“Khamoshi jab had say barh jaati hai tou
ihtejaaj ban jaati hai” – Nasir
Nasir is presented in the drama as one of
the “revolutionary” characters, that is, he is part of an enlightened group of
people who believe that change is required in the Pakistani political
landscape. In my opinion such a character is problematic because his approach
to revolution is problematic. Nasir asserts that even silence can take on the
form of “ihtejaaj”, the drama itself shows the pitfalls of such an approach in
the treatment of characters who chose to remain silent.
An example of such a character is Amir-un-Nisa, who remains largely silent
through out the drama. Her silence is extreme (had say ziada) for not only does
she not speak but even when she does her meaning is vague and obscure, to the
point that she appears in the drama almost like a mad woman. Thus this
unspeaking character occupies the space of the subaltern figure who is rendered
helpless.
Sher Bano too choses the path of silence,
though this guarantees her a divorce this does not guarantee her a happy life
with Nasir. It is only once she speaks out against her father, addressing his
cruelties upon his own children is she able to join him.
Thus Nasir’s advocation of silent
revolution is misleading because it assumes that there is voice within the
silence powerful enough to resonate with the oppressor where as the drama shows
that this is clearly not the case.
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