Paradise - Discussion (Manasa Book Club)
by Cibi
Is there a paradise on earth which doesn’t require the mercy of the above? What is paradise for the
defeated and coward?
Author Abdulrazak Gurnah expands on this imagery through the coming-of-age story of a
mortgaged boy Yusuf. His parents abandon him to “uncle” Aziz in lieu of their debt. He grows
under “uncle” Aziz’s caring and watchful eyes and slowly becomes aware of pleasures and
detriments of bondage. The novel ends with his escape from the present.
It is set in East Coastal Africa’s Swahili interior regions where different people consider themselves better
than others. The arabs in coast consider arab-swahili mix lower; they think Swahili are below. Swahili
people consider the interior people as savages. The Germans and English consider all of them as
savages. The novel is set from the 1890s to World War I. During this time, the whites slowly penetrate
the interior and get them under their thumb. They come as harbingers of justice for their internal
fight and slowly occupy. There is a line in the novel which says “the whites in a new place first build
prison, then market, then church and then only a home”.
This is the fourth coming-of-age novel in Manasa's discussion after “Childhood Friend”, “Pather
Panchali” and “Moons Far Far Away”. One common thread in all the protagonists is their
reflectiveness. This reflectiveness sets in after his exploratory phase, all along accompanied by the
calm, persistent observation. First, he explores the town and the forbidden garden when Aziz is far
out. Then, during his stay in the mountains, he picks up Koran learning after initial reluctance and shifts to English and other skills. Then he starts telling his own stories to children. Then he matures during the
interior journey and, on return, ignited by love, he reflects on where his present bondage will take him.
He sees bondage all around. Khalil, who is his senior in bondage and a brother too, has decided to
stay even when free, for his sister, Amina, is in bondage forever to Aziz. The gardener, who also was
set free, still continues as before but is disgruntled and seemingly philosophical about his
continuation of routine. He has seen “uncle” Aziz up close, who is known to maintain an amused
detachment even in worse situations, lose his edge after his surrender to the Germans for help. He dreams
and tries to challenge Aziz for marrying Amina, but discovers that his cowardice will always be
between. Then paradise for him becomes choosing a better jail.
There is also another paradise indicated which is protected by thunderous water and flaming gates.
That is for the brave. There are also people like Hussein, who live in paradise because they don’t
hanker for paradise.
The author uses Abrahamic tradition’s symbols to emphasize. The forbidden garden is modelled exactly
as described in Islamic text. The Yusuf, Aziz, and Zuleka character archetypes are taken from the
tradition and expanded further.
The author slowly uncovers Zuleka's sexual covetousness like peeling an onion. First, the meeting happens
in normal pleasantries and enquiries, then on religious pretext, next to relieve the soul’s pain, and
finally the attempt at direct control. In those meetings, first both Khalil and Amina accompany. Then
Khalil drops after exhaustion from resistance; Amina is made to stop after their mutual love is
suspected. The author uses the characters’ absence well for imagination.
The nature description while travelling by train or to the interior is described well. To emphasize
or by influence of the aforementioned tradition, author barely gives physical descriptions of
persons, but their smell, touch and gestures convey their personality effectively. Yusuf mother’s
strong sweat smell and prolonged hug before his leaving, Aziz’s fresh perfume accompanying his easy
air, bodily smell in congested coach, Soft buttery skin of Hamid’s daughter are a few.
The author also uses gestures as an effective means for communication at crucial moments. When his two
main assistants, Mohammad Abdalla and Simba Mwene were about to leave after getting their
payment, he extends his arm towards Simba Mwene, signalling to stay back, rather than his old mate
Mohammad, indicating that the decades-long friendship with him has come to an end. Another place
is the meeting of Aziz with Yusuf after the Zuleka scandal takes place. Aziz settles in a leisurely
pose and enquires why Yusuf actually came into the house. When he mutters the truth in a muted
way, Aziz reminds and reestablishes Yusuf’s position as servant through a slight change to his usual
gesture. Usually, when he gives his hand to kiss, Yusuf bends over, then Aziz gently strokes his
backhead. But the unexpected sharp pat has closed the door in his heart.
The tradesman's personality is brilliantly shown through Aziz. He starts as small, then marries a rich
widow much older than him, shifts his trade from coast to interior, seeking hard-to-find
merchandise. He is a religious, kind, and hard man. Calm simplicity is his demeanour. He hardly
loses it. The only time tears come from his eyes is when Mohammad Abdalla was beaten down for his
cruelty to the guide. For he is his darker side. For his dirty work is done by Mohammad without his
seemingly noticing it. In Venmurasu, this split personality is shown much more intensely even in positive
characters. Maya, the chief servant of the mysterious Panchali, does the intentions of Panchali
without her saying.
Few women are portrayed strongly. Hamid’s wife, who is suspicious as well as caring to Yusuf in
his short mountain stay, takes the decision of sending him to Koran school and shuts off the drama,
when what her husband did, after coming to know his illiteracy, was to just berate him in front of
their children excessively for a maniacal pleasure. Amina was portrayed as an enduring, shrewd girl
keeping her spirits up despite facing the worst trouble compared to all. She conveys her suffering
through mockery instead. She also beautifully conveys her dream to Yusuf.
The discussion ended with reading a few lines of Yusuf’s beautiful recollection of his mountain trip
to Khalil.
Though a small one, today’s gathering was graced by a bird of paradise.