People without History; India’s Muslim Ghettos by Jeremy Seabrook and Imran Ahmad Siddiqui...

Mein Kis Kay Hath Pay Apna Lahoo Talaash Karoon?

Tamam Shehar Ne Pahney Huay Hain Dastaney.

Oh, finally, at last I finished reading the book People without History; India’s Muslim Ghettos by Jeremy Seabrook and Imran Ahmad Siddiqui. I am ashamed to share that it took me more than three months to finish it. Actually I started it on 26^th August 2011 then got busy in some other things and completed it now on 04^th December 2011. Well I was doing my course work, assignments, proposals, working bibliography and so on. Thus I had to leave it in between and finished it by reading one or two pages daily. Anyway the book is a nice one and worthy to read. It is by Pluto Books, London and Navayana for Asian Countries. Seabrook has done a great job like his other ones while surely Imran has played the backbone as a journalist and a local of Kolkata.

                                 

The book is a live, burning document on the slums of Kolkata mainly populated by its poor Muslim settlements. It talks of situations which you probably have seen in Q&A/Slamdog where Jamal, Kamal or Irshad only lives! It’s a world of rag pickers, maidservants, labourers, rickshaw pullers and so on. People with less importance, notice and deprived of so many things. It shows the deep reality of the modern India and the inner places of the so called metro cities. So, if you have fascination of Kolkata; the city of joy! As most people have, I know, most of I met, please read it. See the unchanged world of these poor and subordinate people. Yes, please don’t get surprised if you get the real example of Aftab Alam Ansari or Rizwanur Rahaman.

Structurally the book has been divided place wise and discussed. Beginning with Topsia then Beniapukur then Tiljala then Tangra; all Muslim slums of Kolkata. It says about the daily life in the Muslim communities in these places. Though the book is open ended it is little critical about the last CPI (M) government. It asks several social and crucial questions. Well it is up to the readers for any conclusion. Please go for it.

Humko Halaat Ki Sooli Pe Chadhanay Walo

Humnay Har Haal Mein Jeenay Ki Kasam Khayee Hai.