Urdu fantasy novel takes on magical realism

Renowned Urdu story writer Mazharul Islam's latest work of fiction is a fantasy novel titled "Zindagi Nay Mur Kar Shaitan Ke Qatil Ko Dekha Aur Muskurai". It has been described as a combination of unique, abstract, surreal and allegorical themes, that has recently emerged on the literary horizon and is selling like hot cakes whilst becoming a subject of literary discussions.

Much like his previous novel, 'Sarus Cranes Apnay Khawbon Mai Say Urr Kar Ja Chukay Hain' which was a story about time travelling, in his newer work, Mazhar experiments and breaks the conventional shackles of time and space, and theme and diction that we usually find in a novel. Clearly, the author in question is not a 'typical' novelist, since he loves to go against the grain, and this is something that singles him out among his contemporaries.

Although 'Zindagi Nay Mur Kar…' has been published after two years since the author's last publication (Sarus Crane was published in 2023), yet according to the writer, it took him 15 years to complete it.

"Even prior to that, I had a vague idea of this novel when I was 8 years old, a student of Grade-4 at Mission High School," the writer tells his interviewer. The story is a complete work of fantasy but at the same time it has shades of magical realism and surrealism in it.

The element of fantasy in the novel is so strong that it takes the shape of a story worth telling. Even the characters appear magical with the main cast centring on ordinary people such as a postman, librarian, florist, watchmaker, schoolteacher and mystics that each possess a compelling energy.

In the story, the writer takes the reader along the account of the protagonist Abdullah's childhood days to adulthood, throughout which he holds fast to his one fixation in life: to kill the Devil and restore forgotten values.

He believes that only after annihilating the Devil will society be rescued as love, forgiveness, friendship and generosity will then come back to the world. Abdullah happens to be the last romantic man alive in the novel's world.

The story's main theme is art and romanticism versus corruption of the soul and it is the author's fresh take on the subject which makes it stand out.

With more than ten books of fiction, novel and short stories (one on folklore) to his name Mazharul Islam's works have been translated into English, German, Chinese, Japanese, Italian, Turkish, Persian, Punjabi and Sindhi languages.