An Analysis of the Works of Notable Female Urdu Novelists - Part 2
By
Dr. Afzal Misbahi, New Age Islam
Translated
into English by Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi, New Age Islam
An
Overview of Some Contemporary Female Novelists and Their Writings
Main
Points
1. Sadiqa Nawab Sahar's "Kahani Koi
Sunao Mitasha" is a popular Urdu novel that attracts readers due to its
quality, which is an artistic endeavour.
2. Matasha is a protagonist who has
internalised the struggles and hardships of women in society and has the guts
to move forward in spite of social oppression.
3. Matasha marries a man twice her age
and the father of five children, but a cycle of problems starts after his
death, lasting until the end.
4. The novel provides advice for women on
how to build a successful life despite social persecution, while also providing
entertainment.
5. Sarwat Khan's novel "Andhera
Pag" explores the oppression of widows in Rajput mansions as
well as local culture, conservatism, and tradition in Bikaner, Rajasthan.
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Sadiqa
Nawab Sahar is the author of the Urdu novel that appeared on the scene and
embraced the shifting circumstances of the new century. The first edition of
"Kahani Koi Sunao Mitasha" appeared in 2008, and since then,
numerous versions have been released. The popularity of the book can be
inferred from these data. The novel attracts readers with its quality. This
book reminds me of a long, creative story narrated in an artful manner.
Numerous stories have been narrated with an outstanding level of quality, which
is in and of itself an artistic endeavour, from one to the next, from the
second to the third, and so forth.
The
standout quality is that the sufferings and pains endured by women, as well as
the kinds of changes that are taking place in society on a daily basis, have
been passionately portrayed. The primary protagonist of the book, Matasha,
seems to have internalised all the tragedies and hardships that women in
society typically experience. She is in a circumstance where the adage
"There were so many great difficulties that they became easy" is
applicable. She has the guts to move forward in this circumstance, protecting
herself from the harshness of society. Her uncle [Kaaka] and a friend of
her father torture her cruelly whenever they have the chance. When a
woman is harmed by her family, she becomes much more shattered.
It
is a great tragedy that in Indian society, the birth of a girl child is met
with more anguish than joy. Any kind of abuse is considered appropriate towards
her. She begins to experience abuse from her parents and other family
relatives, and over time, the chain of these atrocities lengthens. Her right to
choose whether to live or die is taken away from her as she experiences fresh
trials and tests throughout her life. 'Matasha' also
experiences a similar circumstance, which causes her to leave her home and
relocate to other cities.
Matasha, who is forced to live in several
cities and endures the cruelties of her relatives and others, marries a man who
is twice her age and the father of five children. They went on to have a happy
marriage. After the death of her husband, a cycle of problems restarts and
lasts all the way to the end.
This
novel goes into great detail about the problems that parents, siblings, aunts,
uncles, and other family members can cause a girl in contemporary society. The
narrative framework of the novel has a delicate touch. The story paints an
intriguing portrait of middle-class life. Despite suffering horrors from both
her family and strangers, the main character, Matasha is
steadfast in her pursuit of morality and decency.
The
novel also contains advice for women on how to build a successful life despite
facing social persecution. The novel includes mentions of a variety of societal
figures, locations, and circumstances that advance the plot and provide the
readers with hours of entertainment.
Reading
this novel also allows one to appreciate the grace and subtlety of poetry. The
novel also discusses the Hindu extremist family and frankly exposes all of its
customs and practices. The style of the novel is appealing, the language is
straightforward, and the dialogue is endearing and reader-friendly.
In
addition to Sadiqa Nawab Sahar, Sarwat Khan has raised the issue of how women
are treated in Hindu society. The only difference between the two is that Sadiqa
Nawab Sahar highlighted the problems that a Hindu girl has to face both inside
and outside her society, whereas Sarwat Khan exposed the atrocities and
oppressions of the social and religious traditions inflicted upon the widows of
Hindu society by the women themselves. In "Andhera Pag,"
Sarwat Khan candidly highlighted the social status of Hindu widows in society
and the problems they are compelled to deal with.
It
is clear from reading the novels of Sarwat Khan and Sadiqa Nawab Sahar that
many female novelists originated from Muslim society and used the problems
faced by non-Muslim women as the basis for giving the atrocities committed
against all women a narrative form. By depicting the traditionally-locked lives
of the widowed women of the urban Hindu community of Rajasthan, "Andhera
Pag" (2005) has offered the novel a fresh perspective. It has a
profound effect on the reader.
Professor
Waris Alvi writes:
“The
first book written by Sarwat Khan, "Andhera Pag," is so
popular that it demonstrates her creative skills. In it, a widow's suffering
develops into a female rebellion. The map of the priests’ mansions in Rajasthan
is reminiscent of the Nazi concentration camps in its portrayal of the widow's
plight. The oppression of the Nazis was carried out against those they
detested, whereas the tyranny of the widowed daughter was carried out by her
family and resulted from the servile restraint of norms, practices, and social
pressure.” [Andhera Pag]
When
women are tortured by their relatives, their suffering is worse. In Indian
culture, it is normal for relatives to disparage one another's dignity. At a
distance of fifty kilometres from Bikaner (a famous city in Rajasthan),
atrocities committed against widows in the mansions of Rajputs and
family priests, the local way of life and culture, the urban environment
nearby, conservatism, and adherence to custom and tradition have all been
presented in the novel 'Andhera Pag'.
The
ancient civilization of India is briefly glimpsed in this book, where
contemporary civilization is battling to replace the archaic social structure.
The central theme of the novel is the predicament of women. It serves as a
declaration of conflict, struggle, and ultimately revolt between modern women
and the limitations of traditional societal mores, conservatism, oppression,
and misogyny.
Sarwat
Khan herself writes:
“I
experienced a similar event before writing this book. When I visited Jaisalmer,
I was influenced by its culture, cultural ideals, and cultural system. When I
visited Bikaner and Jodhpur, I saw so many details that it seemed as though I
was getting to know every person, circumstance, and exchange of words. I was
shocked to see individuals striving to observe their way of life, manners,
rituals and customs, social and cultural activities, and rules and regulations
in the area around me. "Where is the change?" I wondered.” [Andhera
Pag]
The
conflict between ancient and modern civilizations can be estimated from the
above-written text of the author's novel. There is no question that the author
thoroughly observed each and every character, and she was successful in
conveying this priceless invention to the readers.
(Continued)
Part
1: An Analysis of the Works of Notable Female Urdu
Novelists – Part 1
Urdu
Article: An
Analysis of the Works of Notable Female Urdu Novelists اردوکی چند خاتون ناول نگاروں کی
تخلیقات کاجائزہ
------
Dr.
Mohammad Afzal Hussain Misbahi, Assistant Professor & Incharge of Urdu
Section, MMV, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, U.P.
URL: https://newageislam.com/books-documents/female-urdu-novelists-part-2/d/129803
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