The book “Khawan Khayalan Manz" by Asif Tariq Bhat in Kashmiri and translated into English by Faheem Ahmed does not only preserve local literature; it also ensures linkage of the pre-modern belongings with the modern time readers. It travels from the man’s conscious stricken belongingness to different unprecedented events.
A major contribution to the literary bookshelf of the valley, it widens readership through its translation. Bhat belongs to Ganderbal, Kashmir, and this is his first book, while Ahmed hails from Kupwara, and is a Research Scholar at the University of Kashmir.
The book revolves around its main character, the protagonist Arham – an orphan by birth with a passion for travel and exploring cities. His special affiliation with a local baker helps him to map his journeys. Arham was a hardworking person with the skills to sustain his livelihood. Yet, it was assumed by his community that due to his birth, the city had suffered from a drought and thus, they labelled him as ill-omened.
One evening, Arham learned about a ‘sacred stirred’ city, unknown to him, Muqaddas, which sparks his curiosity. He had earlier travelled to several places such as Turaq, Jezbeel, Ludmaan, and other unexplored regions. Being a travel enthusiast, the idea of Muqaddas unsettles him deeply.
Guided by the local baker, Mir, Arham prepares for his journey towards the City of Muqaddas, described as a place where “humans from all corners of the world feel uplifted.” His curiosity intensifies, prompting him to earn money for the journey by working as an apprentice in a dyer’s shop.
He then begins his journey along with his camel, which enters Jezbeel– a city famous for its market filled with ‘rare and mysterious things’. For long, he had been wary of his physical appearance, his horizontal eyes, even haunted. It is in this city that he learns to overcome that fear. While conversing with a shopkeeper from whom he made a purchase, the shopkeeper responded to his unspoken anxiety: “We are all Ashraf-ul-Makhlookat, the finest of creations.”
As night falls, Arham settles down with his camel and lights a fire. Gazing at the flames and allowing memories of the past to flood his mind, he suddenly perceives a beautiful soul extending arms towards him, leaving him burned and unconscious.
He recovered after the King’s intervention who describes Arham as ‘a man of great importance’. No sooner did he proclaim this, there was sudden thunder and showers, ending a long period of drought. He learns that more than physical appearances, purity of intentions and the beauty of a soul are what make humanity great.
Arham journeyed to the City of Muqaddas accompanied by Isra, who had been sold into slavery as a child, a practice rooted in Jazbeel's culture. Upon arrival, the city struck them as "a museum of diversity."
During their stay, they learned about two precious stones - Jazb and Hazb - which compelled them to remain in the city for several days. The warmth and kindness of the city's inhabitants stood in stark contrast to the world beyond its walls, leading them to observe that "the people outside this place have mastered the art of cruelty."
Eventually, they located the precious stones and were brought before the King. Upon seeing Arham's horizontal iris, the King recalled an ancient prophecy and urged Arham to accept the throne of Muqaddas. This unexpected proposition plunged Arham into "an abyss of confusion," forcing him to confront how his unique physical features set him apart from others.
While the story initially paints a portrait of Arham as the wise King of Muqaddas, the final pages shatter the mirror. What feels like a royal grandeur, including Arham’s marriage to Isra and his noble mission of the city of Jazbeel, turns out to be nothing more than a “blissful dream.”
The transition from the warmth of the royal court to the freezing reality of the desert’s ambush, where Isra is left dead, and Arham is bound prisoner, is a gut-wrenching twist that redefines the entire journey.
The essence of the novel is about the importance of understanding existence and self-realisation; reading it is an uplifting experience. It compels one to dream. It binds you to the ground reality.
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