Vad

by Ila Arab Mehta

Story of a Muslim girl who takes path of education for growth

286 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Areeb Ahmad (Bankrupt_Bookworm) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good book that went beyond the tired monotone representation of Muslim people to attempt to portray them in full technicolour. Although its politics are a bit muddled and simplistic in places, it goes a long way in exploring (hyper/in)visibility, daily microaggressions, and stereotypes. Mehta constantly espouses against ghettos and closed communities, against walls that seek to divide and conquer by making difference into a monument instead of establishing unities through shared ideals and aspirations. It is especially important since it comes out of Gujarat, brilliantly translated from Gujarati by Rita Kothari. I am happy I got to read it finally through my book club which has been really crucial in introducing me to brilliant Indian women writers.



(I received a finished copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)

[Hari Krishnan Prasath (The Obvious Mystery) · Rating 3 out of 5]

For December's #readingindia (Gujarat) project, I found myself lost in this rose-like book called Fence. It was quite the read, a beautiful red, jewel-toned flower with nasty thorns waiting to prick you when you least expect it.

Through a nonlinear narrative, Fence introduces us to Fateema, a brilliant student whose singular ambition in life is to build/ buy her own house in the city. From a very young age, she is constantly reminded of her religion and discriminated against it. She learns to grow against it, breaking stereotypes and setting herself apart, and earning the respect of the people around her.

While the narrative offers the sight of a rose blossoming from its buds, there is a clear view of the thorns that lie beneath it. There's sexism, religious and stereotypical discrimination, casteism, and a lot of inhumanity.

The author is able to bring a refreshing point of view of a person who is constantly having to face discrimination for nothing better than being born.

The words run like a river, not stopping until it reaches the oceans and you'll find yourself reading without regard to time or distractions.

The book ends first and then the realization follows.

However, for all the good apples that were in the basket, there still were a few rotten ones. For example, there were instances where I felt the unfairness of depicting one religion by the author of another.

Don't get me wrong, the author does champion herself by creating a wonderful, 3-dimensional character with real-world problems but there were times when the character's identity slipped to reveal a biased opinion.

Another instance was how one of the subplots of the book took a very cliched and slightly bigoted and stereotypical route towards terrorism which it could have done without. But even with these apples, the book still stands strong and compels you to read it.

Fence made me feel that the whole phrase that we pride ourselves on, 'Unity in Diversity', is not achieved but is still a goal. A goal that some people
will do their utmost best to destroy.

I felt that the penultimate message that the author attempts to impart upon us is that no matter how many fences, across sex, religion, caste, class, we break in this country to become a unified people, there will always be another.

But there is still hope, even if it is a sliver of light through a cloudy sky.

Fence was written in Gujarathi and later translated to English by Rita Kothari.

[Abhaga · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhere in my past I made that journey from a small town to the capital city. And then from an overbearing school to the college away from the family. Layer by layer the world opened up, and the sense of wonder as the horizons expanded! Now my overexposed brain, having lived in this world for another 18 years, that too with the internet, only has a passing sense of how it felt.

It was this sense of expanding world of Fateema that held me in this novel. As she herself notes in the novel that her past life in village seemed like a dream. The novel is a gentle portrait of a polarized society where things and people are complicated. Even in an predictable story line, looking at it from Fateema's eyes is new. Although I found the writing in the Guesthouse saga to be boring and cliched.

Novel uses a non-linear timeline which hurts rather then helps it. Also to my surprise, there seemed to be more than usual editing and proofreading mistakes. Standalone sentences in between that made no sense in English (perhaps they do in original Gujarati - lost in translation). (Although when I go back now, I am hard pressed to find any. So don't let this dissuade you from picking this book up.) And I didn't like the cover. So many possibilities with a wonderful title like Fence!

I say this very hesitatingly but between the textual mistakes, cover and paper choice (printed on white instead of the more common for fiction creme paper), it seemed to me that the book could have used a little more love. But something is better than nothing. So three cheers to my favorite publisher Zubaan to bringing this out!

[Khalifa Shahrukh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice book to read

[Shreya Vaid · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jumping over the fence of poverty, religion, gender and illiteracy, Ila Arba Mehta's protagonist Fateema Lokhandwala inspires us to be more than just what societal norms chart out for us. A story that breaks a lot of stereotypes and fences, a story that deserves to be read widely!

Translated by Rita Kothari, Fence by Ila Arab Mehta follows the story of Fateema. Daughter of a father who is a scrap metal seller and a mother who collects cow dung, Fateema is always motivated by her parents to study more. Personally, Fateema wants to be a more enlightened person, a free thinking soul and not someone who is bonded by rules of Allah. During her life, she comes across many boundaries, starting with the caste system. She faces this during her school lessons.

Also, being best friend with a Hindu never helps her much, but she strives to look above such trivial things. Then comes a day when her father and brothers are enchanted by an upcoming Muslim leader, who promises the world far away from scrap metal and cow dung in return of Fateema's hand in marriage who just turned fourteen. But then, Fateema ran away before she was tied to a pole like a goat.

Jumping over one fence and another, she lands a job in the city. Proud and enlightened, Fateema tries to keep the pieces of her family together along with her personal dreams. She now only wants a house, her own space in this little world. But will she able to overcome hurdles the society has created for us? On the other end, will she be able to keep up with Kareem, her brother who has decided to join Jihad, the holy war? A story so simple yet so deep, moving our thoughts to reminisce how numerous fence are created in our country, between communities, between people, and even between housing societies.

Fence is the kind of story that when you start to read it, you would like to finish it one go. A simple yet straight concoction of words, Rita Kothari ensured to keep the spirit of the story alive. There will be instances in some places where you will ponder and agree with the protagonist. Other times, some instances will be a breath of fresh air. In a state where communal tension takes place instantly, reading about Gujarati teachers helping a Muslim student at all ends is like a breath of fresh air. Fence took me back to "Americanah" by Chimamanda N Adichie, wherein a woman is trying to find her place in a foreign world.

In a country which prides itself on being secular at every Lok/Rajya Sabha session, Fence is a story which shows the true side. Two people struggling for their most basic need, a roof over their heads. That's the reality of many people, and Ila Arab Mehta ensured to share the reality with this gripping book. The only thing about the story is that by the end of it, it becomes pretty confusing. You are not able to judge what is the real struggle of Fateema? Finding a home or fighting against prejudice because she is branded as the sister of a Jihadi? But all in all, if you want to read a fiction on communal-ism, then Fence is a book that can be added in your #TBR.

So, if you are feeling like picking up a good story that may stir your thoughts up, Fence can be that book this monsoon.

[GailW · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for a Goodreads challenge. Translated from Gujarati, the storyline is very good: poor family from a little village in India wishes their three children to have educations so that they live better than they have had to live. Each one of the children then proceeds to travel in quite disparate directions. The family is Muslim, in an area that is mostly Hindu. While the youngest son succumbs to a promised life among the rich, going to work for a man that is likely a "gangster", the older son embraces jihad, while the daughter focuses on her education at the university, working towards a life in a wider world and without the fences that separate the religions. I learned quite a bit from this slim book. The translation was a bit "off" in a few sections, but did not hurt the overall feel of the book.

[Manisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muslim girls have a long way to go to overcome internal (family) and external (society) pressure and make their identity in this world. Fatima, the lead character, has tried to make her life better through education. Hope others also take inspiration from this.

[Annie Zaidi]

It would do everyone a lot of good to have this book on the school and college syllabus for Gujarati as well as English literature, especially in Gujarat.