By
Ullah, Inam Gul
Ullah, Inam Gul
Brilliantly written by Hanif, the
novel draws a critical sketch of US addiction to the venture of war and
destruction, its twofold strategy of destruction through war and reconstruction
through its agencies, the plight of the refugees camps, the sorry state of
refugees’ children and a detailed mention of pilots ,jets and raids and all
pertaining thereto.
Ali’s father is over obsequious to
whitemen, he works for them as logistic officer, although the base, Hanger, is
deserted by US, yet he hopes for their return to pay off the standing dues
against them. He hands his son Ali to them who has an aptitude for technical
things. Mother Dear remains down in dumps for her son, but Father Dear has no
qualm about his act. Ali’s brother Momo is a born entrepreneur who always
weighs the values of things around him. Father Dear has no interest in the salt
of the earth, as manifested in his act of selling out his son to the army,
whereas Mother Dear always asks for it.
A very interesting character is
Mutt, a dog by class, but too philosophic by nature who even outwits the other
members of the family in terms of his rational and mental approach, it is Mutt
who sees the red birds and accompanies Momo all the time. Mutt equally mourns
the loss of Ali with Mother Dear. Mutt’s every word is full of wisdom and based
on rational and critical approach.
Ellie is a pilot who has got his jet
crashed, and is finally rescued by Momo in the desert. Lady Flowerbody visits
the camp to study the mind of young Muslims, Momo develops contact with them with a view to
get access to his brother Ali through them. Mutt observes all the people and
analyses their feelings and reactions through his own philosophical lens.
The novel gives a detailed account
of the modern warfare and the consequent surge of refugees. The double standard
of Western world, US adventure of waging wars and displacing communities around
the globe and establishing its bases abroad, are few of the major the themes.
Hanif, a pilot turned novelist does not forget to make mention of jets, flying,
landing etc , they recur in the novel like
his first work A Case of the Exploding Mangoes.
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