Tracing Dissent: A Study of Simulated Gendered Memories in V. V. Ganeshananthan’s Brotherless Night

Abstract

This article critically examines the interplay of memory, gender, and political consciousness in V. V. Ganeshananthan’s Brotherless Night against the backdrop of the Sri Lankan Civil War in the 1980s. Focusing on the protagonist, Sashi, the study employs theories of memory and gender studies to illuminate how her gendered memories contribute to the formation of political consciousness during the conflict. Sashi’s gendered memories emerge as a crucial lens through which the traumatic events of the war are remembered. By navigating the complexity of war, Sashi’s memories function as a form of dissent against dominant narratives, carving out a representation of subversive forms of memory often marginalized in such turbulent conditions. The concept of “simulated memories” by Kourken Michaelian can be used to analyze the narrative, wherein Sashi reconstructs major historical events she did not directly witness. This act of imaginative reconstruction, combined with the violence she has witnessed, forms a cogent narrative that transforms readers into secondary witnesses of the war. By engaging with theoretical frameworks of memory and gender studies, the study contributes to a deeper understanding of the intricate dynamics between personal memory, gendered experiences, and the political landscape in times of conflict.