KHWAB ANGARAY---AN INTRIGUING ENIGMA

Prof. Sultan Mahmood Niazi &

Dr. Ayesha Maqsood

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We are willing to concede that the phrase ‘a mountain hidden behind a mole’
stands good in case of Naeem Baig’s latest book. The thin sliver of a novelette
titled ’Khwab Angaray’ is really baffling and challenging for those who dare to
fathom the depths of its contents. It compels the readers to delve deep in order
to gauge its propensity, from whatever angle they may intend to judge its range.
Generally, a piece of abstract art spell-binds the beholders with its ambiguity and
fills them with wonder. Its ambiguity motivates them to solve the enigma and
comprehend the essence and, once the task is accomplished, the feelings of
wonder grasp our sensibilities and take us in to the realms of ecstasy.

Just at the start of the book, “Khwab Angaray’, we are faced with the challenge of
comprehending the complex chronological order of the contents. The
introductory chapter bears the date February ,2014, while the next chapter
carries the tag of July, 2010 and narrates the horrific suicide attack, resulting in
numerous casualties caused by terrorist explosions in the vicinity of ‘Data Darbar’
in Lahore, when more than fifty people lost their lives. When we reach the
concluding chapter after going through the labyrinth of zigzag chronological
order, we are baffled to see that the last chapter tagged as ‘Conclusion’ bears the
stamp of January, 2013, i.e. almost one year before that of the introductory
chapter. Such a strategy of reshuffling of the chronological order was applied by
Joseph Conrad in his novels, particularly, in Lord Jim, where the consequences of
delinquency precede the narration of the description of the nature of the
delinquency. Such intentional shuffling of the chronological order compels the
reader to be mentally awake all through the act of perusing the contents. Naeem
Baig has revived the tradition by maneuvering the chronological order of the
events.

Subject-wise, the novelette, goes on revealing the immensity of its scope by first
referring to the sense of insecurity and political and terrorist occurrences
periodically reported in the local press and clandestinely dissipated by the vested
groups with the objective of maligning the constitutional institutions of the state;
then it presents the analogous situation prevailing in Catalonia and stretches it
further to cover the global movements. It is not, just a novel, it can be considered
to be a documentation of the ideological foundations and established ideals of
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Pakistan. Utilizing the basic framework of the story, the author has present a
complete over-view of the various systems, like the systems of British Democracy,
Basic Democracy, Theocracy, Socialism, Patriotism, Freedom of Expression and
Transparency Theory having been experimented in the state. The ultimate subject
of the book doesn’t remain confined to the vast desolation of merely one piece of
land unfortunately or intentionally kept deprived of the effects of development, it
assumes the dimensions of a complete dissertation on the campaigns for self-rule
and prosperity for all, when the global perspective of struggle for rights of down-
trodden people all over the world comes under discussion.

Naeem Baig, being a seasoned novelist, has skillfully applied the metaphors of
‘darkness’ and ‘light’ with the object of drawing the readers’ attention to the
basic causes of backwardness in Balochistan. ‘Darkness with particular reference
to Balochistan, doesn’t stand for ignorance alone; it also takes elements of
injustice and greed in its ambit. Sardars and Waderas aware that their subjects
have been suffering from poverty and squalor but they are bent upon keeping
firm hold on the ordinary people. Balochs apprehend that their ethnic identity is
at stake, while the only guarantee to safeguard of their identity lies hidden in the
acquisition of quality education and building their capabilities to the extent that
they show the courage to enter into competition with confidence and prove their
merit. Shehnaz Baloch, and after her Saba and Saroop Baloch, dreamt of such an
eventual triumph for the province, but the disciples of darkness thwarted their
ambitions did not let them turn their dreams into reality.

Naeem Baig has structured the story of ‘Khwab Angaray ‘ on the foundations of
education and rational thinking. Rational thinking is the expression of self and
patriotism. He, himself, is a staunch patriot and lover of peace. He finds his
country in a state of war and starts a peaceful campaign. He finds his country in a
state where wealth is not earned but robbed. There are persons like Shehnaz
Baloch, who stand for peace and awareness, but they are vanquished as a
reaction to the transparency theory. Khwab Angaray is a reverberation of the
mournful dirge of a state where people are put to death as a reaction to some
ideology or narrative. People who dare to spread the message of peace are
eliminated. People who strive to open the avenues of education and awareness
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are exterminated. Naeem Baig’s novel is a protest. Barren wilderness of
Balochistan can only be turned into idyllic land of promise through education and
awareness, alone. Naeem Baig asserts that Balochistan has been made desolate.
It doesn’t mean that Balochistan lacks people whose hearts throb with the love of
education and peace. The author has presented a gallery of gallant characters like
Shehnaz Baloch, Mir Khan Jamaldini, Saba Baloch and Saroop Baloch.

The reactionary movement sprouted in the province in retaliation to ill-planned

theocratic and autocratic governance. The symbol of ‘darkness’ indicates the
peculiar mental attitude of the tribal chiefs and waderas. The author doesn’t
name or blame any particular chieftain. His intention is to portray the attitude
which stood in the way of progress for all. It is natural phenomenon that sun rises
late and sets early in the valleys surrounded by hills. The period of darkness,
there, is longer as compared to that in the plains. The dark valleys are witness to
the surreptitious burial of corpses and their exhumation and reporting in the
daytime.
ٓ
‫"هیه نے گردن اٹھا کر دیکھا ۔کچھ لوگ دو گاڑیوه هیه قبزستان کے ایدر انے اور قبزوه سے دور ہی اٹھوه نے اپنی گاڑیاه روک لیه ۔ان هیه‬
ٓ
‫سے ایک شخص جو اپنی سیٹ پر بیٹھا ٹھا۔جمائی لیتے ہونے اپرا اس کے ساٹھ ہی اس کا دوصزا ساٹھی کار کی دوصزی طزف سے ان مال۔دویوه‬
‫ک یوه کہ یہ گ ھپ ایدھبزی اماوس کی رات ٹھی"(اپتداپیہ‬،‫نے چاروه طزف نظز دوڑائی نبزا ختال ہے کہ اٹھیه کچھ شچھائی نہیه دے رہا ہوگا‬
)۷ ‫صفحہ‬

If we focus on the terms like ‘yawning’, ’boggled minds’, ‘pitch dark nights’ and
‘incidents of terrorism’, it transpires that all such terms refer to ignorance and
intellectual backwardness.
‫ٹ‬ ‫ن‬
‫صزوپ کو پرطاپیہ ھجوایا ٹھا۔اس کے دو فایدے یو یاکل عتاه‬ ‫"صزوپ کی یہ جوش قسمنی ٹھی کہ شہتاز یلوچ نے اپتدائی علٹم کے نعد‬
‫نع‬
‫لتدن سے انبز بیشتل ریلیصبز هیه ماسبز کتا ۔نعد هیه یاریخ ِ عالم اور ستاستات هیه نقالنی رجحایات پر‬، ‫ٹھے نہال لٹمی کہ اس نے کتگز کالج‬
‫ن‬ ٓ
‫یوپ یورسنی اف یارسلویا هیه ایم۔فل کرنے کی ٹھائی ۔جوبیس پرس کی عمز هیه ٌغزئی علٹم نے اس کے ذہن کے دریجوه کو یکطز کھول دیا۔نہی‬
"‫وجہ ٹھی کہ اس کے ایدر عام چاگبز دارایہ اور صزمایہ دارایہ جراپٹم پتدا یہ ہوسکے جو یاکشتائی اور یالخصوص یالچشتان کے ماجول کا چاصہ ٹھے۔‬
)۰۲:‫ص‬،‫(کوپیہ سے ٌغزب هیه‬

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 ‘Khwab Angaray’ depicts the state of emotional and intellectual compatibility
between Saroop Baloch and Rika so effectively that it could easily lead to finding
some workable solution to the Balochistan Issue through a comparative analysis
of the self-rule movement in Blochistan and the Movement of Catalonian
Separatists’ in Spain.

‫ یلکہ یم‬،‫ کییہ پرور چذیات اور ىجزمایہ جواہشات کو یہ صزف خٹم د پتے ہیه‬،‫”ان پرسکم ًطزیوه کے جواب دیکھتے والوه کے نبز دھار ختاالت‬
‫جیسوه کو سشتے داموه جرید لیتے ہیه ۔ یم ان جوایوه کی پرورش کرنے رہتے ہو۔اٹھیه یانے کے لتے تمہارے چسموه هیه چان ل یوا ز ہز‬
‫صزاپت کر چا یا ہے لتکن یم نے خبز ہونے ہو اور ٹھز ٹھی یم اپنی از لی انشائی لتاضی چاری رکھتے ہوۓ اپنی اپنی چایدپتاه یچھانے اس اپ تظار‬
)۷۷:‫ص‬،‫هیه زیدگی کاٹ د پتے ہو کہ ساید کوئی جواب نعببز کی صورت اجیتار کر لے۔“(یارسلویا فلیٹ‬

‫"خب یم شچ اور ا پتے جون کی آنبزش سے درودیوار پرنقش پتاى گے یو اٹھیه نقین آچاۓ گا۔ و ہ نقش در حق تقت ان کے دلوه پر پنیه‬
‫وتدر اور ًضحد کے رکھوالوه کی نفزت ایگبز افزانفزی کے سوا د یکھا ہی کتا ہے؟‬،‫ عالم چسموه کے گودے‬، ‫گے۔اٹھوه نے اب یک ابی یوه‬
‫اٹھوه نے آزاد سوچ کو ٹھی یلتد ہونے نہیه دیکھا ہے اس لتے کہ وہاه چاروه طزف پٹمار چسموه کی ًشقت اور جمی یوه هیه دھوهیه کے‬
‫يزغولے اور کھی یوه هیه ٹھتلے دور دور یک سنہزے رنسوه کے چشک اپتار ہیه خٹھیه وہ دن ٹ ھز سمنیتے ہیه اور رات کو جیس زدہ کمزوه هیه‬
‫ یا کہ شہزوه کے لتے پنی نشل خٹم دے سکیه ۔ وہاه ہیسی یا‬، ‫نسیتے سے نہاۓ ٹھشلتے ہوۓ چسموه سے لیٹ کر ان کے یوسے لیتے ہیه‬
‫ ًشکراہنیه نہیه چگمگا بیه۔یلکہ ًسینی ایداز هیه عموه هیه ٹھوڑی سے جوشی کی مالوٹ کر‬،‫فزخت یخش گقتگو کی آواز یه ستائی نہیه د پنیه‬
)۷۷:‫ص‬،‫کےنظام کو زیدہ رکھا چا یا ہے“(یارسلویا فلیٹ‬

Saroop Baloch is the central protagonist of the genuine longing for the uplift of
Balochistan. His patriotism is beyond question; his concept of rights is crystal clear
and the realization of the fact that Balochs and Balochistan’s resources have been
exploited is evident to all. Naeem Baig, has in fact, projected his own ideals
through the character of Saroop. He assembles a group of like-minded youth
around Saroop with the intent of righting the wrongs through introduction of
attitudinal reformation by spreading education. It is something unacceptable for
the mighty lords and they arrange his elimination in the dark. Saroop is a gold
ingot emblazoned by the flames of his conviction and struggle, which is further
garnished by the Catalonian movement for separation. The Catalonian youth are,
in return, motivated by Saroop’s passion. Catalonians are, in principle, engaged in
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the struggle for self-rule in quest of security for their identity. Insurgency in
Balochistan assumes sinister dimensions as the body of the movement is
nourished by the blood of fiery youth.

The dialogue between the story writer and an anonymous spectator is the most
revealing component of the novelette. It shows the writer as if he is caught
between the diagonally opposing forces of ‘rebellion’ and ‘patriotism’.
‫ن‬ ٓ
‫"یم نصف صدی سے امن کے پتانبز پروكیطز جمالدپنی کے اجری حصے کو ک یوه جراب کررہے ہو۔وہ سب کارکن جو یالچشتان هیه علٹم کے‬
‫را ستے امن کے جواہاه ہیه یم اٹھیه ٹھی امن کے یام پر مار د پتا چا ہتے ہو۔تمہارے یالٹ کا ایحام نہی ہے تمہاری کہائی کی اس کے عالوہ اور‬
‫ح‬
)۰۲۲:‫ص‬، ‫کوئی نبزل ہی نہیه ۔ ق تقی عدار یم جود ہو۔تمہارا نہی ایحام ہویا چا ہتے۔"(اجیتانیہ‬

The writer is not shackled in the chains of time. He is a historian who does not pay
heed to the whisperings of the shadows. Such whisperings are audible only the
devotees of freedom. The spring of real freedom emanates from rational
conception of the freedom, but darkness and ignorance hold the sway all around.
Corpses and garrulous tongues abound. The crowds are not willing to let the dead
bodies be buried. They aim at leaving their footsteps on the doleful sands of
death.

An African adage sums up the aptly situation: ‘As long as the lion refrains from
writing its history, the hunters would continue to be ranked as heroes.’

……

About Reviewers

Prof Sultan Mahmood Niazi is a former Chairman Balochistan Text Book Board
and HOD English Department, BUITEMS University Quetta. Presently Professor
Lahore Leads University DHA Lahore.

Prof Dr Ayesha Maqsood (Urdu Department) Lahore Leads University DHA Lahore