International Journal of Language & Linguistics

The Concept of 'Otherness' in Partition Narratives of Finland and India
Marja-Liisa Wallenius

Abstract
The concept of 'otherness' is something that we face every day in our lives. People define themselves by how they view others around them. This 'othering' is seen in the literatures of Finland and India: the two countries that underwent the pain of partition during the 1940's. Although they have such similar underlying events; the conflict, the social upheaval, the unavoidable losses are common threads, but the cultural differences bring variation to their literary expressions. Variations aside, people, no matter where they are, tend to label those who are different from themselves. This paper attempts to analyze some of the aspects of 'otherness' that are evident in the partition narratives of Finland and India.

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