 1947, and twelve-year-old Nisha and her twin brother
Amil live in the Mirpur Khas region of India.
Amil is a carefree boy with many friends. Nisha is a shy, almost mute girl, who has few
friends, but she’s an excellent student and cook. When Nisha begins to keep a diary as a way to
connect with her mother who has passed away, she has no idea of the strange
twists her life will take.
Unbeknownst to Nisha and Amil, India is in political
turmoil. Although their family lives
happily among people of all religions, they soon learn that India will be divided
along religious lines. The new India
will be for Hindus. Muslims will live in
Pakistan, a brand new country.
As Hindus, Nisha and Amil live on the wrong side of the
line and must travel to the new India to live.
Worse than that, fighting has broken out amongst the many religious factions
and people are being killed.
The family sets out on its odyssey to the border with
only the clothes and supplies on their backs.
It is a long, arduous journey and many do not survive. Nisha continuously writes in her diary to document
the unbelievable trip from a relatively wealthy lifestyle to struggle and
hardship. As the journey progresses,
Nisha must also contend with her own struggle to find her voice and face her
new reality.
The
Night Diary is based on real events. The partitioning of India took place in 1947
and tore the country apart. Those who
love historical fiction will enjoy The Night Diary.
