The Irreverent Hero Islam Forgot

Cheema ji

From bulleya's #17, this seems like a fantasy/dream/story of Arabic (Persian?) world conquest using magic, trade, and social relations.

Since it is an important book, I don't want to misconstrue it. Would you please comment? Thanks.

"build an army of partners......"

Wow! Is this an army, or a bunch of traders, or an early version of East India Company as it might appear to some kids in Britain?

Hope that is a misunderstanding...:)

Re: # 17 bulleya:

The character IS based on Hamza, Mohammed's uncle but only in name. In chronological terms it is from the middle ages, Turko-Persian with Arabic and Indian refernces to suggest a wider, more inclusive base. Also, the "Koh-e-Kaaf ki Pariyan" and the whole "Ko-e-Kaaf" concept is based on the "Caucases" in Southern Russia bordering onto North Iran and modern day Turkey; the mountains separating the two terrains gave an extra dimension to the imaginative work, with the "lure of the fairies of the Caucases - Koh'Kaaf ki pariyan" maintained throughout!

....if i remember correctly, amir hamza is actually pre-islamic......the religion hamza refers to in his journeys, is din-e-ibrahimi......the abrahamic faith.......not islam.....

people tend to equate amir hamza with muhammad's uncle.......however, that cannot be the case.....amir hamza's colleagues and journeys are into magical kingdoms covering superstitions and wars and what not....

....the stories start with three individuals - hamza, his friend umro ayyar and a third person - when they are children.......and it goes on till they build an army of partners from all over the world......

i believe the person from india was lindhor......who carries the world's biggest gurz (?) on his shoulders, and is undefeatable in battle, until hamza defeats him......after which lindhor joins hamza's army.....

malika bihar is a very power magician, who seduces everyone around her, through the use of magical flowers....

anyways, things that i remember from around 30 years ago......

Re: # 15; mahfari sahib,
please pay attention to what the author is trying to say here before we all get on our high horses as usual. I quote the last paragragh:

"At this perilous moment in history, the Hamza epic, with its mixed Hindu and Muslim idiom, its tales of love and seduction, its anti-clericalism — mullahs are a running joke throughout the book — its stories of powerful and resourceful women and its mocking of male misogyny is a reminder of an Islamic world which the West seems to have forgotten: one that is syncretistic, imaginative and heterodox and as far as can be imagined from the puritanical Wahhabi Islam that the Saudis have succeeded in spreading throughout much of the modern Islamic world".

I hope this provides some further, unfortunately very desired, clarification in today's world of religious puritanicalism.

Re: # 12; mahfari:

Strange question since the article is titled "The Irreverent Hero Islam Forgot".

It is a bunch of fascinating stories that, alongwith the "arabian nights" have nothing to do with any religion BUT geography. Same applies to, for example, "the Canterbury Tales" by chaucer; no relation to religion per se but an important contribution to middle english literature.

I hope that clarifies it for you.

Cheers.

To clear up jayp's confusion, it is important to remember that the reference of 'India' and 'indian' is misleading in this context. 'Hindustani' would be more appropriate reference for the world breathing in the urdu versions of Amir Hamza stories. This would not be a geographical locus but a lingo-emotional heritage spread out IN PART between generations in Central Asia, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran.

Of course, Dalrymple cannot be trusted with his assertions about the Mughal court world being 'nuanced' in the stories because there is nothing of the sort going on. People who can vouch for that are the kids who grew up reading these stories and in the opinion of one, the world of zanbeel and jaadoogar and jinn was not of this world...

Re: # 11 JUST WONDER HOW MUCH THEY CHARGE FOR ENTRANCE IN USA AND ENGLAND GENERALLY FOR SUCH SOCIAL FUNCTIONS
I AM TOLD THEY KEEP ALL SWEETS LIKE CAKES, BISCUITS, AND COFFEE AND TEA AS MUCH AS YOU WANT.HERD IN COLLEGES SUCH PROGRAMS ARE GOING ALL TIME AND ONE CAN LIVE ON CAKES, COFFEE AND BISCUITS.
WONDER IS IT TRUE SITUATION.
I HEARD MOST PEOPLE EAT BISCUITS AND DRINK COFFEE TOGTHER TILL STOMACH IS FILLED AND THEN GO SLEEP AND WHEN GET UP THEY JUST GET UP TO NEXT LECTURE CIRCUIT.
CAN ANY BODY PUT HONEST LIGHT ON SITUATION, HEARD IN UK PEOPLE ARE MORE CULTURED THEY DO NOT SNORE WHILE SLEEPING WHEN LECTURE IS GOING , IT IS CONSIDERED NOT GENTLEMAN OR LADY LIKE.

Re: # 8 Akcheema sahib why you nare worried about Islamic references always?

FYI

William will be in Berkeley on April 2nd.



CSAS Public Lecture Series

The Last Mughal:
The Fall of a Dynasty, Delhi 1857

talk & book-signing by

William Dalrymple

Writer & Historian


Wednesday, April 2, 2008
6 pm,

Morrison Room, 101 Doe Library


Flyer: http://southasia.berkeley.edu/flyers/William_Dalrymple_Flyer.pdf
Directions: Morrison Library is on the right once you enter the Doe Library from its North entrance.

**************
Center for South Asia Studies
10 Stephens Hall, #2310
University of California
Berkeley, CA 94720-2310
http://ias.berkeley.edu/southasia/

(510) 642-3608 (Phone)
(510) 643-5793 (Fax)

It sounds like a definite buy .. Cheers for the reveiw :)

Re: # 7

VRV

I was only questioning the notion that the book is islamic, especially written during the moghul times.

Takes me back to my childhood; Umro Ayyar and his Zanbeel!

What has all this got to do with Islam again?

jayp,

Wud u make little of Panchatantra?

Pl read that book.

Seems like a great book of stories!

Wonder if the stories have any specific theme(s)...

Great essay!
I really liked it. I grew up in Lahore, Pakistan and reading was one of my great past times. In my grandfather's library there was this really thick and very old volume of Daastaan-e-Amir Hamza and it was written in old urdu. It had some pages missing in the front and the back, but nevertheless it was one of my most favorite books to read. It transported one immediately into a land of magic and fantasy.

There was also another version of the Daastan-e-Amir Hamza which was published by Feroz sons, although I cant seem to remember the name of the author. I really liked that version too as it was written in more modern urdu and included characters from magical realms like Tilsm-Hoshrubaa. My favorite characters was Malika Bahar who later marries Amir Hamza and helps in the fight against the evil Shehenshah Afrasiyaab.

I would love to buy this book.