How a tale of superstar love fuelled the bitter feud between
India and Pakistan
Gethin Chamberlain
Pre-reading
3. What is the background to the “bitter feud between India and Pakistan”?
Individually: Find information about the Partition. What was it? When did it take place? Why did it
happen? How did it influence people? What are the consequences today? Spend 10-15 minutes on
the internet. You may find the following links useful. In groups: Share your information.
http://english.emory.edu/Bahri/Part.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/modern/partition1947_01.shtml
5. Vocabulary. Synonyms and antonyms.
Match the following synonyms.
deteriorate
febrile
enthusiasm
division
hard-line
confrontation
innocent
hatred
animosity
partition
worsen
nervous and excited
harmless
passion
uncompromising
dispute
Post-reading
LEARNING CHECK
1. Synonyms and antonyms
a. In pairs: Student A reads out one of the words from the first column to student B, and student B,
without looking at the task, has to come up with the corresponding synonym. Then student B reads
out another word from the first column to student A, and student A, without looking at the task, has
to come up with the corresponding synonym. Continue till you have completed them all.
Match the following antonyms.
compulsory
pride
enthusiasm
hostile
hero
reject
affection
deteriorate
improve
villain
antipathy
voluntary
friendly
shame
indifference
accept
©Gyldendal, 2012
b. In pairs: Student B reads out one of the words from the first column to student A, and student A,
without looking at the task, has to come up with the corresponding antonym. Then student A reads
out another word from the first column to student B, and student B, without looking at the task, has
to come up with the corresponding antonym. Continue till you have completed them all.
Find synonyms for the following words.
nervous and excited
passion
uncompromising
harmless
animosity
Find antonyms for the following words.
deteriorate
shame
indifference
hero
accept
antipathy
friendly
voluntary
TEXT-RELATED ASSIGNMENT
1. Interview and written assignment
a. Listen to excerpts of the rather hectic interview on YouTube where Sania Mirza and Shoaib Malik
address the media in Hyderabad. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAKK8qtNZZM
b. Imagine that you are a journalist. Write an article on the basis of the interview in which you also
include comments on the atmosphere. Choose to write either for a “serious” newspaper like The
Independent or a tabloid like The Sun. Have a look at the newspaper homepages to check up on
their style. Use about 300 words.
WIDER CONTEXTS
1. Historical context. Stealing women from rival communities
Can you think of examples of women being used to intimidate or degrade a community? Does this
add to your understanding of some of the reactions to the love affair mentioned in the article?
2. Literary context: other text by a different author: Saadat Hasan Manto, “The Dutiful
Daughter”, p. 278.
Compare the article with the short story “The Dutiful Daughter” p. 278. In what ways has the
situation changed since the time in which the short story is set?
©Gyldendal, 2012
3. Other works of art: Bollywood/Lollywood films.
Use the following link to find out more about how Bollywood and Lollywood films portray the
relationships between Pakistanis and Indians. (It may be useful to focus on the introduction and
paragraph two). Then, in groups, choose one of the examples. Find out more about it and present an
outline of the plot to the class. Compare it with the love affair in the article.
http://www.viewpointonline.net/Old/fullstory.php?t=Girl%20from%20across%20the%20border&f=
full-5-july-23.php&y=2010&m=july
©Gyldendal, 2012