Fate of all things

Review

Fifty years of political turbulences in Iran, seen through the eyes of a woman aspiring for freedom to stand for herself, make for a gripping narrative

When we say fate, does it just mean the outcome of what destiny has in store for an individual and has no other connotation what so ever? If destiny is the truth and if it decides the path an individual takes in his life, and the eventual success or failure in life is what fate is all about, then it is imperative to remind ourselves that fate, despite what many think, is just not pre-determined; on the other hand it is the amalgamation of several external factors and situations, especially in a woman’s life.

‘The Book Of Fate’ written by Parinoush Saniee is the story of Massoumeh, intelligent and individualistic, God-fearing, yet progressive Muslim lady born into a traditional family in Iran. Her struggle to stand by what she believes in and continue her education while she is living with her parents, notwithstanding the domineering brothers who scorn at the thought women’s education and do not lose an opportunity to deride and discourage her, goes on to take various turns.

She fails to marry the person she likes, yet, manages to escape her brothers’ designs to marry her off to an uneducated butcher by marrying a rich youngster who turns out to be quite a revolutionary, literally. She enjoys the new-found freedom, only to realise later in her life that she was indeed bound by her husband’s ideals.

His life governed by his zeal for a greater cause, leave her to act as a single parent taking care of the house, children, her husband’s arrest and his eventual execution followed by disgrace. She successfully raises her children who get their education and lead a life of their own. They take decisions, a few that she approves of and a few others that she would rather hope her children not take. It is only when she is back to being lonely and hopes for the freedom she has always aspired for, that she realises - being independent of all bondages and standing up for her own is after all not an easy preposition.

Thelife story of a woman who is governed as much by the situations and people around her, as she is by the larger political turbulence in her country, even though she is never directly involved, makes for a roller coaster ride of thoughts and emotions spanning over 50 years. And the author has cleverly commented on the politics of her country, the Shah’s regime, the communists, the return of the fundamentalists, the war etc., without diluting the story of a woman, which is indeed the main objective of the novel.

The original book (which was banned initially only to become a best seller in later years) was translated into English by Sara Khalili and it is indeed a commendable work for nowhere one feels disturbed by flow of narrative. The book as such makes for a good read.

By Rajeshwari Kalyanam