The Partition Project

Gr 3-7–Maha is a future journalist, obsessed with everything about the news. What’s new in her life is the arrival of her dadi who has just moved from Pakistan and into Maha’s bedroom. Along with her new room and new job as her grandmother’s “babysitter,” Maha has a school documentary project taking up her time. Slowly, stubborn and grumpy Dadi begins to soften and bond with Maha through sharing memories from her childhood, in particular the events surrounding the 1947 partition of India. When Maha confronts her own lack of knowledge surrounding her family’s past, she begins to see the importance of history to the present moment. Diving full force into an exploration of the partition for her documentary tests Maha’s stamina, patience, and relationships. Maha navigates her school project and new friendships while collecting interviews and recollections of the partition. Readers will discover along with Maha how our separate histories connect to our shared future, and the importance of archiving and protecting the personal stories of collective moments.