Exploring Marginality and Love in Lahore: The House Of Clay And Water by Faiqa Mansab

The House Of Clay And Water by Faiqa Mansab is a debut novel by Faiqa Mansab, a Pakistani author who has an MFA in creative writing from Kingston University London. The novel is set in Lahore, the city of saints, and explores the lives of three characters who are marginalized and alienated by the society they live in. Nida is a wealthy but unhappy wife of a politician, who seeks solace in the shrine of Daata Sahib, a revered Sufi saint. Sasha is a middle-class woman who is obsessed with materialism and glamour, and who resorts to sleeping with rich men to fulfill her desires. Bhanggi is a hijra, a transgender person, who plays the flute under a banyan tree near the shrine, and who longs for love and acceptance. The novel traces the friendship and love that develops between these three characters, and the consequences they face for defying the norms and expectations of their culture.

Daata Sahib is the popular name of Hazrat Sayyad Ali Bin Usman Hujwiri, a renowned Sufi saint who lived in the 11th century CE. He is also known as Data Ganj Bakhsh, which means ‘the giver of treasures’. He is the author of Kashf al-maḥjūb, one of the earliest and most influential books on Sufism in Persian. He is regarded as the patron saint of Lahore, Pakistan, and his shrine, Data Darbar, is one of the most sacred and visited places in the city. He is revered by millions of Muslims across South Asia, who seek his blessings and guidance. He is also celebrated for his role in spreading Islam and Sufism in the region, and for his teachings on love, tolerance, and spirituality.

The novel is a powerful and poignant exploration of the themes of love, identity, gender, religion, and social justice. Mansab writes with sensitivity and grace, capturing the beauty and the ugliness of Lahore, the complexity and the diversity of its people, and the contradictions and the conflicts of its culture. She portrays the struggles and the aspirations of her characters with empathy and realism, making them relatable and compelling. She also challenges the stereotypes and the prejudices that are prevalent in Pakistan, especially regarding women and the intersex community. She exposes the hypocrisy and the corruption of the elite, the oppression and the violence of the patriarchy, and the intolerance and the fanaticism of the religious zealots. She also celebrates the resilience and the courage of those who dare to love and to live authentically, despite the risks and the sacrifices involved.

The novel is a remarkable achievement, and a valuable contribution to the contemporary literature of Pakistan. It is a novel that speaks to the universal human condition, and that resonates with the readers across the world. It is a novel that deserves to be read and appreciated by a wide audience.

The novel touches on some of the weak areas of Pakistan society, such as:

The plight of the intersex community, who are often discriminated and harassed by the mainstream society. The novel shows the struggles and the hopes of Bhanggi, a hijra, who faces abuse and rejection from his family and society, but who also finds love and friendship in unexpected places.

The oppression of women, who are expected to conform to the rigid and patriarchal norms of their culture. The novel shows the unhappiness and the frustration of Nida, a wealthy but unhappy wife of a politician, who is trapped in a loveless and abusive marriage, and who seeks freedom and fulfillment in the shrine of Daata Sahib.

The corruption of the elite, who exploit and manipulate the masses for their own interests. The novel shows the hypocrisy and the greed of Nida’s husband, who is a powerful but dishonest politician, who is involved in various scandals and crimes, and who does not care about the welfare of his people or his family.

The intolerance of the religious fanatics, who impose their rigid and violent interpretation of Islam on others. The novel shows the danger and the violence that Nida, Bhanggi, and their friends face from the extremist groups, who consider them as heretics and sinners, and who try to destroy their lives and their happiness.

Some of the key takeaways from this book are:

The novel shows the importance of love, compassion, and friendship in overcoming the challenges and the hardships of life. It also shows the value of diversity and pluralism in creating a harmonious and inclusive society.

The novel exposes the flaws and the weaknesses of Pakistan society, such as the discrimination and the harassment of the intersex community, the oppression and the violence of women, the corruption and the hypocrisy of the elite, and the intolerance and the fanaticism of the religious fanatics. It also calls for social justice and reform in these areas.

The novel celebrates the rich and the vibrant culture of Lahore, the city of saints, and the role of Sufism in spreading Islam and spirituality in the region. It also highlights the beauty and the wisdom of the teachings of Daata Sahib, the patron saint of Lahore, and the significance of his shrine, Data Darbar, as a place of peace and solace for millions of people.

The story flows beautifully, with a lyrical and poetic prose that captures the emotions and the experiences of the characters. The author uses vivid and evocative descriptions of the settings, the events, and the characters, creating a rich and immersive atmosphere for the reader.

The story also alternates between the perspectives of the three main characters, Nida, Sasha, and Bhanggi, giving them each a distinct and authentic voice, and revealing their inner thoughts and feelings.

The story also moves back and forth in time, showing the past and the present of the characters, and how they are shaped by their circumstances and choices. The story also builds up the tension and the suspense, as the characters face various conflicts and challenges, both external and internal, and as their relationships evolve and change. The story also has a powerful and moving climax, that brings together the threads of the plot, and that leaves a lasting impact on the reader.

There are some climatic moments in the story, such as:

The moment when Nida confesses her love for Bhanggi, and he reciprocates, in front of the shrine of Daata Sahib. This is a bold and risky move, as they are breaking the taboo of their society, and exposing themselves to the wrath of the extremists.

The moment when Sasha discovers that her husband, Zafar, has been cheating on her with another woman, and that he has been using her money and connections to advance his career. This is a shocking and devastating revelation, as it shatters her illusions of glamour and happiness, and makes her question her identity and worth.

The moment when Bhanggi is kidnapped and tortured by a group of religious fanatics, who accuse him of blasphemy and heresy, and who threaten to kill him and Nida. This is a terrifying and traumatic ordeal, as it shows the brutality and the hatred of the fanatics, and the vulnerability and the courage of Bhanggi.

The moment when Nida decides to rescue Bhanggi from his captors, and to confront her husband and his cronies, who are behind the kidnapping. This is a heroic and defiant act, as it shows her love and loyalty for Bhanggi, and her determination and resistance against the oppression and the corruption of her husband.

The novel is suitable for readers who are interested in the following topics:

The culture and the history of Pakistan, especially Lahore, and the role of Sufism and Islam in the region.

The issues and the challenges faced by the intersex community, women, and minorities in Pakistan, and the need for social justice and reform.

The themes of love, identity, gender, religion, and spirituality, and how they shape the lives and the choices of the characters.

The literary style and the techniques of the author, such as the use of multiple perspectives, flashbacks, lyrical prose, and symbolism.

The novel is not suitable for readers who are sensitive to the following topics:

The graphic and the disturbing scenes of violence, abuse, torture, and death that are depicted in the novel.

The controversial and the provocative views on Islam, Sufism, and blasphemy that are expressed in the novel.

The explicit and the erotic descriptions of sex and intimacy that are involved in the novel.

This book has performed well and received some awards and recognition. Some of them are:

In 2018, it received longlist nominations for both the Getz Pharma Literary Award and the German Consulate Peace Prize.

It was Amazon Editor’s Pick in January 2018, Amazon International Women’s Fiction Pick in 2018, and appeared in many must read lists in India and Pakistan.

It is now available in the Turkish language and has been optioned for screen adaptation.

Overall, The House Of Clay And Water by Faiqa Mansab is a novel that explores the lives of three characters who are marginalized and alienated by the society they live in. The novel is set in Lahore, Pakistan, and deals with the themes of love, identity, gender, religion, and social justice. The novel has received some awards and recognition, but also some criticism and controversy. The novel is suitable for readers who are interested in the culture and the history of Pakistan, and the issues and the challenges faced by the intersex community, women, and minorities in the country. The novel is not suitable for readers who are sensitive to graphic and disturbing scenes of violence, abuse, torture, and death, or controversial and provocative views on Islam, Sufism, and blasphemy.