Coercive Powers

         It’s absolutely disheartening that certain parties could not even tolerate to see the victory of Imran Khan [IK]. According to several reports, IK was taking the lead by more than 70% at some polling stations. It was merely through the abominable practice of rigging that a certain party – lets call it X – reached that level. 

     With the enormous degree of love, support and respect IK has garnered because of his honesty and loyalty, others parties are simply not letting him take over the seats and provincial government that he won through legal and fair means. Therefore, IK has been the biggest competition for other political parties.

     The illegal practices other parties have conducted to win elections only show the extent to which these corrupt, immoral rulers have exploited the uneducated masses. They continue to toy with the undeveloped mindsets of blue-collar people. Shame on these parties! They play with the lack of awareness that is so deep-rooted in many segments of the society. They surely could not stoop lower than that. Otherwise, the educated lot of this nation was in favour of PTI. Never before has there been such colossal support for a party. The youth hardly ever voted before, but IK gained millions of voters across the country and those too comprised of youngsters in majority. This is exactly why voting was stopped at several polling stations. Everyone I know has voted for PTI. We have seen an astonishingly great number of voters for PTI and we were anticipating its victory. The question is: where have all those votes gone? Surely they have been meddled with.

     Yet again, Pakistan continues to go through dark times. During these terrible times, one can only hope for a miracle - in the form of a revolution. IK should remain headstrong as always and continue to inspire, encourage and instill patriotism amongst the masses. Your time will come, IK. We will overthrow the government one day. We have proved that we are not spectators; we are indeed participants of this nation’s progress.  We should continue fighting for this nation. To civilians out there, please do not lose hope and never give up. We should continue to struggle, with all our might, for Pakistan. We have to be extremely tolerant and endure the deteriorating conditions for a few more years. Chances are the whole nation will wake up and realize the gravity of the mess that currents parties have made of our dear, beloved Motherland! Chances are that elections might be held again within a span of 5 years and IK will definitely come to power.  IK will rule for sure one day and soon good shall triumph over evil!

Purpose of the blog

     I should probably have included this at the very beginning; however, it did not occur to me at that time. Anyway, I have made this blog entirely for fun. I enjoy writing; hence, this blog is my platform to share thoughts, feelings, emotions and perceptions. It is in my interests to write a journal as well as a blog to vent my emotions regarding issues I feel strongly about.

     Moreover, I enjoy listening to music and share it out of joy with other people. As soon as I find ways to add music to blogspot, I shall upload mine. My favourite artists include Linkin Park, Breaking Benjamin, Beach Boys, Beatles, Boyce Avenue, Bryan Adams, Phil Collins, Snow Patrol, Sigur Ros, Jean Michel Jarre, Michael Jackson, Richard Marx, Bruce Springsteen and U2!

      I also love reading novels during spare time. What I want to do is share my books with others too. They shall be uploaded as well as soon as I find out how they can be added. My favourite authors consist of Paulo Coelho, Agatha Christie, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, Emily Bronte, J. K. Rowling, Jodie Picoult, J.R.R Tolkien and P.G. Wodehouse.

     

     Enjoy!!

Unexpected results

     Well, the results of elections were surely uncalled for. We were totally hoping for Imran Khan [IK] to win these elections. However, this has sadly not been the case. I am not going against anyone for this matter. After all, we are a democratic nation and everyone has the right to vote for whom they please.

     Nonetheless, I do feel that IK had high chances of winning this year. Had it not been for the inefficiency on the part of some administrative staff, mismanagement, postponement in arrival of ballot papers and other stationary items and rigging, IK could have taken the lead. Furthermore, overseas Pakistanis were disallowed from voting, which is completely nonsensical. 

     I condemn those activists who have indulged in such detestable acts. It is totally unfair in terms of freedom of speech and prerogatives of civilians. Who are these people to create obstacles when it comes to voting? Surely, they have breached that right! I want elections to be rescheduled so that people who did not get to vote can get a fair chance to vote again.

     Where Karachi is concerned for the next five years, I see a gloomy future. I visualize a living nightmare with more violence, corruption, thievery, murder and bloodshed than ever. This is probably owing to the lack of awareness and literacy of the masses. Surely, the ruling parties of Karachi cannot benefit us in any way.

     As for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa [KPK], I congratulate its entire people. They are in for good times ahead. They are likely to flourish and are on the pathway to prosperity under IK’s leadership. Where we, the youngsters – the future of this country, are concerned, what we can do is not lose faith and keep struggling for a better Pakistan and victory will soon be ours. IK has surely mobilized the youth by making them aware of societal issues and driving them out of their homes just so that they can fight and Pakistan could flourish. The response has been unbelievably incredible. He has definitely won our hearts, if not the elections. To us, he is already a winner who has lit fires amongst scores of people for the country. He has displayed his passion and courage. He has made apparent that he truly cares for the country. Salute to the hero!

     In conclusion, hope is not lost. We can neither give up nor be entirely dependent on our leaders for success of the nation. We should keep striving for prosperity. We should play our parts well and work hard for this country and victory shall soon be ours.

Elections 2013

       I had my first voting experience today, May 11, 2013. I must say, I have been absolutely thrilled to see such a massive crowd of supporters for Imran Khan [IK]. His supporters were particularly dominant in Defence areas. Literally, people could be seen wearing PTI caps and not a single anti-PTI voter was in sight. It was amazing!

     For this, I salute IK. It is a positive sign that the youth of Pakistan is already driven for change and progress. We, the youth of Pakistan, have made obvious that IK is our ultimate hero – a hero for all times, a hero Pakistan has never before seen since M.A.Jinnah. He has successfully proved how diligent, passionate and determined he is to make Pakistan a progressive country. He is truly that vehicle of change that the Pakistani society has been crying out for years on end.

     With IK’s widespread influence, I have strong hopes for Pakistan. IK, I pray, sincerely from the core of my heart, that you win these elections. A positive change is what the Pakistani society desperately needs. We hope, with your leadership, economic, social, cultural and religious issues, such as: unemployment, inflation, corruption, poverty, terrorism and others that have long plagued the society, are permanently eradicated.

     It is obvious from the enormous amount of support for IK that change is already on its way. I can already hear the sound of change. Moreover, I have tremendous respect for those numerous PTI supporters who did not back out from long queues and endured hours of heat and perspiration. It shows we are more determined than ever to bring about a positive change. I also enormously respect those youngsters who brought cars full of food items, cool water bottles and juices to keep people steadfast in casting their votes for IK. Hats off to all of you! It shows humanity is not all lost. IK is a true hero who can never let us down! You go Imran Khan! This country is with you!

     Furthermore, to those parties who have tried to stop these elections and injured people in the process, you have already lost! These elections are simply not for you to win! You are now about to become history – a memory of the past. So farewell to you corrupt parties which destroy Pakistan and its image and welcome Imran Khan

The Case of Hamza Ahmad

      A 16-year old boy named Hamza Ahmad is brutally killed. Guess what happens? A page on a certain social networking website becomes bombarded with impolite and crude remarks on his way of life.

     I ask these people: literally, who are we to judge a person according to his way of life? Also, why is religion even included in matters where other people’s lives are concerned? It’s ridiculous that countless people are associating Hamza’s lifestyle with religion. Have you checked your lifestyle? Maybe Hamza had a personal connection with God we are not aware of!

     To all you narrow-minded people out there, you have no right to judge other people on their lifestyles. This is a dire display of illiteracy – no wonder our society is in terrible shape. People have a right to live their life the way they want it and you surely have no right to trespass over that right. You are not perfect, nobody is! So stop telling people how they should lead their lives.

     Where Hamza is concerned, give him a break. The poor boy was only 16!! He was tragically murdered and did not even get a chance to see the world. Just imagine what a painfully hard phase his beloved ones must be going through. Moreover, you would not want people to point out your flaws after your death.

     Last but not the least, I pray Hamza’s gentle soul rests in eternal peace. My heartfelt condolences go out to all those families whose loved ones were tragically killed by a bunch of small-minded low-lives. May God forgive the sins of victims and bless them with the doors of Paradise. May they rest in peace.

Rape Cases: the blame game

     One of the dilemmas of our society, which has been bothering me for quite some time now, concerns rape cases. In most cases, mostly women are victimized and rapes alone are disturbing enough realities. What is more disturbing is the fact that the perpetrator often shifts the blame to the victim for being provocatively dressed.

     Alright, so principally what these attackers are trying to prove is that they are no less than beasts – meaning they act instinctually. What they are actually trying to imply is that they have no self-control! No woman ever has the right to go through this dreadful predicament and no man ever has the right to violate women. Why, you are actually violating the Human Rights Convention.

     We have the timeless example of Prophet Joseph/Yousuf, who was dragged into an empty room by Zulaikha, whose intentions were impure. Even then, Prophet Joseph never gave in and kept trying to get rid of her.

     Having narrated this incident, it can be said that men simply cannot blame rape on victims. If rape takes place, it is only because those particular perpetrators are rapists by nature and women are not at fault. It is because these men are desperate, deprived or attempting to manifest their power through such abominable means. There have been reports in newspapers of girls as young as 5 years who underwent the turmoil of penetration. How do rapists justify violating a little girl?   

      In societies where this heinous crime is prevalent, what women can do is dress modestly. Although, rapes have occurred to women who are appropriately covered, those low-life attackers who roam freely on streets should never be given an opportunity to indulge in such atrocious acts. I hope everyone stays safe! Good day!

     

'In The Name of God' Review

     Marriage compulsion, violence and terrorism, hatred and war, religious fundamentalism, liberalism, misinterpretation of holy evidence and crises surrounding the post-September 11 era: combine them all and you get “Khuda Ke Liye.” From violence, detestation, coercion, extremism and liberalism to misconceptions, this movie has everything to put forward in terms of dilemmas that have been facing the South-East Asian culture as well as Pakistani Muslims residing in the West for over a decade.

  Here we are presented with an irreligious, hypocritical father - X - residing in England who went through an awful divorce and is now cohabiting with a British woman. We are also introduced to his Westernized, British daughter named Mary, who is dating a British boy – Dave, much to her father’s dissatisfaction.  Infuriated by this relationship and fearing his reputation in the British Pakistani community, X lies to Mary about permitting her to marry Dave and takes her to Pakistan. Mary is unaware that the trip is an ambush to marry her off to her religious cousin – Sarmad – in the tribal area of Waziristan on Pakistan-Afghanistan border.  Mary is abducted, forced to comply with religious teachings and sexually molested.

     The movie also displays an issue of religious fundamentalism at the hands of the fanatical Maulana Tahiri – according to whom everything pleasurable is forbidden. He misleads the masses about being too liberal in terms of clothes, listening to music and not keeping a beard and advises them to protect themselves from such sins to score points in heaven. At the same time, he is scheduling for a religious war – jihad – and spreading hatred and terror. He gradually manipulates a singer – Sarmad – into abandoning music for good, preserving the religious dressing and growing a beard. The fundamentalist penetrates into Sarmad’s mindset, which rapidly starts falling under the religious activist’s strong influence.

     On the one hand, we have religious extremism and on the other, the complete opposite. Liberalist frame of mind is demonstrated through X who is completely unaware of Islamic teachings and has been living with a woman for several years. We also have Mansoor – a singer – who travels to America to earn a degree in music and instantly falls in love with an American female. Mary is also an example of a liberal British Muslim – which is reflected in her mannerisms, dressing and relationship with Dave.

     The movie also touches upon the issues surrounding the post-9/11 era and the strong sentiments that evoked amongst Americans. The abrupt attacks on the World Trade Centre take place and Muslims experience a viciously prejudiced backlash in terms of abduction and atrocious persecution. It illustrates the racist paranoia that is so deeply rooted in the American society which has caused the westerners to regard Muslims with suspicion. It also demonstrates the merciless torture that Muslims, Pakistanis particularly, had to endure at the cruel hands of the American authorities.

     In the movie, Mansoor is arrested on account of being involved in the 9/11 attacks. He is thrown into a stinky cell, fed pork, harassed and tortured. Mansoor is an exemplar for those scores of Pakistani Muslims who unnecessarily underwent excruciatingly painful torment and agony in America. It highlights how the lives of Muslims changed forever. The lives of those who suffered anguish in the horrendous cells of America could never be the same again. A lot of irreparable damage was caused physically, mentally and emotionally to those who were imprisoned.

     “Khuda Ke Liye” is one of the most successful Pakistani films of all time, grossing over US10 million dollars worldwide, and why should it not be? Shoaib Mansoor has displayed his aptitude at his level best and put forward a thought-provoking movie. It offers a valuable message to the Westerners in terms of their paranoid perceptions of Muslims. Religious fundamentalists have a lot to learn as well so that they can alter their erroneous interpretations of Islamic teachings and spread religion in a proper light.

     

   

Sociology of Eid ul Azha

    

     Eid-ul-Azha is that time of the year when Muslims all over the world sacrifice animals such as goats, cows, sheep and camels in commemoration of Allah’s command to Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his first-born son, Ishmael to Him. It is also a time when Muslims accumulate in Mecca to perform and fulfill the fifth pillar of Islam – the Hajj. In Sociology, Eid-ul-Azha could be defined from three perspectives, namely: the functionalist, conflict and symbolic interactionist perspectives.

     Emile Durkheim’s functionalist perspective views society as a complex system whose parts work together to yield stability and solidarity. The institutions of a society play significant roles in contributing to its continuation. A moral consensus – where people share same values - is important in maintaining stability and order in a society. According to the functionalist perspective, Eid-ul-Azha performs several functions in contributing to order and harmony.

     Firstly, it is a time when people tend to spend money extravagantly on new clothes, shoes, accessories and animals. Eid shopping, therefore, contributes significantly to the country’s GDP and that national income could be used to purchase resources for construction of infrastructures, improve standards of living in less developed areas, pay off debts to other countries or invest in other projects that would contribute to progress and development.

     Secondly, it is that time of the year when people benevolently share meat with relatives, neighbours and friends. This act of sharing is crucial to bring about love, humanity and peace in a society. It is a festival when people rejoice, celebrate and resort to getting together with other family members for interaction and food. Food, particularly during this time, becomes an important social ritual for jovial interaction and communication purposes. It brings people together in unison and, hence, promotes love and peace. This is an occasion which leads to the betterment of a community.

     Thirdly, Eid-ul-Azha accompanies three days’ holiday. It is an opportunity for people to take a break from monotonous, everyday exhaustive work and reduce stress and tension. Aristotle rightly said that Man is a social animal. It is therefore in human nature to socialize with other people. Exchanging happiness during this festival integrates individuals in a community and through reduction of work-related stress, increases productivity which is crucial to the progress of a society. Human beings, at certain durations of their lifetimes, need leisure and entertainment in order to be productive members of the society and Eid-ul-Azha is that festival which prevents people from being overwhelmed with academic, job, family and other pressures.

     Lastly, Eid-ul-Azha is an Islamic religious festival that consists of sacrificing animals entirely in devotion to God. It is God’s will that we purchase our intended animal of sacrifice a few days before Eid so that we could look after its needs and love it. It is then we sacrifice what we love and share the meat with the poor, relatives, friends and neighbours. Celebration of Eid-ul-Azha enables Muslims across the globe to preserve the Islamic traditions and customs. It is what God wants us to do above everything else we want. Hence, obedience to God in this regard would earn us rewards, happiness and success in life. Karma’s concept, “As you sow, so shall you reap”, is applicable to sacrifice and sharing because in return of whatever we give, we get greater rewards and this is important in maintaining harmony in every community. We lead a better life by focusing on what really matters in life, not our irrational desires.

     Eid-ul-Azha should be celebrated in its full spirit to cherish the abundant gifts of God. History has provided us with numerous examples of people who devoted their lives to the love of humanity. These significant contributors include Mother Teresa, a Catholic devout and firm believer of God who benevolently spread peace, improved living conditions of the abject, neglected poor and offered charity. Leaders such as Nelson Mandela, Quaid-e-Azam and Martin Luther King also played important roles in promoting love and peace and revolutionizing their nations. Religion teaches us to love other people. Coming together on this occasion would establish peace and humanity in a society and contribute to its development and continuity. 

     

   

Themes in 'Interpreter of Maladies'

      The author of “Interpreter of Maladies”, Jhumpa Lahiri explores a diverse range of themes through her admirable narrative styles and writing techniques. We enter the inner world of characters through her powerful imagery and metaphors. The themes range from identity crises in the post-Partition era, communication gaps, differences, food as a symbol of unity, and family structures. The interlinked stories are evocative of the dispersion of Indians. 

     In “Temporary Matter” we confront a couple going through a troubled relationship which gets intimate only during power outages. In this story, darkness is a metaphor for the couple’s relationship. It becomes a safe haven to confess confined secrets and we see how this revelation eventually develops into intimacy. For Shukura and Shoba, it becomes a convenient and comfortable way of revealing their sorrowful secrets involving indiscretions. It focuses on personal tragedies that lead to dwindling affections. After the death of their son, Shoba and Shukumar become strangers to each other and it is only during the electricity outage they make their confessions. 

     A recurrent theme, food, is a symbol of unison. It is important in the sub-continent. Previously, Shoba prepared meals and her home was an open invitation to others during happy times. However, the death of her son changes everything. 

     The story is written in third-person narrative. We comprehend events through narrator’s eyes. We gain information through Shukumar’s memory. Lahiri has used imagery as a writing tool which makes the story highly influential. With a high amount of suspense, the author keeps us engrossed till the end as we become eager to know what follows next.    

     The stories “Mr. Pirzada came to Dine” and “A Real Durwan” involve elements of the author’s nostalgia – a memory of a lost time – that instantly arouses our melancholy. They are written in first-person and third-person narratives respectively.  In the first story, we gain information of events that unfold through Lilia’s eyes. It explores themes of immigrant experiences and identity issues.  Mr. Pirzada and Boori Ma reflect changed times and identities, which are indicative of disconnection, division and a time that has disappeared. The sink is symbolic of Partition, change and alteration. It causes much strife and unrest, just like the Partition. Boori Ma represents of old times and progress. 

     Lastly, “Interpreter of Maladies” explores themes of communication gaps and cultural differences between Indians and American-Indians. The camera is a metaphor for limited perception and view of life through a lens. Mr. Das is indifferent to his marital problems. The rubble of the Sun Temple of Konark is indicative of crumbling marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Das. The monkeys trigger a threat to the family’s safety and are reflective of Mrs. Das’s unspoken secret that could be detrimental to the family. 

     The writing style of the author is deceptively simple and straight-forward. The stories do not consist of complex vocabulary and description which makes it simple to follow the author. There are profound sentiments involved and the impact is strong which evoke our pathos through her ingenious utility of metaphors and imagery. It is this brilliant, figurative writing technique that makes us feel like spectators to on-going events.    

Harlem Renaissance

     In the post World War I era, Harlem became a flourishing centre for creative literary, musical and artistic development. The Harlem Renaissance was a crucial phenomenon that provided musicians, artists, poets and authors of the age an outlet for expressing the miserable plight of African-Americans.

     The Harlem Renaissance, also known as the ‘Negro Movement’, commenced in 1920 and was a cultural movement of outstanding literary enthusiasm and creativity which altered the lives and characters of the black race, explored black life and culture and stimulated confidence and racial pride. The period spanned to the middle of the 1930’s Great Depression. In this era of bursting creativity, talented African-American writers and musicians yielded literature and music in prominent genres comprising poetry, drama, fiction and essays and jazz and blues, respectively.

     During times of meager economic opportunities and when racism ran rampant, the Harlem Renaissance opened doors for creative expression. It fostered a fresh identity for the black race and opened avenues for opportunities and diversity of talent and profoundly influenced African-Americans. They strived to have their own voices and struggled for equality, prosperity, peace, freedom of expression and civic representation. According to Langston Hughes, the Harlem Renaissance was an “expression of our individual dark-skinned selves.” Alain Locke further described it as a “spiritual coming of age” in which the black community seized its first chances for group expression and self-determination.

     One of the most prominent writers was James Baldwin – an African American who grew up in the Harlem and brought out the best works of art. His work dealt with race, family relationships, sexuality, criminal justice and white supremacy. He was a significant literary voice in an era of civil rights activism. One of his remarkable works includes the short story ‘Going to Meet the Man’ – an outstanding display of racism, oppression, injustice and violation of civil rights. It is a reflection of the devastating reality of African-Americans suffering at the hands of the mainstream white society. It brings the everyday reality of the black race into the limelight.

     The black community occupied the lowest class in society and had the lowest standards. They were, in utmost unjust and unfair circumstances, a marginalized part of the society. The story highlights the sheer, cold-hearted brutality of the white people towards the black race. We are confronted with the immensely venomous treachery of the black race. The climax draws attention to the worst of mankind – their animosity is highlighted when they cheer at and celebrate the brutal massacre of the black man. Live burning of black people for the purpose of arousing excitement and attracting unusual attention was a custom. It presents a distorted reality concerning violent rapes of black women and relentless mutilation of black men. Such heightened racist violence, in a sorry state of affairs, constituted ethical norms of the white race.

     The story, being an example of a gross condescension, entails the idea that white people considered themselves superior to black people – which itself is a manifestation of a prejudiced mentality. A cruel picture is presented of the over-whelming, traumatic life of the black race subject to and enduring excruciating, barbaric and merciless torture at the hands of the white man. Their freedom was forfeited, disallowing them escape from unending days and nights of tyranny. This reflects oppressed humanity, suffering under the yoke of imperialism at the hands of the white race and sums up the miserable plight of African-Americans in a nutshell.

     The Harlem Renaissance was an explosion of literary and musical expressions that gave birth to racial awareness and integration. The movement invigorated African-American to produce music, literary works and art pieces to raise racial consciousness. In the events following the Harlem Renaissance, African Americans prospered and were set free from the servitude of stereotypical white society. It contributed to prominent works of art, literature and music, producing timeless classics which depicted slavery and prejudice. 

Critical Analysis on Salman Rushidie's "Midnight's Children" - Book 1

     The novel ‘Midnight’s Children’ was written by author Salman Rushdie. Through this novel, we explore the historical chronicles centering on the life of Saleem Sinai, the protagonist of the story, who was born at the precise moment of India’s Independence from the colonial powers of Great Britain. It focuses on Saleem’s recollection of a sequence of events that led to the Independence of the Indian subcontinent on August 15^th, 1947. He plays a significant role in shaping the history of India and the lives of other characters.

     He starts by informing us about his birth that coincided with India’s Independence. We immediately sense that he is an important representative of India. He begins by narrating the account of his grandfather – Aadam Aziz, in Kashmir of 1915.

     Aadam has Quranic significance and is referred to Adam – the first man on Earth. Adam and Eve resided in the bountiful Garden of Eden. Kashmir is similar to Paradise in terms of its serene beauty. Aadam’s marriage to Naseem advances the plot, just like Adam and Eve led to the beginning of life on Earth.

          The character Tai is the foremost representative of magic realism – which Rushdie uses ingeniously as a post-colonialist device to refer to extraordinary events and characters. Tai has been living from one generation to another. What make him so intriguing are his craziness, ambiguity and warped mentality. Later in the story, Aadam fantasizes his mother transforming into a lizard and sticking out her poisonous tongue. He felt his mother was holding him back from what he wanted to do, hence, leading to his confinement and suffocation. This also signifies mind’s tricks on perception – a consequence of traumatic childhood experiences that alter our perspective. In certain cases, cinema becomes the vehicle for magic realism. Lifafa Das is an Indian cinema arch-type eccentric person who is verbally harassed, attacked and forced to leave. The fortune-teller - Ramran also plays a crucial role in foreshadowing the upcoming events. Saleem prepares us for the crucial hour of his arrival and departure of the British.

     The perforated sheet metaphorically represents fragmented love and a limited perception of life as everything is viewed through a lens. It also relates to disconnection and broken homes and families that result from the Partition. It also has a biblical reference to Adam and Eve who were invisible to each other despite being completely exposed. This fragmented love proves to be detrimental as it leads to marital complications between Aadam and Naseem. Much emphasis has been laid on knees and nose. Whereas nose is symbolic of heritage and is useful as a warning of tumultuous events, knees signify humility and respect. On the contrary, the three drops of blood relate to family ties, three generations and physical relationships.

     Rushdie has emphasized on family life which is apparent when every important event in the family coincides with a significant moment in history. For instance, the day Aadam sees Naseem’s face for the first time is when the World War ends. In another case, the day Naseem breaks her vows of silence is when America drops the bomb in Japan. Rushdie used this literary device to enable us to remember important family events. Moreover, the public announcement of Saleem’s birth coincides with the Cabinet Mission’s announcement of India and Pakistan’s division.

     In the midst of Saleem’s historical account, we encounter Padma who plays a crucial role in the novel as a listener and the readers’ voice of reason. A matronly figure, she prevents Saleem from drifting away into excessive fantasy. He fears breaking apart into 630 million pieces – the population of India. He is symbolic of India of modern times and considers himself a manifestation of Indian history. His crumbling body is a metaphor of the Partition and highlights the theme of fragmentation leading to events of alteration and disintegration of Indian traditions. Indian lifestyle is disappearing slowly; it will never be the same again. The red medicine, Mercurochrome, signifies bloodshed during the Partition. The colour red is symbolic of blood and fury. Inundation and devastation is often the result of brutal mob mentality, implying the capabilities of human beings, such as when an attacking mob decided to kill the single Hindu in a Muslim community – Lifafa Das. This situation highlights the prevailing ethnic, religious and racial tensions during that time in India. Additionally, the killing of Mian Abdullah is symbolic of India’s declining hope and unison. Despite disintegration, people were living with positive perspectives towards life, in essence, denying reality that could be detrimental in the long-term – a situation called the “optimism epidemic.”

     Towards the end of the story, it becomes clear that Saleem’s history is actually Shiva’s history – the boy he gets switched with by Mary Pareira. At that precise moment, British occupation of the Indian subcontinent comes to a drastic end.

     The novel is written in first-person narrative. Salman Rushdie is known for his haphazardous and heavily descriptive content and disorganized writing style. His confusion concerning important historical dates makes him an increasingly unreliable narrator. At times it becomes hard to follow the narrator due to simultaneous, perplexing narration of events of the past and present. This is referred to as a ‘stream of consciousness’ where many events that do not take place simultaneously are narrated at the same time. Through his vivid description, the author reveals his gift with metaphors that have been used brilliantly throughout the narration of events. These powerful metaphors, along with inflated words, give us a clear picture of events in our imagination. He is full of surprises when narrating events that we least expect and often makes them hilarious when it is supposed to be a serious novel. The whole story is like watching a Bollywood movie. Rushdie’s influence of cinema is apparent in the rapidly changing events, fragmented love and the sudden pace that he picks up at the end of the book. The whole experience is dizzying, yet fantastical, captivating and exhilarating.  

Melancholic nostalgia: The connection between ‘Spring in Fialta’ and ‘Suicides”

     ‘Spring in Fialta’ by Vladimir Nabokov comprises of painful recollections of the past. The theme of nostalgia gives in way to frustrations, jealousies, obsessions and a desire for more, all of which prove to be detrimental. The melancholic atmosphere of the story gives a sense of lost opportunities, of what could have been.

     The setting of the story and its reflective tone are depressing, apparent in their vivid description and bizarre imagery. It gives a surreal setting of a sleepy town, almost in a dream-like state.

     Nina is the source of the narrator’s painful memoirs.  In his mind, change is constantly taking place, representative in the changing weather. The very presence of her makes him feel sad, triggers his memoirs and makes him possessive and jealous.

     The theme of transience could represent an Orthodox Christian perspective that life if fatalistic and temporary; nothing lasts forever. There is a possibility for things to repeat later in life, for instance, Victor’s chance encounters with Nina. It makes us question our Fate. However, we have no control of our Fate and life is full of uncertainties.

     ‘Suicides’ by Cesare Pavese presents another scenario of melancholic nostalgia, and one-sided love’s contribution to fatal consequences. The story is a recollection of an author suffering from years of remorse and delusions. He recalls his intimate relationship with a dead woman and reveals the guilt he feels.

     As the events unfold, the author loses our sympathy due to his cruel treatment towards Carlotta, a vulnerable woman. The narrator caused her unhappiness, played false on her and did not take his commitment with her seriously. He is unreasonably harsh and cruel to her, treating her like a play thing.

     He struggles with loneliness, simultaneously enjoying it. When he desired company, he used Carlotta to fulfill his physical need, emotionally hurt her then instantly left her. He felt relieved after releasing his anger on her. The fact that Carlotta took him as his lover infuriated him. He could not bear to see her happy. He comforted himself at the expense of being verbally harsh to her.

     He caused her so much emotional pain, agony and suffering that “she lost her good looks.” The only time he is thoughtful about her is when he ensures shutting the café door carefully, knowing that the slam of the door “was battering on her brain.’’ In the end, Carlotta committed suicide by leaving the gas on in her apartment.

     Carlotta could be representative of the author’s great American love, actress Constance Dowling. He was chronically depressed, which is prevalent in the story. He was not willing for a serious attachment with any woman. There are profound emotions of tension, pain and despair involved in the story; he had no idea what he wanted.

     The authors harboured a narrow perspective of life. They questioned existence and were dissatisfied. According to source ‘Suicide in the Literary Work of Cesare Pavese’, he “narrowed his existential horizon to the point of being less and less capable of living in the world and projecting himself into the future. Hence, this acute feeling of incapacity caused him to have lasting experiences of failure that brought him to view suicide as the only way to free himself from the torment.” He eventually died from an overdose of barbuities.