Basti by Intizaar Hussain

Presentation: Summary (Chapters: 6,7,8,9,10,11)

05th May, 2023

- Khushboo, 155
- Jahnavi, 128
- Taniya, 134
- Nikita, 110
- Ayush, 160
- Harshvardhan, 162
- Dishant, 126
- Rohan, 152

Chapter 6

The protagonist, Zakir, writes a letter to a friend he has not corresponded with for years.
He tells his friend that he has recently started working at the radio station and that he has met a
girl who has captivated his heart.
The girl, who works as an announcer at the radio station, has a wheat-colored
complexion, delicate features, and a reserved and melancholic demeanor. Zakir is drawn to her
simplicity and sadness, and he strikes up a conversation with her when he realizes that she is
worried about her family in Dhaka.
Over the course of several conversations, Zakir learns that the girl is from Rupnagar and
that she is the same Sabirah whom he had known years ago. Sabirah's entire family has migrated
to Pakistan, but she has stayed behind in India.
Zakir is puzzled by Sabirah's decision to stay behind, as most Muslims who remained in
India did so out of attachment to their property or their graves. However, Sabirah tells Zakir that
she would have been alone in Pakistan too, and that she feels a sense of belonging to India.
As Zakir continues to spend time with Sabirah, he finds himself increasingly drawn to her.
However, he is aware that his feelings are complicated by his own sense of guilt and his troubled
relationship with his own past.
 Zakir's conflicted feelings towards Sabirah reflect the tensions and anxieties that
accompany the process of coming to terms with one's own past and identity. The story suggests
that these tensions are not easily resolved, and that the search for identity is an ongoing and often
painful process.
Moving ahead, Zakir receives a letter from his friend Surendar who is currently in Delhi,
India. In the letter, Surendar expresses his melancholy and encourages the protagonist to come to
Delhi and see the city and its beauty before they both become old.
Upon reading the letter, the protagonist is plunged into deep thought and realizes that he
hasn't written to a girl he knew before he left for India. He wonders if he still lives in her
memory and if he should go and see her. He then remembers a memory from the past where the
girl cried over a man called Majnun who was lying on the road with chains on his feet and blood
on his forehead.
Zakir’s mother enters the room and notices the letter from India. She laments that letters
no longer come from their hometown in Dhaka and remembers the protagonist's friend Surendar.
The protagonist asks about their relatives in Rupnagar and specifically mentions the girl he was
thinking about earlier, Sabirah. His mother becomes angry and accuses Sabirah of being
self-willed for not leaving Rupnagar with the rest of the family.
Zakir asks about the possibility of going to Rupnagar and staying there, but his mother
thinks he's lost his senses and sees no point in going since they no longer have any family there.
The excerpt ends with the protagonist's mother thinking of something, but the reader is not told
what it is.

Chapter 7

Zakir continues to reflect on his memories of the Partition and his own experiences
during that time. He is particularly haunted by the memory of his friend, Roshan Lal, a Hindu
who was killed during the violence.
Zakir also reflects on the changes that have occurred in his city since the Partition. He
notes how the city's demographics have shifted, with many Hindus leaving and Muslims moving
in. He also observes that the city's architecture and landmarks have changed, with many Hindu
temples and other buildings destroyed or repurposed.
 Zakir's thoughts turn to his own family and their experiences during the Partition. He
remembers how his father had to sell their ancestral home and move the family to a smaller
house in a Muslim neighborhood. He also recalls how his mother had to give up many of her
possessions, including her beloved cow, during the upheaval.
As Zakir continues to reflect on his memories, he is interrupted by the sound of gunshots
outside. He realizes that the city is once again descending into violence and chaos, and he fears
for the safety of his family and friends.
Chapter 7 of Basti explores the ongoing impact of the Partition on Zakir and his
community. It highlights the lasting trauma and upheaval caused by the violence and forced
migration, and the sense of loss and disorientation that still persists decades later.

Chapter 8

The chapter begins with Zakir, the protagonist of the novel, and his friend Riaz sitting in
a park in Lahore. They are discussing the political situation in Pakistan, which is tense and
uncertain. Zakir is worried about the possibility of martial law being imposed.
The narrative then shifts to the story of a man named Qayyum, who is being held in a
prison.Qayyum is a political activist who has been arrested for speaking out against the
government. He is being held without trial, and his family does not know where he is.
Qayyum's experience in the prison is described in detail. He is subjected to physical and
psychological torture, and he becomes increasingly isolated and despairing. He thinks about his
family and wonders if they have forgotten about him. He also reflects on his political beliefs and
the reasons why he was arrested.
At one point, Qayyum is taken to an interrogation room where he is beaten and
questioned by a man named Major Sadiq. Sadiq wants Qayyum to confess to being a member of
a terrorist organization. Qayyum denies the accusation, but he is so beaten and exhausted that he
begins to doubt his own innocence.
Back in the park, Zakir and Riaz continue their conversation. Zakir expresses his
frustration with the political situation and his sense of powerlessness. Riaz suggests that they
should try to make a difference by organizing a protest, but Zakir is skeptical.
 The chapter ends with Qayyum still in prison, feeling increasingly hopeless and alone. He
dreams of being released and reuniting with his family, but he knows that the reality of his
situation is much bleaker.
Through the character of Qayyum, the novel depicts the brutality and injustice of
authoritarian regimes, and the devastating impact they can have on individual lives. The chapter
also highlights the difficulty of effecting change in such a system, as Zakir's pessimism and
Riaz's idealism illustrates the different attitudes towards political action.

Chapter 9

The protagonist, Khvajah Sahib, is seeking information about his missing son, Karamat.
He learns from a man in Sialkot that Karamat was seen in Bangkok. Khvajah Sahib is hopeful
and plans to go to Sialkot to gather more details.
He discusses the news with Maulana Sahib, who believes in the power of faith and
prayer. Khvajah Sahib shares his firm faith in Karamat's return and recounts an encounter with a
faqir who gave him a prayer to say. He believes that the prayer played a role in him hearing
about the Sialkot man.
Zakir, who overhears their conversation, recalls a similar incident when Khvajah Sahib
was hopeful about finding Karamat in Karachi but was unsuccessful. He reflects on the
uncertainty of their situation.
Ammi, Khvajah Sahib's wife, joins the conversation and expresses her worry about their
missing son. She mentions a dream she had about their daughter, Batul, and her distress. Ammi
is concerned for Khvajah Sahib's well-being and prays for Karamat's safe return.
Abba Jan, Khvajah Sahib's father, contemplates his own mortality and expresses his
exhaustion from witnessing their suffering. He emphasizes the need for people's deeds to
improve along with the conditions around them.
Ammi suggests writing a letter to Sabirah, who is in India, hoping she might have news
about Karamat. However, Zakir explains that the mail service to India is shut down, making it
impossible to send a letter. Ammi suggests finding a friend in London who can forward the letter
to India.
 Zakir consults his friend Irfan about Ammi's request. He contemplates his desire to write
to Sabirah after such a long time and acknowledges the distance that has grown between them.
The narrative mentions how people who escaped the calamity in their homeland have
managed to return from different routes, sharing their stories of hardship and survival. However,
the waiting families continue to long for news and hope for their loved ones' safe return.
The story ends with Khvajah Sahib still searching for answers and visiting Abba Jan regularly to
inquire about any news. They exchange the same question every day, highlighting the everlasting
cycle of hope and despair. Khvajah Sahib remains optimistic due to the omens and astrological
predictions he has received, while Abba Jan believes that God's will determines the outcome.
Khvajah Sahib plans to visit Lyallpur to meet someone who claims to have seen Karamat and
possibly received a letter from him. The chapter concludes with the belief that Karamat will
return one day.

Chapter 10

As Zakir enters Shiraz’s house, he is astonished to find out that all of his friends came
there even under the havoc that’s been going outside in the street. The instance where abba jaan
hands keys to Ammi jaan of their mansion, depicts how we cling to the old memories. Clearly
the house does not belong to them, but their memories and the hope to retrieve the mansion back
lights up Ammi jaan’s face. This signifies how many people who were displaced to Pakistan now
thought that they might go back to India to get their possessions back. Another instance when
Afsal tells about her grandmother, it shows how old people saw their home as a place where they
spent most of their life and a new nation where they were forced to move.

After Abba Jaan's death, the other characters in the novel are forced to confront the
reality of the changing world around them. They must come to terms with the fact that the old
ways of life are disappearing, and that they must adapt to a new way of living if they are to
survive. Abba Jaan's death serves as a reminder that nothing lasts forever, and that change is
inevitable.
 The letter from Surendar acts as an eye opener for Zakir, as Surendar straight up calls
Zakir a cruel person. Even though it is evident that Zakir loved Sabirah but he never wrote a
letter to her, he never asked about her whereabouts and how she is living alone in India.

The chapter also explores the relationship between death and sleep. Zakir thinks about
how sleep can be a temporary escape from the pain and sorrow of life, but it is also a reminder of
the finality of death. He considers the possibility that death may be a kind of eternal sleep, and
wonders if it would bring him peace or only more uncertainty.

Throughout the chapter, Zakir's thoughts are interwoven with descriptions of the
changing seasons and the natural world, which serve to reinforce the idea of the cyclical nature
of life and death. The chapter ends with Zakir feeling a sense of resignation and acceptance
about the impermanence of all things, and the inevitability of his own death.

Chapter 11

People got nothing after partition except violence, terror and horror. Ammi tells, “Zakir,
son! Have you heard of it? The son of the women who runs the bakery has been shooting”

The sound of footsteps only comes when a funeral procession sets out from one of the
houses. After that, more silence, which grows even deeper. Zakir finds he is surrounded by
violence, pain, despair, sorrow, murder, violence, tears, and slogans due to the violation of the
moral and civilization history which began with partition.

Zakir for the first time in his life experiences death on a grand scale. "The sound of "Ram
name and he dashed out to the front door. Towards the end of the novel, Zakir encounters a large
fire, burning down a lot of buildings. This destruction rages across Zakir's city, and creates a
barrier between him and his father's grave.

Silence at the end

Basti, after giving voice to war and violence, ends with a sustained Silence prevailing over Zakir
and the others he knows, sitting “like Statues… in the deepening dusk of the evening, three
motionless Shadows”. Everything around them sinks into stillness. Speech Sometimes even fails
the narrative itself, the stories it tells proving to overpowering for words, but this continued
silence sometimes morphs into something valuable as it does in Basti. Silence has an intense
impact upon the surroundings, producing new signs, quite literally in the text. Afzal directs
everyone to be silent so that they might see a sign. However, it is Not described what sort of sign
it could be. This sign seems to be a torchbearer of hope among those of hopelessness, and this is
how Husain chooses to end his narrative. Afzal addresses his friends, in the graveyard, As:

“Fellows, signs always come at just these times… this is the time for a Sign”.

Hence, the ending of Basti becomes a possibility of a revelation that may split the hovering
clouds of darkness and silence. Although the Ending is opposed to the reader’s expectations, it
stands as hopeful, albeit unresolved.

Themes

Basti is a novel written by Intizar Hussain, a Pakistani writer and novelist, originally
published in Urdu in 1979. It is set in the backdrop of the partition of India and Pakistan, and
follows the life of a young man named Zakir, who is struggling to come to terms with the
traumatic events that have unfolded around him. The novel explores themes of identity, memory,
displacement, and the impact of historical events on individual lives. In this essay, we will
discuss the themes of Basti from chapters 6 to 11.

Chapter 6 begins with a dream sequence, where the character of Sultan dreams of a world
where he is in control and everything is perfect. This dream can be seen as a metaphor for the
desire for independence that was prevalent in India at the time. The struggle for independence is
a major theme in this chapter, and the characters are shown to be actively involved in the
movement. Zakir, the protagonist, is a member of the Communist Party and participates in
various protests and rallies. The chapter also describes the political climate of the time, with
different political parties and factions vying for power. Along with the struggle for independence,
the novel also explores the theme of the search for identity. The characters in the novel are
struggling to define their identity in the wake of the Partition. They are trying to come to terms
with the fact that they are now living in a country that is different from the one they grew up in.
The characters are also grappling with the trauma of the Partition and the violence that
accompanied it. The impact of colonialism on society is another theme that is explored in this
chapter. The characters in the novel are shown to be affected by the legacy of colonialism, and
the novel depicts the ways in which colonialism has shaped society and culture in India. The
characters are struggling to come to terms with their history and their place in the world.

In chapter 7, the theme of identity is explored in the context of Zakir's encounter with a
group of refugees who have fled from India to Pakistan during the partition. These refugees have
lost everything in the violence and chaos that accompanied the partition and are struggling to
come to terms with their new lives in Pakistan. Zakir is struck by their sense of loss and
disorientation, and he begins to question his own identity as a Pakistani. He feels that he has lost
touch with his roots and that he is no longer sure who he is or where he belongs.

In chapter 8, the theme of memory is explored in the context of Zakir's conversation with
his grandfather. His grandfather tells him stories about his own life and about the history of the
region, which Zakir listens to with a sense of awe and wonder. These stories help Zakir to
connect with his own past and to understand the events that have shaped his life. The theme of
memory is also explored in the context of Zakir's dreams, which are filled with images of the
past and which reveal his deep-seated fears and anxieties.

In chapter 9, the theme of displacement is explored in the context of Zakir's visit to a

In chapter 10, the theme of the impact of historical events on individual lives is explored
in the context of Zakir's conversation with a group of elderly men. These men have lived through
the partition and have seen the violence and destruction that it has caused. They talk about the
impact that these events have had on their own lives and on the lives of their families. Zakir
realizes that he is not alone in his sense of dislocation and that the events of the past continue to
shape the lives of people in the present.

Finally, in chapter 11, the theme of hope is explored in the context of Zakir's encounter
with a young boy who is playing with a kite. The boy's sense of joy and wonder in the simple act
of flying a kite serves as a reminder to Zakir that there is still hope in the world and that life can
still be beautiful, even in the midst of tragedy and hardship

Themes with Examples

One of the most significant themes in these chapters is the idea of memory and its
relationship to identity. Throughout the novel, Zakir is haunted by memories of his past and
struggles to reconcile his old life with his new on

In chapter 7, for example, he recalls a conversation with his friend Hafeez, who suggests
that Zakir has become a different person since moving to the city. Zakir responds by saying that
he has simply "forgotten" his old life, but Hafeez insists that forgetting is not the same as leaving
behind. This conversation highlights the tension between Zakir's past and present and suggests
that his identity is deeply rooted in his memories.

Another important theme in these chapters is the idea of power and its effects on society.
The novel depicts a society in which power is concentrated in the hands of a few, and the vast
majority of people are left powerless and marginalized.

In chapter 8, for instance, Zakir observes the stark contrast between the wealthy elite and
the impoverished masses in Lahore. He notes that the rich live in luxurious houses and drive
expensive cars, while the poor struggle to make ends meet. This observation highlights the
profound inequality that characterizes Pakistani society, and suggests that power is a key driver
of this inequality.

A related theme is the idea of religion and its role in society. Throughout the novel, we
see how religion is used as a tool of power and control by those in positions of authority.

In chapter 9, for example, Zakir attends a religious gathering in which the preacher uses
Islam to justify the oppression of women. The preacher argues that women are inferior to men
and that they should submit to their husbands' authority. This scene highlights the dangers of
using religion to justify injustice and suggests that faith can be both a force for good and evil in
society.
 Another important theme in these chapters is the idea of love and its relationship to
power. The novel portrays love as a powerful force that can overcome even the most significant
obstacles.

In chapter 10, for example, Zakir falls in love with a woman named Sabirah, who is from
a different social class than him. Despite the many barriers that stand in their way, Zakir and
Sabirah's love for each other persists. This theme suggests that love has the power to unite people
across social and cultural boundaries and can be a powerful force for social change.

Finally, the novel explores the theme of belonging and the search for a sense of home.
Throughout the story, Zakir struggles to find a place where he belongs. He is caught between his
old life in the village, which has been destroyed, and his new life in Lahore, which feels foreign
and unfamiliar.

In chapter 11, Zakir returns to his village and reflects on the changes that have taken place since
the Partition. He realizes that he no longer belongs there, but he also knows that he doesn't
belong in Lahore either. This theme highlights the devastating effects of displacement and
suggests that the search for a sense of home is a universal human experience.