Dusk over the mustard fields,a maiden novel by Chandigarh based writer, Ranjit Powar, is a scintillating portrayal of a life in a village, Sahnewal. The sinew is of pre partition Punjab.The novel at the same time offers a powerful comment on the political and social landscape of the era. The writer deftly knits the life in the village Sahnewal with graphic details, with close ups and distant shots transposing the reader to the majestic past. The narrative unfolds with the stark sky line of the village, a mix of high havelis and mud houses surrounded by lush green sprawling fields and groves of dark Kikar and neem trees. A rivulet provides the life line to the fields. Tall Nishan Sahib of the Gurdwara and minerates of the mosque in a way symbolised the abiding harmony and co existence of the communities of different faiths that lived in the village
Ranjit has displayed a unique style by using delightful vernacular and Punjabi expressions in her discourse. Words like ‘ watta Satta, Siapa, Baithak, Manji, Perri, Jati, Dargha, Fauj , saag, Haram Zada, provide a distinct flavour to the text . This is how languages flourish through an on going process of transfusion. Many words during the colonial period of European languages crept and assimilated into the languages of the sub continent , like for instance, Balti, kuchehri, Kamra , Qameez, Almirah ,etc. it’s a two way process and the writer seems to have done justice in this regard.
Zaildar keher singh and Mian Beg were the two most notable personalities of the village with a distinct life style and a very close connect between the two families.zaildar’s daughter , Nimo and Mian Beg’s daughters , Sakina and Sheemi were all time friends, they grew up together and played together . Moved into each other’s house without let or hindrance . Nimo didn’t have any brother , she had a sister , grand mother and a mentally deranged uncle Nama, they lived together in the parental haveli. Nimo was good at domestic chores but her formal education didn’t go beyond learning of primers in Gurmukhi. Sakina had two grown up studious brothers , Akhtar and waseem . Akhtar was a quiet yet an intent guy . Nimo was intelligent enough to read into his eyes which had so much unstated for her . The two of them despite innate feeling for each other were aware of the chasm on account of their faith which was just not bridge able.
The period was marked by an anti British fervour though there had been different political shades on the post colonial dispensation. The narrative reverberates with the Quit India slogans by Khadar clad protestors on the roads only to be quelled and dispersed by the police action. But there was no dearth of pro British arm chair pro unionist party elements as well.
Nimo emerges at the centre stage of the whole narrative, in an over bearing misogynistic society, how vulnerabilities of a hapless women were compounded making life so irrelevant to the victim . She was married to an army officer Hukum singh of Rai Kot . Nimo’s lack of education and short on fineness didn’t matter to Hukum’s mother Jeeti as she brought in a high pedigree girl with a claim to the parental landed property . Hukum was a handsome young man who took his wife with him to Ambala, place of his posting . Hukum soon realised social gaps in her wife which he tried to fill through mannerism and English teaching which was rather difficult for Nimo to cope with . He had no other option but to send her home . She couldn’t bear him a child either. Nimo happened to visit her village Sahnewal where she ran into Akhtar who was so pleased to see the ‘ Mem sahib’.
Back in Rai Kot some dramatic developments had taken place. To the disbelief and shock of Nimo, Hukum had contracted second marriage with a well educated women , Hansa. It was just not the longing for a child that prompted Jeeti, Hukum’s mother to look for a bride but a quid pro quo that fitted well for the family . Jeeti had been failing to find a groom for her daughter, Rano , who had a squint in the eye. Rano was betroth to Hansa’s brother. The very idea of a co wife was so unbearable for Nimo. Misery after misery kept piling while each member of the family missing no occasion to demean her. In Rai Kot she lived with an extended family where Hukum’s step brother Bachana and his wife Amro also lived. Bachana had amorous looks at Nimo which kept her bothering her. On a day when no one was present at home , Bachana made advances, over powered and sexually abused Nimo . Days passed. Nimo continued to avoid Bachana as much as possible .
Hukum singh visited Rai Kot . He could feel that Nimo was also his wife . There had been some change in his heart . There was soon a good news around about Nimo’s pregnancy which changed everyone’s tone and tenor . Hukum singh felt elated at the news. Nimo gave a birth to a baby girl which surprisingly cast a gloom . She was the progeny of dark skinned Bachana. Nimo in a state of shock refused to see the baby ,quietly left the hospital for her home Sahnewal .
Village Sahnewal was in a fray of communal unease with disturbing news pouring in from around . Zaildar keher singh made sure that every Muslim of the locality was fully protected till things got out of hand . Akhtar’s friend Kirpal singh on the quiet tipped him about the imminent attack . Now was the time to move out of Sahnewal and the family started packing for Lahore to join the milling caravan . Akhtar ran into Nimo,who was veiled in a chadar outside the Gurdwara. She had a woeful story to tell him, at the verge of finishing her life. Akhtar took her to his home .Consoled her, it was none of her fault. She was the victim of circumstances. He held her hand and offered to marry her. There was an instant chord between the two with Nimo, now named Naima after the nikha, she was also to join the caravan to Lahore.
Hordes of Muslims were leaving Sahnewal . Akhtar was also leaving Sahnewal for good where he lived his life time . But he had two Sahnewals the one that he was leaving behind where the remains of his elders lay buried and the second Sahnewal was in the form of Nimo. He was taking it along the un chartered world of Lahore.
The writer is an author, a former civil servant and at present teaches at Lahore University Of Management Sciences
