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New novel Pureland is inspired by Dr Abdus Salam's journey from a village to Nobel prize victory

New novel Pureland is inspired by Dr Abdus Salam's journey from a village to Nobel prize victory

“A human being is multi faceted. To differentiate based on ideology is the most absurd thing,” says author Zarrar Said
Updated 04 Apr, 2019

Landing in the US at the age of 18, Zarrar Said was all set to pursue a degree in physics. Lost in the headiness of college life and the beauty of youth he discovered an uncomfortable reality – Dr Abdus Salam, father of Pakistan’s nuclear program, an Ahmedi who won the Nobel Prize in Physics but was shunned by his nation.

Fascinated by this man who hailed from a village in Jhang, Said found himself on a journey leading up to his debut novel, Pureland.

“I was obsessed with his life and surprised that not many people had actually heard about him I found him universally appealing. He had never seen a lightbulb till the age of 15,” explains Zarrar of his inspiration. Feared by his father to be a mute at the age of three, Dr Salam was taken to a local soothsayer, a Pir who told his father that he was a gifted child and that one day he would speak so loud the entire world would hear him.

The cover of Said's novel
The cover of Said's novel

Sometimes all it takes is a little faith.

Although inspired by Dr Salam, Pureland is a fictional story about a village boy Salim and how he rises from the mud of his village to becoming a Nobel prize winner. It is a fictional tale filled with remarkable characters who turn by turn illustrate how societies falter and destroy themselves through a historical lens.

An extraordinary story, it is a beautiful fusion of rural and urban life spanning elements that shape lives and carve destinies including love, self sacrifice, destruction, identity, spirituality, suffering, ambition and hatred. Pureland opens a new chapter in literary fiction in Pakistan. While rural life has been documented in fiction and on television there is always the feeling of it being caricaturised and that Pakistani literature was never going to move forward from the usual tropes of a fallen woman, honour killings, terrorism. Zarrar’s book finally breaks the mould.

Zarrar weaves a narrative about the realities and absurdities of South Asian culture – often lost in translation – with great wit, cutting observation and beautiful prose.

“We cannot be culturally monogamous. A human being is multi faceted. To differentiate based on ideology is the most absurd thing,” says Zarrar

Sparkling with magic realism that nods to Salman Rushdie with V S Naipaul’s deceptive simplicity, superb satire that pokes fun at Pakistani idiosyncrasies and borrowing heavily from defining historical and cultural events, Said spans a tale that offers a delicious view of the awkwardness of being stuck in a post colonial country that the urban dwellers are prone to romanticise and the rural masses are left unable to comprehend, let alone experience.

Consequently, he offers villagers for whom life is to be taken literally with names like Cut-Two Naii, Pappu Pipewalla and Khassi Kasai. In contrast, when Salim is adopted by General Khan and starts a new life in the city of Lorr – again, a poke at how people are prone to speak colloquially – he is sent to the elite school, Blisschesterson (where cricketing fellow Mitti Pao eventually finds a career in politics).

The author, Zarrar Said
The author, Zarrar Said

Picking up on the South Asian leaning towards spirituality he juxtaposes how the rural interpret religion and spirituality when Salim is taken to the Floating Pir who predicts Salim’s future somewhat ambiguously. Keeping up with the continuous theme of parallel interpretations spirituality finds itself in an urban context in a slightly more refined but misunderstood form in the shape of two brothers Khalil and Gibran, neither of whom lives upto the peacefulness of spirituality but interpret faith in their own destructive ways.

Offering female characters who sparkle in their own right whether it is the headstrong Laila Khan or the evil Witch who exerts control over the Khan household, Zarrar also breaks the stereotypical assumptions that females are just sitting around lamenting their lives. They’re fighting for control over destinies – their own and others – and yet, in their own stories are they heroines? Or are they expected to pay a higher price even for what is the simplest of things like love?

Through Salim’s life the reader is taken on a journey of how societies thrive and lose when they reject their own in their blindness for glory confusing it with hatred. “The theme is that societies suffer from the prejudices they keep,” says Zarrar.

At a time when the world is war weary and Pakistan faces tougher challenges with heroes far and few between, this is a most necessary book that reminds us it's time to find the 'magic' we have all lost on a national level.

The novel is a literary journey through time, a journey that makes one weep of what has been lost and the ultimate destruction that reduces mankind to nothing but bloodlust. It is through this journey that one sees the transformation of Pureland’s characters.

“A human being is multi faceted. To differentiate based on ideology is the most absurd thing,” says Zarrar. Perhaps this is why he writes the story as magical realism. “We cannot be culturally monogamous. We are storytelling creatures and the way we tell our stories is magical. But magical realism is not just angels and demons, it is deeply rooted in reality,” says the author.

Salam's magical life inspired Said
Salam's magical life inspired Said

Loss of magic is the point Zarrar seeks to make through the various characters’ transformation. Connected through varying relations, touching on differing levels of achievement and success, the end result is that without magic in lives – in human form or other - there is nothing left and as a collective whole, a society will crumble.

“Dr Salam's life was full of magic,” adds Said. And what a magical journey it was. Being the last recipient of the Indian Peasants Fund (because World War 2 broke out) paved the way to an academic career in Cambridge. Still success eluded him as he struggled to have his papers published at times and was burdened by the fact that he was a Pakistani in a discipline dominated by Europeans and Americans. He eventually returned to Lahore where he was made football coach at Punjab University. His ultimate victory as a Nobel Prize winner was preceded by many hardships and rejections.

Zarrar talked about Pureland at this year's Lahore Literary Festival
Zarrar talked about Pureland at this year's Lahore Literary Festival

“At the Lahore Literary Festival, in the middle of my session, this European man came stood up and said that he was in Lahore teaching science. He was from Abdus Salam’s International Centre for Theoretical Physics. He mirrored the notion that Salam still gives back to his country even after his death; a country that didn't give him anything in return,” recalls Zarrar.

At a time when the world is war weary and Pakistan faces tougher challenges with heroes far and few between, this is a most necessary book that reminds us it's time to find the 'magic' we have all lost on a national level.

Comments

Calderon DeJesus Mar 27, 2019 08:38am
I would like to get my hands on this book but I am afraid I will be slammed for blasphemy
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Atif waqas Mar 27, 2019 08:55am
Positive initiative Zarar.
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Aisha Mar 27, 2019 12:40pm
Many universities all over the world have their theaters for physics called after Dr. Abdul Salam. In Pakistan, his beloved home country, you can’t even find a street in his name. It is so sad for Pakistan.
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Najma Hisham Mar 27, 2019 12:44pm
Abdus Salam was such a rarity. For us Panjabis he sits in our pantheon hall of Panjabi greats together with the likes of Dr. Hargobind Khorana and many more.
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AAN Mar 27, 2019 12:47pm
I would definitely be purchasing this book!
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PakistaniPakistani Mar 27, 2019 12:49pm
Inspirational yet ironic. Looking forward to reading this book and I want that Salam poster.
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Siddharth Jaiswal Mar 27, 2019 12:56pm
I heard first about Dr. Salam during my graduation days when my Physics professor dedicated two lectures to explain Dr. Salam contribution to modern day physics. It's unfortunate that he was discarded by his own country based on his faith. :(
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S.Chatterjee Mar 27, 2019 01:38pm
Fascinating initiative about a very inspiring personality. Point of regret is that South Asian governments and societies do not invest in science and technology, the way Professor Salam had recommended- the way they ought to do. We have to come out of our mandir-masjid mindset. As one who had met Professor Salam several times at the ICTP, I also remember his affectionate outreach towards youngsters and his humour. Though a very busy person, he looked relaxed and calm and ready to greet you with a smile.
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RationaBabu Mar 27, 2019 02:00pm
Too little, too late to redeem this country of ideological hatred!
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Irfan Afzal Mar 27, 2019 02:27pm
On my 'must-read' list! Thanks
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Tarik Mar 27, 2019 04:38pm
Great Pakistani! Thank you Abdul Salam may you be rewarded for your contributions.
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Mika Mar 27, 2019 06:24pm
Rehabilitate Dr Salam as a Muslim on his grave marker. then celebrate his genius as a Pakistani!
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Magister Mar 27, 2019 06:26pm
Scientists of Salam calibre can be found by the bountiful in Universities these days. More time, energy and money should be spent on the education and grooming of new Scientists rather than prat long about past.
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Masooma Ali Mar 27, 2019 06:53pm
zarar is so handsome!
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Muzaffar Mirza Mar 27, 2019 06:59pm
Great. Wish and pray for great success for Zarrar's book.
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Arif Mar 27, 2019 07:02pm
Since Islam emphasizes that there is no compulsion in faith this Ahmadi discrimination should not have happened to begin with. It is time to recognize Dr. Abdus Salaam's scientific achievements.
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Laila Mar 27, 2019 08:12pm
3,2,1.......and censored. A positive movie about an Ahmadi Muslim? Oh no, must censor!! Accept the diverse fabric of Pakistan. I hope people can look beyond their ideological allegiances.
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zulfiqar Mar 27, 2019 08:50pm
In the world of hatred this book is a light but what can I say more when the teachers are killed student burned because of their thoughts but I still think the light and love and sanitary will one day prevail and Dr Salam and many other unsung hero will get their due.
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Tahmina Mar 27, 2019 11:58pm
How can I get this book
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Vikash Karmani Mar 28, 2019 06:12am
I will definitely read it.It seems totally inspiring just like from nothing to everything.
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Zarrar Mar 29, 2019 08:01am
@S.Chatterjee what a wonderful story. I would like to hear more
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