इंधन [Indhan]

by Hamid Dalwai, हमीद दलवाई

Genres: Marathi, Fiction

152 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1965

About the author

Hamid Umar Dalwai was a Muslim social reformer, thinker, activist and Marathi language writer in Maharashtra, India

Reviews

[Rohan Panse · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rarely give 5 stars. One of the master piece in Marathi literature by late Hamid Dalwai (respected liberal leaders in Indian Muslims).
It is his story of returning to his old village after 15 yrs near Chiplun in Kokan. Where he is bambozled by changes in his village, his perception of village, his own supposedly liberal thought processes and reality.
Characters of Sumati, Paritin (cloth washer), Laxmi are representative of various wemen of rural India.
His culture observations of vilages of Kokan are way to similar to Go Ni Dandekar, Jaywant Dalwi and many other marathi writers in past. Him being muslim hardly changes that cultural narrative. A must read.

[Rohan Shedage · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was disturbing...and for the most part I could relate with it...but what was it? Fiction? Semi-fiction? Or a true memoir?

[Asim Aslam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boht khoob ....

[Riaz Ujjan · Rating 3 out of 5]

ایک شخص اور گاؤں کی کہانی. شخص جو دنیا کو بدلنے کے خواب دیکھ کر گاؤں چھوڑتا ہے مگر پندرہ سال بعد جب گاؤں واپس آتا ہے تو بہت کچھ بدل چکا ہوتا ہے. گاؤں میں اٹھنے والے نئے جھگڑوں سے تنگ آکر پھر شہر چلا جاتا ہے.

[Ashish Iyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fuel by Hamid Dalwai is the English translation of his acclaimed Marathi novel Indhan. It offers a thought-provoking exploration of social realities and human relationships within a changing society. The novel is still relevant even decades after it was first published. What makes the work particularly noteworthy is Dalwai's willingness to engage with sensitive issues and encourage introspection within the community he belonged to. Rather than shying away from difficult questions, he invites readers to reflect on orthodoxy, traditions, and the challenges of reform. His writing is marked by clarity, honesty, and a genuine concern for social progress.

Hamid Dalwai was among the few voices of his time who consistently advocated reform, rational inquiry, and constructive dialogue. Readers interested in his social and political thought may also find Muslim Politics in Secular India to be a valuable and insightful read.

[Sandip Sathe]

awesome