In the novel, The Geometry of God, Uzma Aslam Khan escorts her readers through the sensory illustrations as to control their emotions by setting a roller-coaster ride that evokes sentiments of love, hatred, disgust and amazement. Set during the times of 1980s, the novel deals with a myriad of themes; all at the same time.
Indeed it’s worth appreciating the way Khan magnifies various conflicts one after another: reason vs religious fundamentalism, puberty, women objectification, sexual harassment, peer pressure, traditional vs modern values, emotional conflict, erotic relationship, political unrest and war.
The beauty of this novel that intrigues me the most is the architecture of the novel i-e the division of chapters into five gateways: the world, the man, the word, the love and the afterlife. The page of each gateway is adorned with a relevant quote. In addition, the distinguishing trait of the novel is division of narration among three main characters i-e Amal, Mehwish, & Noman. All of which revolve around one orbit – Zahoor.
“In my family, talking about someone when they are present is not allowed. This is called respect.” (Amal)
The Geometry of God deals with the intellectual repression at the times of Zia’s Islamisation when faith was reduced to something that had to be proven
Amal is a headstrong rebel that since her childhood is fascinated by paleontology, a profession to which her grandfather (Zahoor) belongs. As the novel begins, Amal is only 8 years old & as we turn over the last page Amal is in her mid 20s and is all grown up with the other characters. With the General’s arrival in the country, fossil hunting has become a dangerous hobby however Amal is adamant enough to assist her grandfather in his adventures since early age. After her younger sister’s blindness, she looks after her and believes herself to have become her sister’s eyes. Her modernity earns her a stressed parent-daughter relationship and results in peer pressure at work. Nevertheless she eventually finds her love. Although the last part departs from the chronological structure yet is of great significance as Amal’s wedding turns out to be the turning point of the novel which instead of happiness results in a massacre.
“Later Miss Amna said the sayings of the Prophet were spoken ‘out of con text’ (context) which pee pull (people) do when they want to make their own unimportant idea sound important. They make a place for it”. – Mehwish
Mehwish is Amal’s younger sister who goes blind after being left out in the scorching sun by their maid. Despite being blind, Mehwish is blessed with the innate sensibility through which she understands the world – the most. The interesting aspect of her narration is the habit of splitting words into two like – eticut pee pull, sir prized, pass port, inter uping, let ers, person ali – a habit which she later overcomes.
“One of Jinnah’s most famous speeches proves he wanted a secular state. But if I will say this then Aba will accuse me of accusing the founder of being an unbeliever, though many members of his Party of Creation have just done this, after opposing Jinnah for creating a state in the first place”. – Noman
Noman, on the other hand, is the son of Party of Creation’s leader who assigns Noman a rask to make notes on Zahoor, who is considered to be a threat to Islamic teachings of that time. Instead Noman becomes entranced by both Zahoor and his two granddaughters. However, yet he gives a false report on Zahoor’s lecture which reverberates through the rest of the novel. Unexpectedly, Noman’s careless attitude towards the choices he makes, turns out to be of grave magnitude and result in putting the lives of others at stake. He turns out to be the architect of Zahoor’s life and fails to decide where his loyalties lie.
“They call me western. As if scientific discoveries belong to west! Are we to forget of the calendar that Omar Khayyam gave us? What about antiseptics?” – Zahoor
Nana’s character is one of a kind. The reader is able to empathise with his misperceived character for he is depicted as a beast whose existence threatens the survival of Islam. He is put on a trial for blasphemy and remains imprisoned for years. Meanwhile other themes takeover while he remains at the background struggling with his fate and life.
The idea of khayal (thought which comes from intellect) and zauq (an experience of joy experienced through senses) sums up the approaches to God by Khan in contrast with the beliefs of religious fundamentalism.
Reading “Geometry of God” is like revisiting history through Khan’s chosen characters; where political and historical events are least highlighted. The book deals with the intellectual repression at the times of Zia’s Islamisation when faith was reduced to something that had to be proven. As you turn over the last page, you feel devastated and ripped apart with the loss of not just one but many. Don’t forget to keep a pack of tissues as you reach the half of novel!
Published in Daily Times, October 16th 2018.