PAKISTANI LITERATURE IN ENGLISH BY MUHAMMAD AZAM, LECTURER, F G SCIENCE DEGREE COLLEGE, WAH CANTT Shaheen Academy

PAKISTANI LITERATURE IN ENGLISH
BY MUHAMMAD AZAM

INTRODUCTION

As with any nation, but particularly a new one, the story of Pakistani
literature in English (also in Urdu) cannot be told without the backdrop of
history. In 1947, the English language itself was a vexed and contradictory space:
on one hand the language of cruel colonists; on the other hand the language in
which undivided Sub-continent’s politicians (Jinnah, Nehru, Ghandi and Liaquat
Ali Khan) presented their demands for freedom and fair governance to the
British. Thus, the pre-partition and early post-partition literature both in English
and Urdu has weaved the fabric of tragic tale highlighting untold and unbearable
atrocities inflicted by the ruthless rulers of British Raj on the pitiable people of
subcontinent. The literature, thus made its appearance during the freedom
movement, highlights the saga of Pakistan, the germs of extreme nationalism
based on religious norms & social set-up, quest for freedom, protection of
cultural & traditional heritage narrated with rigorous reasoning. However, the
post-partition literature deals with the socio-political, ideological and ethnic
problems of Pakistani society.

Muhammad Azam (Lecturer)-Cell #-0333-5418018
azam_numl@hotmail.com

PRE-PARTITION FICTION
The pre-partition fiction in the background of British held Subcontinent
mirrors that barbarianism and brutal behaviour know no boundaries and
barriers. The prominent writers of this period sketched and painted a dark
picture of incessant strife, unceasing warfare, themes of extreme nationalism,
paramount cause of conflict between Hinduism and Islam, caste system,
untouchability, taboos in food, idol worship, incarnation, polytheism and even
metempsychosis.

PROMINENT WRITERS –TRENDS & THEMES
The first and most prominent Muslim writer, who recorded the atrocities
of British Raj in subcontinent with a particular sense of despair and dejection, is
AHMED ALI, who, in 1940, wrote the gem Twilight in Delhi, which is set in
1911, in a Muslim Neighbourhood in Delhi, where despair over the downfall of the
Mughals and the rise of the British is strong. Ali was bilingual but chose to write
the novel in English to provide both Anglicized Indians and the English
themselves with an alternative to the “Official Narrative” of the Raj. And so
alongside tragedy, the Pakistani Novel started with the use of English
to illustrate another side of the story i.e. portraying the theme of lost
freedom and nationalism.

However, within Pakistan there remains much bickering about, who
exactly should qualify as a Pakistani Writer, on the other hand the prominent
Muslim contemporaries of Ahmed Ali were Feroze Khan Noon, Mumtaz
Shahnawaz and Khwaja Ahmed Abbas, who also painted the pathetic picture of
Pre-partitioned Sub-continent.

FEROZ KHAN is well known for his autobiography, “From Memory”
(1966) and the only novel “Scented Dust” highlighting the sociological aspects


of life in sub-continent i.e. the laws of social and religious life in both Muslim and
Hindu Community.

KHWAJA AHMAD ABBAS, who was a socialist and nationalist, wrote
two novels, a novelette, a drama, two collections of short stories, two travelogues
and one account of journalism. His famous literary works are “Tomorrow is
ours (novel), Blood and Stones (novelette), The Umbrella, Flowers for
Her Feet, Twelve Hours, Saffron Blossom and Reflection in Mirror
(Short Stories). The major themes in his works pertain to socialist and secular
nationalistic movements, theme of courtesan and prostitution, Hindu-Muslim
controversies and atrocities in sub-continent.

MUMTAZ Shahnawaz, who was a political activist, got her poem
published under the title “The Spectator”. The famous political novel “The
Heart Divided” which she wrote between 1943 and 1948 sketches the creation
of Pakistan in Indian Muslims’ point of view. The novel deals with the theme of
renunciation of the idea of Hindu-Muslim Unity and the acceptance of the idea of
creating a separate state for the Muslims called Pakistan. This theme is expressed
through the plot which consists of the changing relationship of a Hindu and a
Muslim Family. It is also a realistic and honest treatment of the politics of India
and the lack of distortion of the truth redeems this novel from the charge of being
boring at places.


THE NINETEEN FIFTIES
The early post-partition literature obviously succeeded in capturing the
sense of disillusionment, which started to spread during 1950’s. It created quite a
stir at the time of its publication and is considered to be one of the important
literary works in Pakistan’s early history.

At the other end of the spectrum, we come across subtle artistically refined
modes of dealing with reality in Pakistan, which usually focus on individual
experience, views of liberal democratic elite, who regarded democracy, freedom
and egalitarianism as desirable political traditions, which were being threatened
by Russian version of totalitarian socialism on the one side and on the
other by Maulana Maudoodi’s Jammat-e-Islami. However, the English writers
during this period didn’t support the Fundamentalists’ dogma and the above
mentioned themes and issues are better represented in the English translations
of poetry and prose.

The prominent publication in the year 1950 was “Pakistan P.E.N
Miscellany” edited by Ahmed Ali having a prefatory note by Shahid
Suhrawardy. It was the time, when most of the Indian Writer’s credo was the
democratic ideals and liberalism. Thus on the whole, theory of social realism was
stressed.

The editor of P.E.N has included a story by Saadat Hassan Manto
(1912-1955), a renowned short stories writer of South Asia, who produced great
literature out of the events relating to the India-Pakistan Independence. His story
“The New Constitution-1935” and Syed Waliullah’s story “The Escape”
can be referred to in this context.


In 1952, Elsa Kazi, Vice Chancellor of Sindh University published a
novel called “Old English Garden Symphony” having a musical structure.
During this decade, the short stories were getting popular and were used as a tool
to express the social problems prevailing in the contemporary society.

ZAIB-UN-NISA HAMIDULLAH

Among the Short story writers Zaib-un-Nisa Hamidullah, the writer of
“The Young Wife and other Stories” was the prominent figure.

During this era, some writers had started agreeing with the prescriptive
dictum that their work has lofty purpose namely to “Serve the Society”. This
propagandist and progressive view of literature became popular in 1950’s with
special emphasis on didactic literature.

Mrs. Hamidullah collection comprising of 15 short stories, which can be
divided according to their theme, two stories “The Peepul Trees” and “Fame”
are ironical and are written on the style of Maupassant and O’ Henry; two
“The Young Wife” and “The First Born”, show the conflict between the
traditional values of the rural areas of Pakistan and individualism;
two “Motia Flower” and “Wonder Bloom” are related to preternatural; and
the rest are about old age.

THEMES IN MRS. HAMIDULLAH’s WORKS /STORIES

Zaib-un-Nisa Hamidullah’s claim to literary significance lies in those short
stories, which have a social theme especially authoritarian social norms of the
male-dominating society, personal desire and religious Puritanism. In some of
her works, Mrs. Hamidullah expresses the liberal view of Pakistani Westernized
intellectuals in the language of religion rather than that of secular way of
thinking. However, the fact is that Mrs. Hamidullah has not transcended the
prejudices of her society and this tends to come between her and her perception
of the truth about Pakistani Society.

ZAHIR H. FAROOQI

The second most prominent figure in the literary circles of 1950’s is
ZAHIR H. FAROOQI, who being a young diplomat stayed in Italy, China and
Australia in the 1950’s. His first novel “Love in Ruins” (1960) is based upon
his Italian stay, but it lacks inane moralism and sentimentality. One important
feature of the novel is the local colour, which also reflects Farooqi’s love with
Rome, Florence and Venice and these cities are made to live through his pages.
These cities are symbolic representation of sexual freedom in Italy and Victorian
homosexual trends.

In a nutshell there was no mile stone and masterpiece in the filed of
English creative writings during 1950’s, whatever was written during 1950’s was
of mediocre nature.


THE NINETEEN SIXTIES

The 1960’s in Pakistan History are marked with great political,
sociological and geographical upheavals. The literature produced during this
decade summed up the theme pertaining to the socio-political problems of
Pakistan, its history, its self image, its religious and cultural policies especially the
horrors of war set against an ideology, which glorifies war, the corruption and
selfishness of Pakistani Politicians, the neglect of the cultural heritage, ethnic
discrimination & discrimination against women and social, political and
ideological conflicts rising in East Pakistan and the quest for liberalism.


NASIR AHMED FAROOQI

The shining star in literary circle of 1960’s is Nasir Ahmed Farooqi –a
typical representative of Pakistani Society, which tolerated and even promoted a
certain frivolous type of liberalism; the type which confined itself to pretentious
talk about European intellectual ideas, drinking alcohol in the clubs and not
segregating men and women in parties. His first novel appeared in 1961 under
the title “Faces of Love and Death”, which is based upon the lives of upper
middle class people in Pakistan during the late fifties; however, the life during
1960’s is the subject matter of Farooqi’s major works. His other works are
Snakes and Ladders (novel), Sadness at Dawn (Novelette) in 1967, his short
stories include Younger than Spring Love”, ‘Ah! No My Love’, and
“Money in Bank”.


THEMES/ISSUES IN FAROOQI’S WORKS /STORIES

In Farooqi’s novels and short stories, we find the realistic elements
but there is also an attempt to create an allegory through symbolism. His novels
present a myth of high society rather than the high society itself. One aspect of
high society –its snobbery and pretentiousness—does, however, come through.
During the fifties and sixties Islam, democracy and socialism were discussed at
different levels in Pakistani society. Most of these discussions were ill –informed,
pretentious and vague. Farooqi writes about such a discussion about Islam in
politics in the novel “Faces of Love and Death”. The civil servants, pretending
to be intellectual aristocracy of the country, write articles in a fashionable
magazine, however, it also exposes the nature and intentions of power-hungry
bureaucrats, their calculated selfishness and ruthless opportunism.

ZULFIKAR GHOSE
Zulfikar Ghose, the Novelist, Poet, Story Writer, Autobiographer,
Journalist, Educationalist, Essayist and Literary Critic was born in 1935 at
Sialkot. In 1967, the expatriate Zulfikar Ghose published the riveting The
Murder of Aziz Khan. This was the first cohesive, modern English novel
written by a writer of Pakistani origin. The plot is about a poor Punjab Farmer
destroyed by a group of industrialists, though fiction, was so close to the bone,
that the chattering classes were abuzz, speculating “who-was-who.” Ghose’s
remaining novels were set in South America, his wife’s country and few reached
Pakistan.

The story involves the wealthy and powerful Shah brothers who conspire to
destroy a land holder named Aziz Khan who has refused to sell his property to
them. The novel works on many levels, but certainly it is the story of a culture in
transition, a new way eclipsing an old way. Resplendent with striking images of
Pakistan, the sociological matter is rich: modernization clashes with tradition,
economic progress and industrialism obliterate time-honored values. The Shah


brothers represent the new order, avaricious, devoid of scruples, shrewd
manipulators of the economic process. On the other hand, Aziz Khan
symbolizes the tradition, the land, and the stolid character at the
heart of the old culture. Ghose writes: "And these seventy acres, this piece of
earth, this world of Aziz Khan, did not appear to him as land, as a property
with a market value. It was a sufficiency of existence. So that nobody could take
the land away from him without first taking away his existence."

Interestingly, it is the youngest Shah brother, Afaq, whose seemingly
random act of violence against a teenage peasant girl sets the story into motion.
Afaq remains one of the most interesting figures in the novel. Like the bedtime
story he tells in the opening chapters, he is the monkey who is always running
away from disaster. Indeed, this image foreshadows Afaq's actions for the rest of
the novel.

One of the truly exceptional qualities of this book is the author's style.
Ghose maintains a straightforward narrative in this novel, but in some passages,
the philosophical questions seem beyond the intellectual range of the characters
and this situation gives the author's style some of its unique qualities. Aziz Khan's
story is tragic because though he is a master of his land, he is not a master of
language. Ghose writes the following:

Now a monument himself though no one had come to look; an
inscription in a dead language; a hieroglyph the new literacy did not
care to interpret. . . . Had his tongue been as competent as his
hands. . . .

Yet beyond the specific circumstances of a land holder in the Punjab,
Ghose grapples with larger issues of language and meaning. Often interweaving
subtle and complex insights about the philosophical problems of language into
his storytelling, Ghose frequently makes the novel's conventions, that is to say, its
form, serve the needs of his style.

OTHER MAJOR WORKS BY ZULFIKAR GHOSE

Ghose was deeply affected by communal tension and the horrific Partition riots,
and he has described the experience in his poetry collection The Loss of India
(1964) and in his novel The Triple Mirror of The Self . In an interview he
said:

“To be living in the country you were born in and to be told one morning that it
is not your country is a devastating experience [….] The partition coincided
with a very serious illness of which I almost died, and so that time remains in
my mind as if I had experienced a symbolic death. One way or another, I've
always been writing about it. “

Ghose’s consciousness of being in exile is expressed in the light of his
autobiography in the light of his autobiography Confessions of a Native-
Alien. His other important novels are The Incredible Brazilian, The
Native, the Beautiful Empire and A Different World. In 1966, he wrote a
novel “Contradictions” and the short story “The Zoo People”, based on
existential nihilism and loneliness.

THEMES IN ZULFIKAR GHOSE’S FICTION
There are two prominent themes, which we come across in Zulfikar Ghose’s
fiction namely alienation and deracination. In The Murder of Aziz Khan
one of the key themes has to do with the human consciousness and its
relationship to the past, the present, and the future. Memory serves to order
experience and this order is what we call Time. Yet objects have a way of defying
human ordering. In this novel, objects take on a kind of menace. Like massive
boulders creating rapids and whirlpools in the river of Time, places and
landscapes refuse to be ordered and in fact, distort, divide, and disrupt our
perception of the flow of things giving the novel a resonance and depth that is not
often found in Fiction.

His autobiography expresses the theme of the writer’s consciousness of his
having no cultural roots and being an alien in England as well as in Pakistan and
India, which he toured as reporter in the 1960’s.


H.K BURKI
H.K. BURKI is another well known story writer and has published only
eight short stories under the title “Saqipur Sacred” (1969). His stories have
generally a protagonist, who struggles against moral or social forces of some kind
while being in a temporarily unstable state of being. The guiding values are
humanitarian and the writer transcends the prejudices of his society e. g. in his
story “Some Men are Brothers” he refutes the Pakistani myth that all Sikhs
are cruel and treacherous. Thus the main themes in his stories pertain to the
struggle against moral or social forces under unstable circumstances and
condemnation of utilitarian values and the people who hold them.

MEHDI ALI SELJOUK

Mehdi Ali Seljouk is another writer belonging to the same decade. He
published a long poem entitled My Goodness: A Devotional and a collection
of short stories called Corpses. His tirade reminds one of D.H Lawrence’s
similar tirade as depicted in the novel “Kangaroo”. It is true that Seljouk’s
story-telling follows anecdotal pattern, the conflict is not presented with
sufficient skill and the total effect is, to use a metaphor, one of thinness.
THEMES

The major theme in Seljouk’s works is the struggle of one main character
against circumstances. The circumstances always defeat the individual who dies
but, in some ways, the individual sometimes transcends the pettiness of his life.
Such themes are sophistically portrayed in The Jungles, The Father and The
Sinner.

OTHER MINOR WORKS DURING 1960’S
In 1969, Abdual Qayyum Khan Arif published his novel “Bewilderment to
Sublimity”. It is about a world state, which opens an academy for the political


training of the rulers of the future. But the language is bureaucratic and the hero
is a stereotyped bright young man, who is too good and colourless to be true, and
the plot is rudimentary and uninteresting. Another such book is Saeed P.
Yazdani’s collection of short stories called The Seduced. The stories in this
collection, unlike most Pakistani fiction, are explicit and even obsessed with sex.
The only short story which does distinguish is “My Date”, which was also
awarded the Admaji Valiji Award (1965).

The 1960’s proved to be the zenith of Pakistani Literature in English. As
the society was expanding and getting more and more complex, new social,
religious, ethnic and political issues were becoming the subject matter of the
fictions, novels, short stories, poems and other literary forms especially in the
works of Zulfikar Ghose and Nasir Ahmed Farooqi.

CONCLUSION
With the declaration of Pakistan and announcement of Urdu as National
Language, English Language and Literature secured a little importance because it
was being considered the language of ruthless rulers i.e. the English Race in
subcontinent. However, with the passage of time English language was
acknowledged as a tool for international communication, the early writers
endeavoured to discover the true bed-lock of national identity buried under the
glaciers of myth and obstruction.


The pre-partition literature mirrors the saga of those loyal lovers, who
struggled and strived for the sacred soul of Pakistan, which is not only a country
but an idea which goes back in history to the days, when the first Muslim set foot
in the South Asian Sub-continent. While the writers of post-partition Pakistani
literature in English have proved that they are endowed with matchless artistic
skill as novelist, historians, essayists, storyteller and playwright, thus they are
deservedly admired for their stark realism, remarkable insight into human
psyche, convincing portraits of human beings made of flesh and blood, vivid
observation and attention to details. They are also renowned for his daring
truthfulness, candour, and a unique style characterized by surprisingly original
images, subtle irony and sarcasm.


BIBLIOGRAPHY

 A History of Pakistani Literature in English by Tariq Rehman.
 Pakistani Fiction in English (Source Wikipedia –Internet).
 Pakistani Writers in English by Muneeza Shamsie.
 Interviews of Bapsi Sidhwa.


PAKISTANI LITERATURE IN ENGLISH BY MUHAMMAD AZAM, LECTURER, F G SCIENCE DEGREE COLLEGE, WAH CANTT Shaheen Academy

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PAKISTANI LITERATURE IN ENGLISH BY MUHAMMAD AZAM, LECTURER, F G SCIENCE DEGREE COLLEGE, WAH CANTT Shaheen Academy