A Critique of Muslim Orthodoxy and Inter-communal Tensions in Hamid Dalwai’s Indhan

Abstract

The present paper intends to offer a critical reading of Hamid Dalwai's celebrated novel Indhan (1965) as “a critique of Muslim orthodoxy and inter-communal tensions”. This classic Marathi narrative has acquired the status of pan-Indian masterpiece after its brilliant English translation under the title Fuel by the renowned translator Dilip Chitre (1938-2009).The novel offers a deeply perceptive view of small-town life in rural Konkan and the emerging inter-communal tensions. The references to key historical events and time-markers in the narration help in contextualizing this novel in larger perspective and making it a pan-Indian masterpiece deserving to be placed among the immortal literary classics like Khushwant Singh’s Train to Pakistan, Amrita Pritam’s Pinjar (1956), Bhisham Sahni’s Tamas (1973), Chaman Nahal’s Azadi (1975).