Volume : 12, Issue : 7, JUL 2026

RET SAMADHI MEIN SMRITI, VIBHAJAN AUR STRI-ASMITA : EK ANTARVISHAYI ADHYAYAN

BABITA RANI

Abstract

Geetanjali Shree is a prominent writer of Hindi literature, and her novel *Ret Samadhi* has garnered significant acclaim. A landmark work in contemporary Hindi literature, *Ret Samadhi* not only carved a distinct niche for itself within the Indian literary landscape but also elevated the global stature of Hindi literature after its English translation, *Tomb of Sand*, won the International Booker Prize in 2022. Through its narrative content, craft, language, and intellectual depth, the novel adds a new chapter to the tradition of the Hindi novel. This research paper analyzes the multifaceted nature of the novel under the title "Memory, Partition, and Female Identity in *Ret Samadhi*: An Interdisciplinary Study." It attempts to explore the interconnections between literature, history, sociology, psychology, women's studies, and cultural studies. The novel’s central character is Amma, who plunges into deep depression and silence following her husband's death. While her family believes her life is nearing its end, a new consciousness regarding life gradually awakens within her. This transformation is significant not merely on a personal level but also in social and cultural terms. Amma’s journey—returning to her past, engaging with memories of a former love and her life prior to the Partition, and traveling to Pakistan—becomes a vehicle for self-discovery and the reclamation of her identity. Thus, the novel also articulates philosophical concepts concerning life, death, memory, and rebirth. Although Amma’s memories are personal, they become part of a collective history; her experiences encompass the anguish of Partition, severed relationships, unfulfilled love, and a lost cultural identity. In this light, *Ret Samadhi* emerges as a significant literary text within the field of memory studies.

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IESRJ

International Educational Scientific Research Journal

E-ISSN: 2455-295X

International Indexed Journal | Multi-Disciplinary Refereed Research Journal

ISSN: 2455-295X

Peer-Reviewed Journal - Equivalent to UGC Approved Journal

Peer-Reviewed Journal

Article No : 16

Number of Downloads : 18

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