#DoctorWho did something radical tonight. An episode where they time travel to 1947 India & Pakistan at the time of the partition. Huge kudos to @VinayPatel for writing such a powerful and unique episode. This sci fi nerd child of Indians is in awe.
@VinayPatel First of all - for an episode airing on Remembrance Day, a hugely important memorial day in the UK, they told the story of an Indian veteran. Despite the fact that millions of Indians fought in Britain's wars, the stories of Indian soldiers rarely get told.
@VinayPatel Second - as if just taking modern day English time travellers back to 1947 India & Pakistan wasn't fraught enough (and there is a 'sit down, colonizer' moment), they take on the issue of a Muslim-Hindu wedding *during the partition.*
@VinayPatel My grandparents were alive during the partition. My dad was a very young child. And I only really learned in the last few years how many people died during and because of it. Over a million, maybe 2 million, dead. Many millions more displaced.
@VinayPatel And #DoctorWho just taught millions and millions of people in the UK/US about those lesser known tragedies tonight. I'm already seeing tweets from people who said they didn't know much about partition or the origins of independent India and Pakistan before.
@VinayPatel and what the aliens said about bearing witness to the death of those who pass 'unseen'....and thinking about why that applies so hugely to people who died alone during the partition....whew. all the tears. this is sci fi historytelling at its best
@VinayPatel also also also that moment where the Doctor is so delighted at getting her mehndi done and says it's the coolest thing ever and she never got to do it as a man:
1) white woman appreciating, not appropriating brown culture ✅
2) doctor celebrating womanhood (still new!) ✅
1) white woman appreciating, not appropriating brown culture ✅
2) doctor celebrating womanhood (still new!) ✅
.@VinayPatel is the second person of color to write a #DoctorWho episode. IN THE SHOW'S 55 YEAR HISTORY!! And - surprise - he's written one of the most interesting episodes ever. There are so many stories to tell.
@VinayPatel Now, go ask your parents, or grandparents if you're lucky enough to still have them around, about the stories they haven't told you yet. <3
@VinayPatel OH, and if you think the tensions & deep hurt from partition are a thing of the past: my Muslim friend married her Hindu husband in America in 2015, and they had to find a progressive imam to do the ceremony. That was a big storyline in 1947, too.
@VinayPatel I'll leave you with this beautiful shot 💘 
