Pakistani literary fabric has undergone a major transformation during the last decade and several authors have penned their works in the English language. Several names come to mind while discussing this topic, however, this article focuses on Faiqa Mansab, Shazaf Fatima Haider, Awais Khan and Taha Kehar.
FAIQA MANSAB — when Faiqa Mansab published her novel This House of Clay & Water, it attracted attention from book readers across Pakistan, especially in Karachi and Lahore. Ms. Mansab has highlighted the complicated details of our society. She has created several characters in her book. Where Nida is the wife of a politician, Sasha is on the verge of moral decline. Ms. Mansab also introduces us to Bhanggi, a transgender living at the Dargah in Lahore. Bhanggi has managed to stir a spiritual relationship with Nida while the world views both of them as outcasts. Two excerpts from her book are as follows: “The sky hung listlessly over Lahore, looking faded as if it had been washed one too many times with cheap detergent.” “She walked over to the huge banyan tree, the bargadh. The tree was ancient, an increasingly rare sight in Lahore. The ground around it was broken and cracked, and the roots had broken out, like the gnarled fingers of a subterranean monster struggling to get out.” The story reveals how harsh society has become for women. Ms. Mansab discusses the male-dominated society of Pakistan and how women are forced to follow their husbands’ orders. Narrated with a combination of calmness and fearlessness, Faiqa Mansab takes her readers on a journey where each character evolves in their own way.
SHAZAF FATIMA HAIDER — Shazaf Fatima Haider has accomplished the task of a steady story progression, revealing the characters and showcasing the protagonist’s journey with her novel A Firefly in the Dark. It focuses on how a jinn becomes trouble for a family. The story begins with why Sharmeem’s mother Aliya had forbidden her to listen to her nani’s stories of Jinn. However, as you progress through this book comprising 21 chapters, you will understand the secrets lurking in Sharmeen’s house. Sharmeen’s ancestors had made a pact with the jinns, and this makes the story more mysterious. Ms. Haider has beautifully articulated all the scenes so they do not create clutter in the readers’ minds. Furthermore, without saying anything, Shazaf says so much with her words. For instance, without telling the readers that Nani was in contact with Jinns, she writes, “Nani watched her daughter walk away and mimicked her panting words, gesticulating to the rocking chair in the corner that nobody sat on” Shazaf has so brilliantly used her prowess of using ‘show, don’t tell’ that will compel you to read a sentence twice. For instance, when describing Nani’s house, Shazaf writers, “Long, tapering cracks snaked along the slabs, as if they were tired of holding the roof up for more than half a century.”
Shazaf Fatima Haider has accomplished the task of a steady story progression, revealing the characters and showcasing the protagonist’s journey with her novel A Firefly in the Dark. It focuses on how a jinn becomes trouble for a family. The story begins with why Sharmeen’s mother Aliya had forbidden her to listen to her nani’s stories of Jinn
AWAIS KHAN — In the Company of Strangers by Awais Khan focuses on Mona. She has everything a woman can dream about. However, she craves a sense of belonging. It is part of the human nature to compensate for what one does not possess. Mona somehow enters a darker world to make herself feel complete. During her journey away from reality, she meets Ali and the two entangle in an affair of deceit. The story depicts how a traditional family living in Lahore discusses life’s affairs and how they ignore or discourage someone not following traditions. While speaking to Karvan.org, Awais Khan said, “In the Company of Strangers is a very contemporary take on Pakistani society. It looks at the secrets and intrigues of the Lahori high society and explores the lives of two main characters at opposite ends of the spectrum who get entwined in things beyond their control. For more, you will have to buy and read the novel.”
TAHA KEHAR — Typically Tanya comes from Taha Kehar. He reveals the life of Tanya Shaukat, a journalist working at Daily Image. Kehar shows the life of a young working woman living in Karachi’s elite locale. Kehar describes with clarity the life of a journalist in her youth who also wants to conform to modern trends. Kehar exposes the workplace mayhem in a newspaper office while also discussing the insecurities women face when working with men. Being a man, Kehar narrates Tanya’s life with perfect clarity. He shows her concerns, doubts, passions and even the pettiest of thoughts that create a plethora of queries about her personal and professional life.
The writer is an independent researcher, author and columnist. He can be reached at [email protected] and Tweets at @omarifikhtar