Zakir's
continuous forays into his fragmented and convoluted memories, a device that
structures the narrative in Basti, are a search for
"beginnings", both the world's and his own (Chapter 1). Intezar
Hussain's detailed treatment of Hindu and Muslim originary myths in the opening
chapter signals the importance origins play in the novel and the life of its
characters. However, Hussain's treatment of these originary myths does much
more. Most importantly, it exposes the social rather than metaphysical function
of origin stories and myths.
Two important ideas surface from Hussain's treatment of the world's origins.
First, the way in which these origin stories confer meaning upon the cosmos and
life in it. The notion that the world began from darkness, from which a single
pearl that birthed the world's oceans emerged, suggests how life shows a trend
towards ever-growing complexity as time passes.
Secondly, this passage also suggests the arbitrariness of pegging down the origins of the world to a particular point in time. "The world seemed to be an endless chain of 'whens.' When and when and when --" (Chapter 1). The exercise, as suggested here, could go on ad infinitum and still not reach a stable end. Furthermore, the "when" seems to vary itself with the passage of time: "The 'whens' that had passed away, the 'whens' that were yet to come" (Chapter 1). This seems to suggest that we consciously or unconsciously create and subscribe to new originary conceptions, as time passes and circumstances change.
Thus origins stories themselves are reified, adapted and forgotten as people struggle to find meaning in their evolving social realities. This phenomenon can be witnessed in Zakir's memories of the birth of Pakistan (Chapter 4). Even though his origins go farther back in time, back to his life in Rupnagar, Zakir treats his first few days in Pakistan as a new beginning. The naivete and wonder of these days comes through clearly in his descriptions of them: these days are described as the "good days". "good and sincere", "luminous". In tone and imagery, these descriptions clearly hark back to the opening chapter's discussion of the world's origins. They render the experience of migration with meaning and significance: Pakistan is conceived as a new home for the growth of their community.
However the passage of time and changing of circumstance, and all that made the days grow "soiled and dirty", weighed heavily on these initial impressions. Zakir's impressions of the new life in Pakistan were initially invested with a sense of community. Pakistan is seen as a place for the flourishing of his community. However, as the people settle down the bonds of community begin to show signs of fraying. Fragmentary individual concerns start to take primacy over the unity of community: "Some residents gradually spread beyond their borders and were inclined to expand into the territory of others. From the others came resistance" (Chapter 4). In this context, Zakir's initial impressions of Pakistan are no longer relevant. Thus, he faces the problem of finding a new originary story that will confer meaning and significance onto social reality in its current, evolved form. "The truth was that I'd never been able to become very attached to the house, and for the room in which I spread out my bedding I felt no affection at all. I found myself constantly remembering the room I'd left behind. Such small, trivial things had suddenly become so significant!"
Thus, even though Zakir's nostalgia-ridden complaint in Chapter 4 suggests that it was the "diminishing spaces" in people's hearts that destroyed his initial optimism regarding life in Pakistan, it was actually the change from migratory existence to settled life that rendered the original conceptions of Pakistani nationhood both irrelevant and untenable.
Secondly, this passage also suggests the arbitrariness of pegging down the origins of the world to a particular point in time. "The world seemed to be an endless chain of 'whens.' When and when and when --" (Chapter 1). The exercise, as suggested here, could go on ad infinitum and still not reach a stable end. Furthermore, the "when" seems to vary itself with the passage of time: "The 'whens' that had passed away, the 'whens' that were yet to come" (Chapter 1). This seems to suggest that we consciously or unconsciously create and subscribe to new originary conceptions, as time passes and circumstances change.
Thus origins stories themselves are reified, adapted and forgotten as people struggle to find meaning in their evolving social realities. This phenomenon can be witnessed in Zakir's memories of the birth of Pakistan (Chapter 4). Even though his origins go farther back in time, back to his life in Rupnagar, Zakir treats his first few days in Pakistan as a new beginning. The naivete and wonder of these days comes through clearly in his descriptions of them: these days are described as the "good days". "good and sincere", "luminous". In tone and imagery, these descriptions clearly hark back to the opening chapter's discussion of the world's origins. They render the experience of migration with meaning and significance: Pakistan is conceived as a new home for the growth of their community.
However the passage of time and changing of circumstance, and all that made the days grow "soiled and dirty", weighed heavily on these initial impressions. Zakir's impressions of the new life in Pakistan were initially invested with a sense of community. Pakistan is seen as a place for the flourishing of his community. However, as the people settle down the bonds of community begin to show signs of fraying. Fragmentary individual concerns start to take primacy over the unity of community: "Some residents gradually spread beyond their borders and were inclined to expand into the territory of others. From the others came resistance" (Chapter 4). In this context, Zakir's initial impressions of Pakistan are no longer relevant. Thus, he faces the problem of finding a new originary story that will confer meaning and significance onto social reality in its current, evolved form. "The truth was that I'd never been able to become very attached to the house, and for the room in which I spread out my bedding I felt no affection at all. I found myself constantly remembering the room I'd left behind. Such small, trivial things had suddenly become so significant!"
Thus, even though Zakir's nostalgia-ridden complaint in Chapter 4 suggests that it was the "diminishing spaces" in people's hearts that destroyed his initial optimism regarding life in Pakistan, it was actually the change from migratory existence to settled life that rendered the original conceptions of Pakistani nationhood both irrelevant and untenable.
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