Intizar Hussain’s works are imbued with legends and
connections to different mythologies. When Sabirah and Zakir are playing, a reference
is made to Laila and Majnun’s story in which Laila denies alms to Majnun ,even
though he has a bowl in his hand like the other beggars on the street. Minutes
later Majnun strikes a brick on his forehead and the ever so empty begging bowl
starts brimming with coins. This legend can be linked to the basti, where there are expectations,
rules, regulations, societal considerations attached to every individual; and
each character has to conform to the norms defined for them. When Majnun , a
young ,decent looking boy asked for alms no one bothered sympathizing with the
boy but when his physical appearance deteriorated and conveyed signs of
hardship and gloom people actually started believing he was a beggar and gave
him money. Therefore, outlining how everything the basti had, had layers to it, everything that appeared on the
periphery wasn't exactly what it really was. Each of the characters on the
forefront seemed like ordinary beings whereas on deeper analysis revealed
multiple levels of duplicity of character. For example, Zakir an extremely normal
child, played games and toys like all children in fact had a deep sense of association
with Hindu mythologies so much so that Bi-Amma scolded him saying “Why were you
born in our house? You should've been born in some Hindu's house”.
The basti therefore
was the home of human contradiction and confusion where nothing was what it
really seemed and every agent was in exile, trying to find its true meaning.
No comments:
Post a Comment