Book: A Man from Motihari
Author: Abdullah Khan
Publisher: Ebury Press
Price: Rs 399; Pages: 304
"A Man from Motihari", Abdullah Khan's second book, is a very compelling read thanks to its frank honesty, sincere curiosity, and willingness to admit vulnerability.
An intriguing premise for "A Man from Motihari" is that it tells the tale of a struggling author named Aslam who is led to believe that he is a manifestation of the well-known British author George Orwell. In the story, Aslam struggles to deal with the emergence of right-wing political forces in India while also falling in love with an American actress named Jessica.
In 2010, Khan was given a project by a Bangladeshi newspaper to write a narrative about Orwell's relationship with Motihari, a small hamlet in northern Bihar where Mahatma Gandhi first tried out his non-violent satyagraha philosophy.
Khan also included details from his own life in the book. The author was born in a small village close to Motihari in Bihar, just like Aslam Sher Khan, the main character of his book. The author received his early education at madrasas and schools with an Urdu language curriculum, similar to Aslam's older brother Waseem.
Khan tries to fit a lot into his story, including caste and class politics, religion, a failed marriage, actual political events and their effects on Muslims in India, a majority rule government, and the struggles of an aspiring writer and certain supernatural elements. With the narrative of the story swinging between multiple issues and themes, the geography of the plot oscillates between the protagonist and the author’s hometown, Motihari, to several small towns, Mumbai and eventually ends up in the US.
The novel weaves imagination and straightforward writing together to create a gripping account of new India from the viewpoint of a Muslim middle-class man. Until Aslam learns to change his perspective over the course of his life, describing the lifestyles of Muslim communities, the caste system in the community, and its impact on status, relationships, and place of worship were the key variables that determined the course of his life in various ways.
Abdullah is a great storyteller. Aslam experiences a lengthy, arduous journey throughout the book, punctuated by ephemeral moments of love, connection, and joy. This book offers a realistic view of the structure, conditioning, and methods of operation of society and if you appreciate reading books about Indian tiny villages and religion and sub-castes determining dynamics of social connections, you will enjoy this book. The use of sociopolitical elements or the spooky vibe might improve it further. I appreciate the author's straightforward style, and the impactful first-person narrative. The characters' gradual deconstruction and the numerous facets of their personalities that emerged as I read the novel helped me identify with the characters.
In conclusion, "A Man from Motihari" is a must-read for everyone who wants to comprehend the opposing perspective of an aspirant youth who is trying to construct a life while having several social structure and identity disadvantages. There aren't many modern English-language authors that can provide such a rich viewpoint with such a realistic plot. The majority of the stories coming out of Bihar focus on politics, caste conflicts, and horrible narcissistic individuals. Finding a tale that so beautifully defies Bihari prejudices is energizing.
A very fast paced novel and an interesting plot make"A Man from Motihari" a remarkably absorbing read. A book to remember totally! This novel should be adapted to a movie.
Rating – 4/5
