At every instance where the jagirdaar claim to the land and
to prestige is questioned, Jehaniya Shah bellows in anger, “HUM MALIK HAIN IS
ZAMEEN KE! HUMARAY HUKAM KE BAGHAIR CHIRYA PARR NAHI MAARTI”. This phrase
signifies the rigid mindset of the landowning class, which is incapable of even
conceiving that anyone else may have claims to the land that they call their
own. They derive their prestige not only from the “jaidad” that they hold so
dear to their hearts. Rather it is a social construct, one that guarantees them
their “izzat” in society. The chirya is a helpless being, one that can easily
be silenced by the jagirdaar, much like the muzaray on their lands who have
been exploited by the land owning class for generations. This perpetuation of the class structure becomes
very ironic at the end of the drama when Jehania Shah’s words lose their meaning with their
constant repetition. The last time these words are said, their recipient is
Babar sahib who responds by saying that times have changed and that Jehania is
not granted the blanket of immunity for his crimes, just by virtue of being on
the land he owns. Soon after this Jehania considers making a run to “ilaqa-e-ghair”,
however he puts this notion aside, realizing that every area is “ilaqa-e-ghair”
for him and his companions. This indicates a real change in the way Jehania
views his position in society, such that he is cognizant of the fact that he is
not above the law. When Jehania succumbs
to his fate and surrenders to the police, he chooses freedom in a jail cell over the captivity of living on the run. It is particularly poignant that just
when we see some growth of character, Jehania is shot on sight, by the same
chirya that could not flap its wings on his land, without his blessing.
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