Pakistan's class divide: Religious bigotry woven in short stories

New Delhi, March 7
Pakistani author Ali Akbar Natiq has irked many people, including religious authorities with his writings that highlight the yawing class divide in their society and challenge blind devotion of religious ideas. A slice of this stinging reality has reached Indian audiences through an anthology of short-stories.

The Islamabad-based author has been writing about the invisible and neglected section of the society since 2009. They are very much a part of his own world because the 38-year-old never had an easy life.

Son of a labourer, he had to pick up a job when he was 15, but somehow managed to fan his quest for Urdu literature by becoming a voracious reader. His collection of 12 short-stories “What Will You Give This Beauty” (Penguin; Rs. 399) has been translated from Urdu to English by Faiz Ahmed Faiz's grandson Ali Madeeh Hashmi.

The unpredictable sad ending, emotions of revenge, betrayal, caste-divide, sermons from religious leaders and melancholy are the threads with which Natiq weaves his narrative together.

Stories like “Jeera's Departure”, “Qaim Deen”, “A Mason's Hand” represent growing ailments that have crippled Pakistan's population and take it many years backward.

“What I have been writing about is very much a part of my life. How the world is trying to perceive Pakistan – as a happening destination where the elite class is in the forefront as just a faction of our lonely world. In Pakistan, 99 percent of the people are fighting everyday for their survival,” Natiq told IANS in an interview on the phone from Islamabad.

“I am telling these stories and they(stories) reflect the tragic end of the poor community. This is the reality and I am not painting any colourful picture of Pakistan,” he added.

His way of reflecting the real story of Pakistan's population has not gone well with many. In the past he has been threatened, beaten several times and has also gone into hiding for several days. But nothing could stop him from writing about the reality.

“These days there has been massive propaganda to keep me away from universities where I teach or to other cultural institutions. But I have never bowed down and neither will I,” he said.

“Faiz had once said 'Yeh Jaan to Aani Jaani Hai, Iss Jaan Ki To Koi Baat Nahi'(This life will come and go and one shouldn't worry about life). So we all know that we have to die, so I have nothing to fear. I will continue to write,” he added, saying his debut novel “Naulakhi Kothi” has been received well in Pakistan.

“This novel elaborates on why the so-called elite have been able to rule us even after the British left many decades ago. Why are we (the poor people) are being treated as servants. Who was better – the British or this elite,” asked Natiq.

Apart from his disdainful attitude towards the elite, religious leaders have often been targeted in his short stories. In his writings, he exposes their double standards and vile nature, and how they exploit in the name of religion.

“What happens here is the elite have their own schools and lifestyle. They become the face of Pakistan, but the majority among us can't afford to send our children to good schools, so we end up sending them to madrassas,” he said.

“These madrassas don't educate these children for a better future but prepare them to become mullahs, clerks or even jihadis,” he added.

Intrepid and determined, Natiq is busy writing short-stories and gearning up for his second novel.