Sookha Bargad (Hindi)
Manzoor Ehtesham
2020 (8th ed.) Originally Published 1986
Rajkamal Prakashan
pp. 228
This fictional account of the lives of a young brother and sister living in Bhopal. Growing up in a household that is characterised by their father’s progressive ideas and mother’s traditional Islamic practices, the two develop critical thought and try to make sense of the world around them with this idea. The social structure of the city that is characterised by Hindu majoritarianism leads them to question the attitudes of Hindus and Muslims around them. Often this leads to conflicts with relatives and the family becomes increasingly isolated. The larger social issues have an impact on their romantic endeavours and friendships as well. The portrayal is sensitive and engaging. It seems to hold relevance today, despite the communal tension described is from many decades ago. At times, I felt that this realistic portrayal indicates how much our society has frozen in time. Will we never get past the conflicts that were initiated many years ago for purposes that are far from beneficial for society? The novel provides deep insights into how socio-political situations can have an impact on the average household.