A Dying BanyanA Dying Banyan explores 'what it means to be a Muslim' in contemporary India. It is a story of the identity crisis of young Suhail. Alleys of a Muslim neighbourhood; exploitation by wily politicians; well-off, estranged cousins, all school dropouts; memories of Partition, of a branch of the family settled in Pakistan; war with Pakistan and emergence of Bangladesh; Suhail's unfulfilled love for a Hindu girl; his sister's affair with a Hindu boy - these set the tone for nagging questions of one's place in Indian society. Suhail's sleepless nights are haunted by images of a dead banyan tree, a symbol outwardly of unrealised potentials, of frustrated hopes, but at a deeper, fundamental level, of the composite culture of India. It is this banyan, then, this cultural emblem, that Suhail finds in decay. |
Common terms and phrases
Abbu Abbu's Abdul Abdul Waheed Khan Allah Ammi Ammi's Anyway Asghar Sa'b asked banyan Bhutto brother burqa Char Minar courtyard dark dream elder eyes face father feel girl Gita gone hajj Hameed hand happened head heart Hindi Hindu India Islam Jansangh keep Khan knew Kusum laughed learnt listened live look Mamu marriage married matter memory Mian mind mosque Muslim Naseema Nawab never night once Pakistan parents Pashto perhaps Pervez Phaphu prayers purdah question Qur'an radio Rajab Rajab Ali Rashida realise Rehana religion remember Saeeda Sahni Salaam seemed silence someone stood Suhail talk Tatya Tope Tauba Taya Abba tell things thought told took tree trying turned Uncle Hanif understand Urdu Vijay Vijay's voice what's word worry Zia ul-Haq