A Tale of an
Enchanting World (“ناول ”موکي) (Sindhi Novel Mowkhi)
Reviewed By Manoj
Kumar
Amar Leghari is widely known for his writings on environment. He has written extensively on flora and fauna of Nara Valley and on endangered species. He has on his credit one of the very few books written in Sindhi on environment. The book titled as Jitey Sindhu Mein Sumand wahey Thho (Where sea flows in the Indus River) narrates the adverse effects of sea intrusion on those whose lives depend upon sweet water of Sindh. The book also discusses habitats of migratory birds from Central Asia, their mindless hunting on the hands of hunters, extinction of different species of birds and reptiles in Sindh especially crocodiles in marshes of Nara Valley. But environment is not the only field that fancies Amar Leghari. He is also an accomplished short story writer. His short stories regularly appear in Sindhi literary magazines. His first collection of short stories Lut Orati Duniya (A world covered with sand) published in 1999 and second collection of his short stories is in press.
Mowkhi is the first novel by Amar
Leghari. The novel tells about Hameer, a school teacher who is transferred as
punishment to a non-functional far off school in a desert area. It is there he
encounters a vicious but enchanting world which has ethos and norms of its own.
When he reaches there he takes the otherwise unwilling staff along with him and
makes the school run again. He enrolls students and convinces the parents to
send their children.
But his task is not that smooth.
He has to face the corrupt officials of the Education Department, an ignorant
local community and powerful desert lords known as Patels. He has to trade his
way with desert lords and their dangerous underground world. There he also
meets host of other characters who makes him understand the world surrounding
him. There is Bashir Diwano, a rebellious semi-mad man who vomits out harsh
truth after having local made liquor. Another person, Adul who fixes his
problems and explains to him the working of the area.
It is there Hameer meets Mowkhi,
a beautiful desert girl who sells local made liquor. A mysterious force binds
Mowkhi and Hameer in a strange bond. Mowkhi sees in Hameer as an escape from
the tyrannical sexual slavery she is being forced in at the hands of powerful
desert lords. She exhorts Hameer to elope with her. But Hameer has commitment
to bring change in the area. He does not want to abandon his mission. After his
refusal Mowkhi escapes and elopes with another person.
The novel has several themes
running parallel. Amar Leghari has brought to attention the pathetic state of
education in far off areas and the corruption of officials. He has also laid
before us the dark and captivating world of desert with all its miseries, cruelty
and beauty. The novel also exposes the harsh and inhuman condition of the
people in desert area. But the main theme is a dilemma to choose between
personal desire and social commitment.
Amar Leghari has an acute
observation of the life in the desert. He has depicted the life of the people
in a very impressive manner. Nothing escapes from the sharp eyes of Amar.
Beautiful language is also a forte of Amar Leghari. His narration is in velvet
word. Dialogues are very natural to speakers.
The novel could have been better
if it had not been ended so abruptly. The readers are left wondering about the
fate of its protagonists Hameer and Mowkhi. The novel had a great potential to
expand to new heights but the novelist has not exploited the potential.
Mowkhi has come like a breath of
fresh air in other wise barren soil of Sindhi novels. At the time when critics
are pronouncing the death of Sindhi novel, Mowkhi reaffirms the belief that
Sindhi novel is not dead. As long as it will receive healthy blood from writers
like Amar Leghari, it will survive.
Novelette: Mowkhi
By Amar Leghari
Publisher: Kanwal Publications Qambar.
Published: 2005
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