Beyond a marked disdain for steamy inclination and amorous entanglements with emotional intensity at all levels in the society, it can become an act of endearment in the sight of God. It can put one on the path of deliverance even if he practises a religion that stipulates strict conduct of life and prohibits women from mixing with men freely. It is brilliantly unspooled and creatively explored by a celebrated Hindi novelist Suresh Hans in his recent novel “Maun” (The Silence), published by Bodhi Prakashan, Jaipur.
Rescue act
Layering the tantalising tale of the protagonist Siddharth along with the poignant hues of life, Suresh seeks to convey that the urge for saving a life is a natural longing that defies all restriction, no matter how widely respected they are. Siddharth, sad, emotional, insecure and quick to despair, met with a nearly fatal accident and is rescued by a family of Muslim nomads. The family, caught in the fury of weather, found him in the unconscious state. The torrential rain prompted the male members to abandon him, but Rukhsana asserted, “Alas! You want to leave behind or kill a living human being. Allah will never forgive you. Let us carry him with us. If we do not make an effort to save him, we will not be able to survive. Animals do not desert their siblings in the hour of peril, only man can do it.”
On Rukhsana's insistence, Siddarth was picked up, but when reached a safer place – the cave – he hardly looked more than an unmoving bundle. The male member went out to rescue the buffalo, and other domestic animals and Siddarth remained unconscious. His deteriorating condition worried Rukhsana, and she decided to employ all possible means to bring him back to life. She took out some herbal oil and started gently massaging her hands and feet. His body showed signs of feeble improvement, but he was not unable to open his eyes. A chilling cold ran through his body, and it called for immediate action. Rukhsana decided to employ a method which may not have social or religious sanction.
Seeking pardon from Allah, Rukhsana clasped an unconscious Siddharth to her bosom. She kissed him on the lip. She turned utterly unconcerned about the fact that she was brushing her lips against the body of a stranger and the moment of epiphany sparked off life and Siddharth came to senses.
Here, Suresh perceptively tries to connect his readers to the captivating chord of human caring that subverts all barriers. At a time when people tend to repose unconquerable faith in hate and violence, the presence of people filled with generosity and compassion betrays awakening of the soul and the nuanced narrative of Siddharth proves that perusal life of desire and its subsequent abdication is just a ploy to deceive oneself. Siddarth, intrigued by Vasu, Vaishali and Sujata and his intimacy with them unravels the multiple mysteries of the transience of life and the characters live together to fight and lie and seek a sense of joy in promiscuity.
Self-inflicted violence
The title of the novel is very suggestive as Siddharth betrayed by Vaishali and temporarily cold-shouldered by Vasu sought refuge in solitude and silence. His aloofness does indicate self-inflicted violence, and it prevents him from enjoying his passion for music.
Siddharth asks himself, "Is silence deeper than one's heart?” The quietude started percolating down his body. “Noisiness was very audible inside. It was challenging to measure uproar.” Siddarth has no test formula and is being mired in the din. He wants the silence must come out from inside, and he should make a loud noise, but reticence overwhelms him. He wonders why does dead air vibrate with life?
Vasu, Vaishali and Sujata unfailingly manifest rapidly fluctuating human psyche, but Siddarth remained addicted to self-obsession but curiously he doubts everything and repose faith in everything. His dalliances hardly bear desired fruits but reveal no sickness or depravity. Suresh Hans fashions a subtle and soft narrative that subverts the very concept of moral panic.
His nuanced story of denial and anxiety turns aesthetic and meditative, and for this, plaudits await him
