If you want to understand how to become better allies to people with disabilities, then join us at Embracing All Abilities: Including People with Disabilities at Work.
Akbar Agha‘s, The Fatwa Girl, while a youthful tale of love and dreams, also addresses the complicated issues of religion, tradition and beliefs.
Pakistani author Akbar Agha’s The Fatwa Girl, a tale of youthful love, also addresses the complex issues of religion and tradition in a conformist society.
Review by Anne John
The Fatwa Girl is a nickname, proudly bestowed upon the bold and beautiful Amina, after her spirited campaign against the menace of suicide bombers in Pakistan today. Smart and charming, she seems like the ideal girl-next-door; only with lofty ideals and idealistic visions for her country and religion. It is not surprising then, that her neighbour, young Omar falls for her – and thus begins a tender love story, not unlike the hundreds of love stories that bloom everyday in our own backyards.
By giving his heroine Amina a special passion for poetry, Akbar Agha is able to scatter several lovely snippets by renowned poets throughout the book. One such verse by Omar Khayyam featured at the beginning, is enough to prepare us and set the mood for a bittersweet tale.
Ah Love! Could you and I with fate conspire,
To grasp this sorry scheme of things entire,
Would we not shatter it to bits and then,
Remould it closer to the heart’s desire.
As Amina and her friends try to bring change to their society, their energy and optimism is infectious, and you too are filled with hope. But somewhere, the cynic in you (or should I say realist?) also knows that their success is far too simplistic and easy to last long. As expected, Life intervenes with a mind of its own – and alters their naive plans.
When Amina gradually gets entangled in a web of illusions and deceptions, we are helpless spectators to the inner turmoil of a young woman pitched against her core beliefs. Having come across numerous cases of domestic abuse, one can clearly see how a young woman gradually ends up accepting the vile treatment meted out to her, inspite of being educated and socially well-off, because she is inherently conditioned to accept the set rules without question. We can empathize with Amina as her frustrations and disappointments mount, until eventually, a spark of defiance sets fire to her inwardly raging spirit, culminating in a dramatic climax.
There is also a parallel Devdas-style interlude involving Omar who finds himself enjoying the company of a dancing girl called Gulbadan. Although a little cinematic, it works as an entertaining distraction and gives us a clearer insight into Omar’s character. I was particularly thankful that instead of following the cliche and sinking into a drug-induced stupor, Omar takes it upon himself to do some good for Gulbadan and her young daughter.
The story is mostly narrated in the first person by Omar, but manages to deliver the perspectives of the various characters. The language is simple and easy to grasp, with the author maintaining a colloquial and flowing voice.
Akbar Agha weaves an interesting tale of youthful hopes and virtuous aspirations, whose protagonists are caught between their own wishes and the hypocritical, yet strict rules of a society worn at the edges. In the end all the dashed hopes and shattered dreams are summed up aptly in this poignant conversation,
She got up and sighed. “For all the sad words of tongue and pen…’
I broke in, “The saddest are these, ‘It might have been.’”
Publishers: Hachette India
If you’re planning to purchase The Fatwa Girl by Akbar Agha, do consider buying it through this Women’s Web affiliate link at Flipkart. We get a small share of the proceeds – every little bit will help us continue bringing you the content you like!
Anne John loves to play with words and calls herself a reader, writer, explorer & dreamer. She has a wide range of interests and has recently jumped onto the Mommy Vlogger bandwagon! read more...
Women's Web is an open platform that publishes a diversity of views, individual posts do not necessarily represent the platform's views and opinions at all times.
Stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter or Daily Summary - or both!
What I loved was how there is so much in the movie of the SRK we have known, and also a totally new star. The gestures, the smile, the wit and the charisma are all too familiar, but you also witness a rawness, an edginess.
When a movie that got the entire nation in a twist – for the right and wrong reasons – hits the theatres, there is bound to be noise. From ‘I am going to watch it – first day first show’ to ‘Boycott the movie and make it a flop’, social media has been a furore of posts.
Let me get one thing straight here – I did not watch Pathaan to make a statement or to simply rebel as people would put it. I went to watch it for the sheer pleasure of witnessing my favourite superstar in all his glory being what he is best at being – his magnificent self. Because when it comes to screen presence, he burns it, melts it and then resurrects it as well like no other. Because when it comes to style and passion, he owns it like a boss. Because SRK is, in a way, my last connecting point to the girl that I once was. Though I have evolved into so many more things over the years, I don’t think I am ready to let go of that girl fully yet.
There is no elephant in the room really here because it’s a fact that Bollywood has a lot of cleaning up to do. Calling out on all the problematic aspects of the industry is important and in doing that, maintaining objectivity is also equally imperative. I went for Pathaan for entertainment and got more than I had hoped for. It is a clever, slick, witty, brilliantly packaged action movie that delivers what it promises to. Logic definitely goes flying out of the window at times and some scenes will make you go ‘kuch bhi’ , but the screenplay clearly reminds you that you knew all along what you were in for. The action sequences are lavish and someone like me who is not exactly a fan of this genre was also mind blown.
Recent footage of her coming out of an airport had comments preaching karma and its cruel ways, that Samantha "deserved her illness" because she filed for divorce.
Samantha Ruth Prabhu fell from being the public’s sweetheart to a villain overnight because she filed for divorce. The actress was struck with myositis post divorce, much to the joy of certain groups (read sexist) in our society.
A troll responded to Samantha’s tweet, “Women Rising!!” by adding to it “just to fall”. She replied, “Getting back up makes it all the more sweeter, my friend.”
Here’s another insensitive tweet by BuzZ Basket showing fake concern for her autoimmune disease. “Feeling sad for Samantha, she lost all her charm and glow. When everyone thought she came out of divorce strongly and her professional life was seeing heights, myositis hit her badly, making her weak again.” Samantha responded, “I pray you never have to go through months of treatment and medication like I did. And here’s some love from me to add to your glow.”
Please enter your email address