Book Review: Between Clay and Dust

 

Title: Between Clay and Dust

Author: Musharraf Ali Farooqi

Publisher: Aleph Book Company

 

Musharraf Ali Farooqi is a Pakistani author of considerable repute. His writings are sensitive and portray human emotions in a beautiful muted way. Nothing garish and never too loud. They are written with so much politeness that you almost feel you are watching the story unfold in front of you.

Between Clay and Dust is set in an unnamed city in Pakistan and the plot revolves around a wrestler trying hard to save the dying art of wrestling and a middle aged courtesan whose "kotha" once welcomed lords of the land but is now in danger of being shut down. The period is just after independence i.e. circa 1947.

 

The main characters are:

Ustad Ramzi is the no nonsense, hugely respected champion undefeated wrestler who is fast slipping into middle age. His life’s mission is to find a worthy successor who will protect the title of champion wrestler for his clan’s “akhara”.

Tamami is the hard working younger brother of Ustad Ramzi, a wrestler in his own right but never up to the high standards expected by his elder brother. He tries hard almost too hard to meet the expectations of that one person he adores the most, his brother, but slips into oblivion.

Gohar Jan is the beautiful and large hearted courtesan who is fast slipping into the wrong side of age. She is the owner of the one of last remaining Kotha’s which is the haunt of the lords of the land. A singer par excellence, she is lonely at heart and knows that her Kotha might shut down anytime.

 

The relationship shared between champion wrestler Ramzi and the beautiful Gohar is heartwarming to say the least. Old school romance at its best. The reader bears witness to this unusual, unspoken bond that grows between the celibate wrestler and the elegant courtesan, both past their prime.

The setting for the plot is perfect and the characters so well etched that you feel for each of them. The words are eloquent, the style is fluid and the story really heartfelt.

 

Highly recommend the book.