Intergenerational trauma of the Indian partition and public mental health: the healing role of familial bonds

Purpose Despite extensive historical and literary scholarship on the 1947 Partition of India, limited research has examined its long-term psychological implications within a public mental health framework. This study aims to explore the intergenerational transmission of Partition-related trauma and examines the role of familial bonds in shaping emotional resilience and psychological well-being across generations. Design/methodology/approach The study adopts a qualitative narrative approach based on the memoir About Daddy by Meena Arora Nayak. The text was analysed using thematic analysis to identify patterns related to trauma memory, intergenerational storytelling, identity formation and familial resilience. Narrative passages describing displacement, migration experiences and family interactions were systematically coded and interpreted within the frameworks of intergenerational trauma and public mental health. Findings The analysis identified four central themes: Partition trauma, intergenerational transmission of memory, identity formation through historical memory and familial bonds as mechanisms of emotional healing. The findings indicate that memories of displacement and loss continue to shape family narratives and emotional identities across generations. At the same time, supportive familial relationships help reinterpret traumatic memories and foster resilience, emotional stability and psychological well-being. Originality/value By integrating literary narrative analysis with public mental health perspectives, the study highlights how family storytelling and emotional support mediate both the transmission and healing of historical trauma within communities shaped by collective historical experiences.