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. ------- 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 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism