QAISRA SHAHRAZ'S HOLY WOMAN

already finishing Qaisra Shahraz’s Holy Woman… From my point of view, this thick novel reminds me of Indian films…the conflict, the plot, the characters and the ending are typically similar to those Bollywood films, except that it’s added with Islamic dogmas or creeds. The conflict is built between the heroine and her patriarchal family structure and existing social values and norms (typical family structure of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh where women are inferior compared to male sex… the heroine or the hero will always oppose the existing social norms and values, and they always win), the plot flows forward without any obstacle and sometimes too slow in some parts and fast in others, the characters always have perfect feature and trait (the heroine is beautiful and smart like a princess and the male is gorgeously handsome, lol), and it has a happy ending; sadly the conflict is easily solved by the dead of the heroine’s sister and father so that she could easily get her love of life…just like many Indian films I’ve seen on TV. The only difference is that this novel is narrated with beautiful language and with such deep insight of social customs and values in Pakistani rural areas. The engaged marriage, the buzz and uproar of parent to find suitable husband/wife for their daughter/son, the social status differentiation/marriage inter caste/status, the strong patriarch structure system, are blended with its intrigues

Set in mainly in contemporary Pakistan, London and Egypt, Zarrie Bano was a glamorous 28 year-old daughter of a wealthy Muslim landowner, Habib Khan. She had wealth, beauty and brains and plenty of freedom…obtaining master in psychology… . In short, she had everything a girl wish for. Yet, she was always a rebel to existing tradition and norms as well as religious one. . When it’s a custom for woman in Pakistan to wear duppatta (head veil, like what Benazir Bhutto always wore on her head), she had hard times to keep dupatta on her head. When a girl of her age should remain at home and accompanied with one of her family members wherever she went, she stayed in rented home to study in Karachi without any companion. She spent less time to study religion and rarely conducted a five time prayers as obligatory deed for every muslim. At the age of 27, she remained unmarried, since none of the suitors she had met at university in Karachi or within her privileged family circle came close to her ideal man.

Her love at first sight took place in a mela (traditional celebration in rural Pakistan) where she accidently exchanged glance with her brother’s friend, Sikander, a business tycoon who wanted to propose her (Again the hero and heroine were perfect in look and trait). Her father, Habbib Khan, took an instant irrational dislike to Sikander and vetoed the match with reasons he intentionally offended her daughter by paying attention more to ‘biscuit’ rather his lovely daughter. When the only son of the family, was killed in a freak riding accident, Habib Khan decided to make Zarri Bano his heiress, resurrecting an ancient terrible tradition which decreed that an heiress must remained celibate. Wedding, children, love a man and a woman, all will be denied to her. Zarri Bano was thus forced into marriage to the Holy Koran and become her clan's 'holy woman' – or Shahzadi Ibadat, a nun. Devotion and duty made her succumbed. Her life was turned upside down. She lost her freedom and the chance to have a normal life as a woman with marriage, husband and children. Her heart was shattered further when she heard her sister, Ruby married Sikander. Her life was now mainly absorbed by religious studies and obligation.

At first, it irritated me a bit to read how Qaisra Shihraz describeb burqa as a horrible cloth muslim women had to wear from the way Zarri Bano and her family and neighbors saw it. It was black long and covered body from top to toes leaving only enough space for eyes to see. Her family thought she was like a black ghost wearing that cloth. Gradually, the author showed how normal muslims going about their normal everyday lives and does allowed the readers to see the scholarly, gentle side of Islam. It was revealed that apparently there were no real nuns in the religion. In fact, the religion endorsed a family life bound by legal marriage. Zarri Banno had learnt much about Islam and embraced the dress code for women. Becoming Shahzadi Ibadat was no longer a torture as she got much new knowledge about Islam. But her only regret was Sikander…

Yet, I think I am much more interested in the story of other characters… the love story of Firdaus, the daughter of Fatima who was housemaid at Habib Khan household, and Kalwar, the son of Chaudarani Kaniz. I like Firdaus better than the main heroine. She’s smart, independent as well as stern at principles…she’s not a beauty as Zarri Banno but her character was stronger, I guess.

The proud Chaudrani Kaniz, the wife of Habib Khan’s cousin, had always rejected the idea of marrying her only son with someone below their family status. Not mention that Fatima was her silent long enemy since her late husband was handed over proposal to her and being rejected. Thus, her chose Kaniz as second best. For Kaniz, Fatima was a thorn and thistle in her garden that should get rid of and so was her daughter. Meanwhile, Firdaus was an educated girl and appointed as head principle in the local principle. Her mother had sacrificed her life by working with the Habib Khan to finance her daughters’ education. As with her mother, Firdaus had high self esteem and never succumbed in humiliation. She did not take Kaniz’s pride dishonored her without a fight. Her mother once denied status and wealth offered by Kaniz’s husband by choosing an ordinary man. Firdaus would do the same. The conflict and plot of these characters were more intriguing and interesting.

At the end, the end of all the conflicts was so predictable. There’s no un expected result or no incident that could caught my breath while reading the novel. It’s like reading Bengali or Bollywood movies in written version. Yet, the novel gave us some new knowledge about Pakistani tradition and values. It’s a society with strong patriarch familial structure where the practice of Shahzadi Ibadat still lingers… a practice that is actually against Islamic law…