Khalid Javed's latest novel, Ikees Aik So Baais, is not for the faint-hearted reader or critic. If one prefers predictable, relatable plots and easily digestible ideas, this book is best avoided. The novel demands a tolerance for complex narratives, spatial and temporal overlaps, and deep engagement with myth, dogma, and nightmares. Javed's previous works, such as Maut Ki Kitab and Naimat Khana, showcase his mastery of combining the real, surreal, and nightmarish, and his latest offering continues this tradition.
A Dystopian World of Torment
The novel follows a protagonist of no achievement, unsightly appearance, and low self-esteem, suffering from maladies of skin and mind. He is trapped in a disagreeable marriage, living in a decimated landscape, and struggling to retain his humanity. The third-person narrative reveals his confrontation with oppressive social norms, religious bigotry, environmental degradation, and personal tragedy. Despite his torment, an essential goodness drives him to care for his premature baby and remember a lost childhood friend.
Javed boldly strips away the pleasant screens that hide the ugliness of societal existence. The novel's bleakness is not unrealistic; it reflects man-made and natural torments. The narrative flow is remarkably intense, with passages that read like high poetry and seamlessly connect with quotes from Dante's Inferno. Javed's philosophical training shines through his direct references and existentialist themes.
Structure and Surrealism
The book is divided into four sections. The first, Woh (وہ), narrates the protagonist's story in a recognizable space and time. Subsequent sections, Tughral (طغرل) and Woh Aur Larki (وہ اور لڑکی), delve into surrealism and magical realism, featuring bizarre episodes and intense, lyrical prose with memorable imagery. The final section, Professor Hafeez Uddin Aasi (پروفیسر حفیظ الدین عاصی), introduces an unexpected twist that sheds new light on the entire narrative, inviting closer analysis.
Dr. Osama Siddique, writing in The Friday Times, notes that he approached the novel as an emotive journey, relying on senses rather than intellect. He recalls his first reading of Crime and Punishment, consumed by fevered absorption. Similarly, he read Ikees Aik So Baais in a single sitting, fully engrossed. Siddique emphasizes that the novel's tenderness and yearning for blissful human relationships shine through the sordidness and cruelty.
Appeal and Significance
This work will appeal to those with philosophical inclinations, who appreciate innovations in style and structure, and who can encounter the macabre while dreaming of beauty. Javed has cemented his status as a writer of deep philosophical, psychological, and sociological preoccupations. His distinctive themes and narrative style give his writing appeal beyond the Urdu-reading world, making his works an essential part of modern Urdu fiction.
