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The War Journals: Novel of Unanswered Questions
Language: Urdu
Writer: Salahuddin Pervez
Number of pages: 190
Published from: Isteara Publications
248, Gaffar Apartments
The
whole world is murmuring the gushy anecdotes of the war against terrorism;
the ‘holy war’ perpetrated by US President George W Bush. Only a few
dare to admit the fact that Bush is not the only crusader in this type of
holy war.
Salahuddin
Pervez 1 is one bigwig of literature who has dared to unleash the horrors of
holy war and its unholy and messy outcome in his recent novel The War
Journals. As the name suggests, The War Journals is not only a documentation
of war but also a hypothesis for the world’s major wars. Salahuddin Pervez
radiates deep emotional appeal in his narrative style and uses elements
unparalleled in modern Urdu literature-- prose and poetry summed up in one
novel. Such literary revolution was rare in early Urdu literature.
The
novel unconsciously reminds us of the use of symbolism applied so well by
the legendry American novelist Earnest Hemingway. The War Journals (Urdu)
and Farewell to Arms (English) are similar and yet dissimilar. Hemingway and
Salahuddin Pervez know the outcome of war for ‘sustainable peace and
prosperity’, wars where the goal has never been achieved. Both the writers
weep in solitude while examining the predicaments of war. Both have the
flair to be outspoken but also know how to placate and use symbolism. The
major difference between these two books is in defining the nature of war.
It is undeniable that Farewell to Arms imprints the social and psychological
dimensions of the world war and is testimony to Hemingway’s crispy
personification of English literature.
In
contrast to Hemmingway, Salahuddin Pervez releases us from the norms of Urdu
literature. War cannot placate peace. The War Journals denigrates the
pogroms that humanity has faced from its inception until now, and might be
facing it in future. The novel is not specific to any country, creed, and
caste or period. According to Pervez, war is a plague on society and the
aftermath of war renders humanity to drifting dust. An extract from The War
Journals supports this fact through these lines of direct conversation:
Sir,,,,Sir,,,,
Main
abhi zinda houn Sir,,,,,
Hum
Yahan Kuda Kurkut Uthane Aaye hain
Tumhein
Nahin,,,,,
Lekin
Sir,,,,
Sir,,,,,,Mein
abhi zinda houn Sir,,,,,,
Zinda
Ho,,,,,,Kiyoun,,,,,,,,
Hum
Tumhein Nahin Utha Sakte,,,,
Kiyoun
nahin utha sakte Sir,,,,,
Tum
ek Human Being ho,,,,,,,
(Sir,
Sir, I am alive sir. We have come here to clear the debris and not to lift
you. But sir, I am still alive! Why? We cannot lift you! Why Sir? Because
you are a human being!
These
lines from the novel distinguish The War Journals from others and capture
the attention of the world. The epic war Mahabharat2 is lucidly described
in the novel, but one cannot claim that the book has been written in the
context of an Indian scenario. The novel neither exonerates nor pacifies the
kingpins of war. Certainly, some questions lie unanswered, and the reader
must acknowledge that the novel is incomplete.
Salahuddin
Pervez, as a novelist, has introduced a new trend in Urdu novels. This trend
has become the cause of divergence in sections of the Urdu world and has
created an outcry in literary circles. Pervez has broken many existing rules
of literature to introduce a narrative style, which is modern as well as
hypnotic. The writer uses his style of mixing Urdu, Hindi and English words
i.e. Hindustani, to keep up a fast pace, perhaps too fast for readers trying
to understand the philosophy of the novelist. Proper use of metaphors and
similes (Earlier confined to poetry only) and mixing cultural identities has
always found a place in his writings and the trend continues in The War
Journals.
The
holy war that has been perpetrated by Bush has turned both Afghanistan and
Iraq into rubble. The War Journals elaborates on the completely unholy stain
of this holy war that will ultimately shame humanity. The book captivates us
with two other holy wars fought for the cause of religion, fascinating
insights to the Mahabharat war and the Karbala war-- that was the holy war
between Imam Husayn, grandson of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be
upon him) and Yazid at Karbala. Surprisingly, the novelist has attempted to
draw a parallel line between the holy wars along with the war for genocide
by Bush and Blair in The War Journals, which is quite heartening and
shocking!
But
the novel is worth reading, not only as a novel but also to help us
understand the fact that ‘truth and humanity’ should be our ultimate
Values. Unfortunately, nobody seems prepared to follow this path yet.
Perhaps one day we will all realize that war is no solution for peace to
prevail.
Asif Anwar Alig
is associated with ETV networks. With a
postgraduate degree in journalism and mass communication from Aligarh Muslim
University, Aligarh, he has been writing for newspapers since 1999 and
working in the field of electronic media for the last three years.
1-
Salahuddin Pervev is one of the renowned writers of India. He has
been awarded Sahitya Academy Award for Urdu Literature .Beside this, he
received international award for Urdu Literature instituted by the
Majlis-E-Farogh-E-Urdu ,Doha, Qatar .
His
famous novels include, Namrata (1982), Ek Din Beet Gaya, Sare Din Ka
Thaka Hua Purush and Identity Card.
2-
Mahabharat is the longest poem in the world, made up of 220,000
lines divided into 18 sections. It was written in Sanskrit, the ancient
sacred language of India and it tells the story of a great battle that
occurred about 3000 years back.
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