False and Genuine Witnesses in Tahmima Anam’s a Golden Age: A Re-examination of Women's Witnessing During the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War

Abstract

This research paper explores the multifaceted role of women as witnesses during the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, with a specific focus on their embodiment of the nation at war and the profound impacts the conflict had on their lives. I base my analysis on Tahmima Anam's novel "A Golden Age" to provide insights into the practices of witnessing performed by and on women, and their relationship to national and female identities. I argue that women's witnessing of the war can be extrapolated from their specific social, corporeal, and physical spaces and the ways in which these spaces were utilized and received by women and their counterparts. Using postcolonial theory and witness theory stemming from trauma studies, this paper examines the dynamics within women’s spaces to reconsider women's negotiations for autonomy from within predefined social categories during the war. My research highlights the diverse external pressures faced by different groups of women during the Bangladesh Liberation War, underscoring the need to redefine ethical and empathic witnessing when engaging with narratives of trauma. By expanding the discourse on cross-cultural trauma studies, this paper emphasizes the importance of responsibly addressing and engaging with testimonies of crisis. The examination of women's witnessing, and their spatial positioning contributes to a deeper understanding of the complexities of gender, identity, and witnessing in times of conflict.