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اللہ میاں کا کارخانہ [Allah Miyan Ka Karkhana]
اللہ میاں کا کارخانہ کا مرکزی کردار اور متکلّم معصوم اور ذہنی نمو کے مراحل کی اوسط میں پیچھے رہ جانے والا بچہ جبران ہے۔ ناول میں بیان کردہ واقعات جبران کی چودہ برس کی زندگی پر محیط ہیں۔
200 pages, Hardcover
Published November 1, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 26, 2022
"Allah Miyan ka Kaarkhana" by Mohsin Khan
This novel is as endearing as its title sounds <3 When I purchased it back in 2020, I had no clue how famous it is (or would become eventually), but over time I have heard it mentioned in many places that talk of contemporary Urdu writing. Recently on the Urdu-writing focussed YT channel called "Nayawaraq reviews", I also learnt that it is being translated into Marathi by Manisha Patwardhan, which I think is awesome.
This book is a fictionalized account of a young boy's life documented in his journal entries which were originally found in his grave. Jibran lives with his parents and sister, Nusrat in some unnamed village. His father is a very religious man who goes for tableeghi and wants Jibran to grow up and become a hafiz-e-Qur'an (and nothing else alongside). Consequently both Jibran and Nusrat go to the local madarsa and are not given any 'duniyavi taleem' in a proper school. Jibran loves to fly kites, spends a lot of time watching over little chickens being raised in their home & has a very loving relationship with his sister who is an equally lovely character.
The first 100 pages seem to be aimless, and pretty slow & not just coz I am not proficient in reading Urdu- it is truly slow paced. I thought this must be one of those novels which are plotless and really 'inform' nothing. But, then right after 100 pages, something happens which changes your whole understanding of what was being portrayed. Every little thing which seemed so plain. in the first half becomes extremely important, while continuing to remain plain.
Filled with little anecdotes from Jibran's life- sad, heart-warming & laugh-out-loud funny, this extremely moving book isnt to miss if you're an Urdu reader. Ending on a slightly magical-realism note, it warmed my soul. A young boy with his simple hopes & little wishes attempts to teaches us 'Sabr', but I think the true message is that only God's is done in "God's Own Factory"
***** (Jan'22)
@the_bookish_islander on instagram.
This novel is as endearing as its title sounds <3 When I purchased it back in 2020, I had no clue how famous it is (or would become eventually), but over time I have heard it mentioned in many places that talk of contemporary Urdu writing. Recently on the Urdu-writing focussed YT channel called "Nayawaraq reviews", I also learnt that it is being translated into Marathi by Manisha Patwardhan, which I think is awesome.
This book is a fictionalized account of a young boy's life documented in his journal entries which were originally found in his grave. Jibran lives with his parents and sister, Nusrat in some unnamed village. His father is a very religious man who goes for tableeghi and wants Jibran to grow up and become a hafiz-e-Qur'an (and nothing else alongside). Consequently both Jibran and Nusrat go to the local madarsa and are not given any 'duniyavi taleem' in a proper school. Jibran loves to fly kites, spends a lot of time watching over little chickens being raised in their home & has a very loving relationship with his sister who is an equally lovely character.
The first 100 pages seem to be aimless, and pretty slow & not just coz I am not proficient in reading Urdu- it is truly slow paced. I thought this must be one of those novels which are plotless and really 'inform' nothing. But, then right after 100 pages, something happens which changes your whole understanding of what was being portrayed. Every little thing which seemed so plain. in the first half becomes extremely important, while continuing to remain plain.
Filled with little anecdotes from Jibran's life- sad, heart-warming & laugh-out-loud funny, this extremely moving book isnt to miss if you're an Urdu reader. Ending on a slightly magical-realism note, it warmed my soul. A young boy with his simple hopes & little wishes attempts to teaches us 'Sabr', but I think the true message is that only God's is done in "God's Own Factory"
***** (Jan'22)
@the_bookish_islander on instagram.
April 17, 2026
کہتے ہیں کہ بڑی کہانیاں سادہ ہی ہوتی ہیں لیکن ان کہانیوں کے اختتام تک پہنچتے پہنچتے یا تو آپ کی آنکھیں نم ہو چکی ہوتیں یا ایک گہری اداسی اور خاموشی آپ کو اپنے گھیرے میں لے لیتی ۔۔اللہ میاں کا کارخانہ ۔۔ ایسی ہی سادہ لیکن دیر تک آپ کے ساتھ رہنے والا ناول ہے
۔
ایک چھوٹے سے شہر کے ایک غریب گھر کا فرد ایک بچہ جبران جو اپنی ماں بہن نصرت اور باپ کے ساتھ رہتا ہے۔ ان کی زندگی ویسی ہی ہے جیسے ہزاروں لاکھوں گھروں کی زندگی لیہن اس زندگی اور اس کے بیان کو جبران کی زبانی بیان اس سب کو بہت خاص اور دلگداز بنا دیتا ہے
۔
ناول میں پیش آنے والے واقعات سارے کے سارے اس قدر حقیقی ہیں کہ لگتا یہ تو میرے ہی بچپن کی کہانی ہے (اگرچہ چند مستثنیات ضرور ہیں) ۔ بہن میں پتنگوں کو لیکر کا شوق اور جنون ، مدرسے جاتے وقت کا موت پڑنا ، پڑھنے سے زیادہ کھیل تماشے کا شوق، چھوٹی موٹی بے ضرر سے شرارتیں اور چوریاں، یہ سب باتیں ہر کسی کی زندگی کے سب سے خوبصورت وقت کا حصہ ضرور ہوتے ہیں۔ پھر جبران کی زندگی کے کئی دوسرے بڑے بڑے واقعات جنہیں ان کی سنجیدگی کے بجائے ایک بچے کی معصومیت اور بھولپن سے یوں بیان کیا گیا کہ پڑھنے والے کا دل کٹ کٹ سا جاتا ہے
۔
۔
اس ناول کی سب سے بڑی خاص بات اس کی سادگی، بچے کے انادز بیان کی معصومیت اور بھولپن ہے۔ پورا ناول پڑھتے وقت ایک ناسٹیلجیا ، ایک اداسی اور آخر میں دل کا بھاری ہونا آپ کے ساتھ رہتا ۔
۔
اماں، جبران ، نصرت چچا ،چچی اور حافی جی جیسے کرادر زندگی میں کہیں ناں کہیں آپ سے کسی نہ کسی صورت ضرور ٹکراتے ۔ وہیں عاںد چچا جیسے کمینے بھی اگر اسے معاشرے میں ہوتے تو احمد جیسا کمینہ دوست بھی بچپن کی یاد میں کہیں نہ کہیں ضرور شام ہوتا
۔
اردو پڑھنے والے ہر شخص کو یہ سادہ لیکن اتنا ہی خوبصورت ناول ضرور پڑھنا چاہئے
۔
ایک چھوٹے سے شہر کے ایک غریب گھر کا فرد ایک بچہ جبران جو اپنی ماں بہن نصرت اور باپ کے ساتھ رہتا ہے۔ ان کی زندگی ویسی ہی ہے جیسے ہزاروں لاکھوں گھروں کی زندگی لیہن اس زندگی اور اس کے بیان کو جبران کی زبانی بیان اس سب کو بہت خاص اور دلگداز بنا دیتا ہے
۔
ناول میں پیش آنے والے واقعات سارے کے سارے اس قدر حقیقی ہیں کہ لگتا یہ تو میرے ہی بچپن کی کہانی ہے (اگرچہ چند مستثنیات ضرور ہیں) ۔ بہن میں پتنگوں کو لیکر کا شوق اور جنون ، مدرسے جاتے وقت کا موت پڑنا ، پڑھنے سے زیادہ کھیل تماشے کا شوق، چھوٹی موٹی بے ضرر سے شرارتیں اور چوریاں، یہ سب باتیں ہر کسی کی زندگی کے سب سے خوبصورت وقت کا حصہ ضرور ہوتے ہیں۔ پھر جبران کی زندگی کے کئی دوسرے بڑے بڑے واقعات جنہیں ان کی سنجیدگی کے بجائے ایک بچے کی معصومیت اور بھولپن سے یوں بیان کیا گیا کہ پڑھنے والے کا دل کٹ کٹ سا جاتا ہے
۔
۔
اس ناول کی سب سے بڑی خاص بات اس کی سادگی، بچے کے انادز بیان کی معصومیت اور بھولپن ہے۔ پورا ناول پڑھتے وقت ایک ناسٹیلجیا ، ایک اداسی اور آخر میں دل کا بھاری ہونا آپ کے ساتھ رہتا ۔
۔
اماں، جبران ، نصرت چچا ،چچی اور حافی جی جیسے کرادر زندگی میں کہیں ناں کہیں آپ سے کسی نہ کسی صورت ضرور ٹکراتے ۔ وہیں عاںد چچا جیسے کمینے بھی اگر اسے معاشرے میں ہوتے تو احمد جیسا کمینہ دوست بھی بچپن کی یاد میں کہیں نہ کہیں ضرور شام ہوتا
۔
اردو پڑھنے والے ہر شخص کو یہ سادہ لیکن اتنا ہی خوبصورت ناول ضرور پڑھنا چاہئے
May 19, 2026
This short but profoundly tragic novel is too real and is written with minimalistic simplicity. It pushes us to think why some people are unlucky in this world, why they go through such fate that they dont deserve, specially the children of poverty.
What makes it even more painful is the unfairness of it all. Some people begin life already carrying burdens they never chose and never deserved. That realization makes ordinary life suddenly feel superficial and temporary.
What makes it even more painful is the unfairness of it all. Some people begin life already carrying burdens they never chose and never deserved. That realization makes ordinary life suddenly feel superficial and temporary.
July 21, 2026
Jibran Miyan.
Your Abba, Amma, Nusrat, Chachajaan, Hafijji, Qitmir, and Yasin are all very proud of you.
Your Abba, Amma, Nusrat, Chachajaan, Hafijji, Qitmir, and Yasin are all very proud of you.
February 4, 2023
It was a short story which centres on a muslim boy ,named Jibran . He himself write about the phase from which he passed and his feelings about those phases and how he lost all his family and even his teacher in which he saw the reflection of his father. He was a kid with a naughty charachter and always tried to have some fun . In the start he also have a bad habbit of flying kite but in the last he became a hard working and organized boy.
September 22, 2023
معصوم بچے کی معصومیت سے لکھی ہوئی کہانی۔ ایک اچھا ناول۔۔۔۔۔
July 25, 2026
بعض کتابیں صرف پڑھی نہیں جاتیں، محسوس کی جاتی ہیں، اور “اللہ میاں کا کارخانہ” انہی نایاب کتابوں میں سے ایک ہے۔ محسن خان نے ایک معصوم بچے کی نظر سے زندگی، غربت، محبت، محرومی، ایمان اور انسانیت جیسے گہرے موضوعات کو نہایت سادہ مگر دل میں اتر جانے والے انداز میں پیش کیا ہے۔
اس ناول کی سب سے بڑی خوبی اس کی سادگی ہے۔ زبان رواں، دلکش اور بے ساختہ ہے، مگر ہر صفحہ قاری کو سوچنے پر مجبور کرتا ہے۔ جبران کی معصومیت، اس کے سوالات اور دنیا کو دیکھنے کا انداز صرف ایک کردار کی کہانی نہیں، بلکہ ہمارے معاشرے اور ہمارے رویّوں کا آئینہ ہے۔
مصنف نے کہیں بھی وعظ یا نصیحت کا سہارا نہیں لیا، بلکہ کہانی کو خود بولنے دیا ہے۔ یہی وجہ ہے کہ ناول ختم ہونے کے بعد بھی اس کے کردار، مکالمے اور احساسات دیر تک ذہن و دل میں زندہ رہتے ہیں۔
یہ کتاب ایک ناول نہیں، بلکہ ایک کیفیت ہے؛ جس کا لطف اسے محسوس کرنے میں ہے، نہ کہ بیان کرنے میں۔ ہر صفحہ قاری کو اپنے ساتھ لے کر چلتا ہے، کبھی مسکراتا ہے، کبھی خاموش کر دیتا ہے، اور کبھی ایسے سوال چھوڑ جاتا ہے جو کتاب ختم ہونے کے بعد بھی ذہن میں گونجتے رہتے ہیں۔
“اللہ میاں کا کارخانہ” صرف ایک ادبی تخلیق نہیں، بلکہ ایک ایسا تجربہ ہے جو قاری کو زندگی، انسان اور ایمان کو ایک معصوم مگر گہری نظر سے دیکھنا سکھاتا ہے۔ کچھ کتابیں صرف پڑھی جاتی ہیں، مگر کچھ ہمیشہ کے لیے دل کا حصہ بن جاتی ہیں، اور “اللہ میاں کا کارخانہ” یقیناً انہی کتابوں میں سے ایک ہے۔
اس ناول کی سب سے بڑی خوبی اس کی سادگی ہے۔ زبان رواں، دلکش اور بے ساختہ ہے، مگر ہر صفحہ قاری کو سوچنے پر مجبور کرتا ہے۔ جبران کی معصومیت، اس کے سوالات اور دنیا کو دیکھنے کا انداز صرف ایک کردار کی کہانی نہیں، بلکہ ہمارے معاشرے اور ہمارے رویّوں کا آئینہ ہے۔
مصنف نے کہیں بھی وعظ یا نصیحت کا سہارا نہیں لیا، بلکہ کہانی کو خود بولنے دیا ہے۔ یہی وجہ ہے کہ ناول ختم ہونے کے بعد بھی اس کے کردار، مکالمے اور احساسات دیر تک ذہن و دل میں زندہ رہتے ہیں۔
یہ کتاب ایک ناول نہیں، بلکہ ایک کیفیت ہے؛ جس کا لطف اسے محسوس کرنے میں ہے، نہ کہ بیان کرنے میں۔ ہر صفحہ قاری کو اپنے ساتھ لے کر چلتا ہے، کبھی مسکراتا ہے، کبھی خاموش کر دیتا ہے، اور کبھی ایسے سوال چھوڑ جاتا ہے جو کتاب ختم ہونے کے بعد بھی ذہن میں گونجتے رہتے ہیں۔
“اللہ میاں کا کارخانہ” صرف ایک ادبی تخلیق نہیں، بلکہ ایک ایسا تجربہ ہے جو قاری کو زندگی، انسان اور ایمان کو ایک معصوم مگر گہری نظر سے دیکھنا سکھاتا ہے۔ کچھ کتابیں صرف پڑھی جاتی ہیں، مگر کچھ ہمیشہ کے لیے دل کا حصہ بن جاتی ہیں، اور “اللہ میاں کا کارخانہ” یقیناً انہی کتابوں میں سے ایک ہے۔
April 23, 2026
This is not my typical review 💔
I don't remember having read anything more heartfelt than this book before.
اس کتاب اور اس میں موجود ننھے جبران کی کہانی نے مجھے ہلا کر رکھ دیا ہے۔ ایسی بہت سی باتیں اور معصوم سوال جو کبھی پہلے دل میں نہیں آئے تھے، میں وہ سب سوچنے پر مجبور ہو گئ ہوں
وہ اس دنیا کی تمام تر تلخیوں اور دکھوں کے باوجود ایک بھولا بھالا بچہ ہے جس کے دل میں رنگ برنگی پتنگوں، تتلیوں اور چھوٹی چھوٹی خوشیوں کی آس ہے۔ آزمائشوں اور امتحانوں سے بھی زندگی میں جب میں نے اپنے دل میں جھانکا تو اس سہمے مگر خوشی کی چاہت رکھنے والے بچے کو موجود پایا۔
He is unable to change with the atrocities of life. His innocent heart fails to understand the way all adults deal with day to day chores. اس کی چوزے،اس کی مرغی، رنگ برنگے خوبصورت پروں والی تتلی، اس کے چچا کا کتا ، اس کی پیاری بکری، جب مر گئے تو اس کے دل کو دکھوں ہوا مگر اس نے دیکھا کہ اس کے ساتھ اور لوگوں کو وہ دکھ نہیں تھا۔ ہمارے جو خواب ٹوٹ جائیں ان کا غم اور کسی کو ہم جیسا کہاں ہو سکتا ہے
اپنی ماں اور چچا کی قبر کے کتبے کی تحریریں اس نے کس خوبصورتی سے لکھیں، ان کو مٹ جانے پر دوبارہ لکھا، ہم اپنے ٹوٹے ہوئے دل کو بار بار ایسے ہی سہلاتے ہیں جیسے بارش سے ان کتبوں کے الفاظ آنسوؤں میں بہہ جانے والے کاجل جیسے ہو جائیں 💔 😭
اپنی ماں کی تدفین کے وقت اسے ایک اور بچہ پتنگ لوٹتا دکھائی دیتا ہے اور اس کے دل میں حسرت آتی ہے کہ اس دن اس کی ماں نہ مری ہوتی تو وہ پتنگ اس دوسرے بچے کی جگہ وہ خود لوٹ لیتا۔۔ 💔
چچی نے اسے گھر سے نکالا تو وہ اپنے تالے لگے گھر کے باہر سے جھانک کر اس زندگی کی جھلک اندھیرے میں تلاش کرنا چاہتا تھا جو اب ہمیشہ کے لئے کھو گئی تھی۔۔ ہم سب کے اندر ایک تالہ لگا کھنڈر موجود ہوتا ہے جس کے باہر سے ہم حسرت بھری نظروں سے اسے دیکھتے ہیں 😭💔
The most significant part of the book when he talks to Allah Miyan 😭
وہ پڑھ کر ایسی ہی گفتگو اپنے کھوئے ہوئے رشتوں کے بارے میں اللہ میاں سے کرنے کا بہت شدت سے دل چاہا ہے 😭 جبران کے خواب میں اللہ میاں آتے ہیں، میرے خواب میں آئیں تو میں بھی ان سے کہوں کہ مسکرا کر میری گمشدہ چیزیں میرے قیمتی رشتے مجھے پلک جھپکنے میں واپس لا دے جیسے میں نے انہیں کبھی کھویا ہی نہ تھا۔ جنت میں وہی سب کچھ انعام میں ملے گا جو دنیا میں نہ مل سکا۔۔ 💔
His mother takes him with her in the end where everyone he lost is already waiting 💔
I don't remember having read anything more heartfelt than this book before.
اس کتاب اور اس میں موجود ننھے جبران کی کہانی نے مجھے ہلا کر رکھ دیا ہے۔ ایسی بہت سی باتیں اور معصوم سوال جو کبھی پہلے دل میں نہیں آئے تھے، میں وہ سب سوچنے پر مجبور ہو گئ ہوں
وہ اس دنیا کی تمام تر تلخیوں اور دکھوں کے باوجود ایک بھولا بھالا بچہ ہے جس کے دل میں رنگ برنگی پتنگوں، تتلیوں اور چھوٹی چھوٹی خوشیوں کی آس ہے۔ آزمائشوں اور امتحانوں سے بھی زندگی میں جب میں نے اپنے دل میں جھانکا تو اس سہمے مگر خوشی کی چاہت رکھنے والے بچے کو موجود پایا۔
He is unable to change with the atrocities of life. His innocent heart fails to understand the way all adults deal with day to day chores. اس کی چوزے،اس کی مرغی، رنگ برنگے خوبصورت پروں والی تتلی، اس کے چچا کا کتا ، اس کی پیاری بکری، جب مر گئے تو اس کے دل کو دکھوں ہوا مگر اس نے دیکھا کہ اس کے ساتھ اور لوگوں کو وہ دکھ نہیں تھا۔ ہمارے جو خواب ٹوٹ جائیں ان کا غم اور کسی کو ہم جیسا کہاں ہو سکتا ہے
اپنی ماں اور چچا کی قبر کے کتبے کی تحریریں اس نے کس خوبصورتی سے لکھیں، ان کو مٹ جانے پر دوبارہ لکھا، ہم اپنے ٹوٹے ہوئے دل کو بار بار ایسے ہی سہلاتے ہیں جیسے بارش سے ان کتبوں کے الفاظ آنسوؤں میں بہہ جانے والے کاجل جیسے ہو جائیں 💔 😭
اپنی ماں کی تدفین کے وقت اسے ایک اور بچہ پتنگ لوٹتا دکھائی دیتا ہے اور اس کے دل میں حسرت آتی ہے کہ اس دن اس کی ماں نہ مری ہوتی تو وہ پتنگ اس دوسرے بچے کی جگہ وہ خود لوٹ لیتا۔۔ 💔
چچی نے اسے گھر سے نکالا تو وہ اپنے تالے لگے گھر کے باہر سے جھانک کر اس زندگی کی جھلک اندھیرے میں تلاش کرنا چاہتا تھا جو اب ہمیشہ کے لئے کھو گئی تھی۔۔ ہم سب کے اندر ایک تالہ لگا کھنڈر موجود ہوتا ہے جس کے باہر سے ہم حسرت بھری نظروں سے اسے دیکھتے ہیں 😭💔
The most significant part of the book when he talks to Allah Miyan 😭
وہ پڑھ کر ایسی ہی گفتگو اپنے کھوئے ہوئے رشتوں کے بارے میں اللہ میاں سے کرنے کا بہت شدت سے دل چاہا ہے 😭 جبران کے خواب میں اللہ میاں آتے ہیں، میرے خواب میں آئیں تو میں بھی ان سے کہوں کہ مسکرا کر میری گمشدہ چیزیں میرے قیمتی رشتے مجھے پلک جھپکنے میں واپس لا دے جیسے میں نے انہیں کبھی کھویا ہی نہ تھا۔ جنت میں وہی سب کچھ انعام میں ملے گا جو دنیا میں نہ مل سکا۔۔ 💔
His mother takes him with her in the end where everyone he lost is already waiting 💔
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 15, 2025
Outstanding children's literature (or what appears to be children's literature) has always offered layers and profundity that appeal to all ages. Think of Lewis Carroll's Alice in the Wonderland;
Harper Lee's To Kill a Mocking Bird; Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn or Altaf Fatima's Dastak Na Do. Told from the perspective of children, Alice, Scout, Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn, and Gaity Ara, the young narrators are suffused with the charm, innocence of perspective, and freshness of worldview of children but their narratives respectively explore at the same time the dark themes of the lack of logic to life, loss of innocence, and despotism; race prejudice, exploitative poverty, and the horrors of a populist, bigoted and unjust legal system; slavery and systematic decimation of a race and its culture and identity as well as the neglect of children; and sense of being an outsider, alienation and cultural divides. I place Mohsin Khan Gori's award-winning novel Allah Miyan Ka Karkhana (2020) in the same list of nostalgic and wonder evoking writing that explores sombre and serious themes. While its child narrator Khalil Jibran appears simple, unthinking and obsessed with colourful kites, animals, antics and can always been seen attempting to nick some money or evade studies and over-intrusive adults, the novel is a brilliant exploration of how dogma, excessive religiosity, insularity, and societal pretensions of ritualism and piety can stifle the vibrance and possibilities of a thinking and questioning life, strangulate imagination, and diminish childhoods. The book is a triumph when it comes to evoking nostalgia and a sense of wonder. At the same time it is untainted by any pontification, cynicism, out of place philosophising or jaded didacticism - it is a reinvigorating doze of childhood in its unadulterated spontaneity and verve. No wonder it moves one deeply.
Set in India around twenty years ago and in a primarily Muslim habitation, the book is a highly charming read. The local dialect offers its own turn of phrase and an untainted worldview of a playful child who relishes the outdoors, kite flying (I loved the detailed descriptions of different types of kites and the art of kite flying) and general mischief, but also often wonders aloud about the world around him and its underlying reason and imperatives.
His love for animals is deep and abiding - whether for the two chickens the family possessed, or his madrasa teacher's moody goat which he holds conversation with and takes to a nearby jungle to graze, ever fearful of the lurking wolf, or his uncle's loving and devoted dog called Qitmir (named after the loyal dog of the Sleepers of the Cave mentioned in the Holy Quran in Surah Kahf) - but then their respective fates make him think deeply about the nature of life, and death, of chance and fate, of the constant presence of loss and tragedy in human life, of ritual blood-letting, and of the elaborate system of sins and good deeds and punishments and rewards that is force-fed to him by most of the adults around him. For his milieu is conservative, even dogmatic and superstitious, his family's means are humble and often stretched, his father isn't unkind but routinely goes off to undertake tableegh or missionary work, leaving his family in a depressing lurch, and the boy has been deprived of a school and modern education, sent off only to a madrasa to memorise the holy texts. However despite his very simple surroundings and unhappening life, his as yet young and evolving mind, and the overwhelming mood of unquestioning and turgid religiosity around him, the child often lives up to the name of the philosopher-writer he is named after - Khalil Jibran - in his poignant and probing questions.
Why for instance he asks did Allah create the cat, when he had created the chicken. This he puts to us while mourning the loss of a beloved chicken to a predatory cat which caused him to mournfully reflect on the meaning of the entire scheme of things. It is also quite often that he wonders about what Allah Miyan is really like and whether such a lofty divine presence is fixated on the small matters of his life. He seeks solace from Him when aggrieved but his notion of Allah Miyan appears to carry all the constraining and very human characteristics of the adults around him who are shackled by their parochialism and lack of vision and insight. How we as adults brutally decimate the imagination and sense of wonder of those who still possess the eye to look at things deeply and creatively because of their young years.
Young Khalil Jibran's world however is not one devoid of kindness and generosity. This is not a novel that thrives in painting monochromatic images of grief. His devoted and adorable kid sister Nusrat; his over-worked mother who often thrashes him when he is naughty but also fiercely nurtures, loves and protects her brood; his indulgent, progressive, book-loving and quiet mannered uncle; and his rather comical madrasa teacher Hafi sahib who though he makes children press his shoulders and feet, beats them often with a stick called Hidayat ki Chari, and is overfond of eating and somewhat gross in his habits, emerges eventually as a much more substantive man - these are all characters that are full of largesse and tenderness. And though the book also has moments of tragedy and episodes of gloom it is largely vibrant, upbeat and importantly, very humorous. I have deep admiration for writing that offers wit and sparks of hope and joyfulness even while exploring testing milieus and themes. Every chapter starts with an innocent quote from little Khalil Jibran, which is often disarmingly deep. This is a child who would rather loot a kite than do anything else but a child nevertheless who is undertaking his own special journey into the world of metaphysics.
I find the madrassa teacher Hafi jee's character particularly heartening and edifying. So often are religious figures or those associated with anything religious simply caricatured, mocked and stereotyped. Here is someone who does at first glance appear to be a caricature and even somewhat self-serving but as events unfold one realises how the genuineness and sincerity of his faith has moulded him into a truly noble and generous human being.
There is in the backdrop of the main narrative a distinct yet subtle commentary on how the political mood of the country is changing quite ominously - the ascendance of right-wing politics, the growing insecurity and apprehensions of the Muslim community, the rising intolerance and Islamophobia, talk of terrorism, palpable prejudice against Pakistan, and growing fear amongst ordinary Muslims about the high-handedness of the progressively harder state.
This is a book which I read with great pleasure and the kind that will stay with me. The Pakistani editions are hard to find anymore. However, apply a new one is in the offing.
I was inspired to also do a vlog on the book. Here is the link: https://youtu.be/FMppe5QzBCM?si=M12x9...
Harper Lee's To Kill a Mocking Bird; Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn or Altaf Fatima's Dastak Na Do. Told from the perspective of children, Alice, Scout, Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn, and Gaity Ara, the young narrators are suffused with the charm, innocence of perspective, and freshness of worldview of children but their narratives respectively explore at the same time the dark themes of the lack of logic to life, loss of innocence, and despotism; race prejudice, exploitative poverty, and the horrors of a populist, bigoted and unjust legal system; slavery and systematic decimation of a race and its culture and identity as well as the neglect of children; and sense of being an outsider, alienation and cultural divides. I place Mohsin Khan Gori's award-winning novel Allah Miyan Ka Karkhana (2020) in the same list of nostalgic and wonder evoking writing that explores sombre and serious themes. While its child narrator Khalil Jibran appears simple, unthinking and obsessed with colourful kites, animals, antics and can always been seen attempting to nick some money or evade studies and over-intrusive adults, the novel is a brilliant exploration of how dogma, excessive religiosity, insularity, and societal pretensions of ritualism and piety can stifle the vibrance and possibilities of a thinking and questioning life, strangulate imagination, and diminish childhoods. The book is a triumph when it comes to evoking nostalgia and a sense of wonder. At the same time it is untainted by any pontification, cynicism, out of place philosophising or jaded didacticism - it is a reinvigorating doze of childhood in its unadulterated spontaneity and verve. No wonder it moves one deeply.
Set in India around twenty years ago and in a primarily Muslim habitation, the book is a highly charming read. The local dialect offers its own turn of phrase and an untainted worldview of a playful child who relishes the outdoors, kite flying (I loved the detailed descriptions of different types of kites and the art of kite flying) and general mischief, but also often wonders aloud about the world around him and its underlying reason and imperatives.
His love for animals is deep and abiding - whether for the two chickens the family possessed, or his madrasa teacher's moody goat which he holds conversation with and takes to a nearby jungle to graze, ever fearful of the lurking wolf, or his uncle's loving and devoted dog called Qitmir (named after the loyal dog of the Sleepers of the Cave mentioned in the Holy Quran in Surah Kahf) - but then their respective fates make him think deeply about the nature of life, and death, of chance and fate, of the constant presence of loss and tragedy in human life, of ritual blood-letting, and of the elaborate system of sins and good deeds and punishments and rewards that is force-fed to him by most of the adults around him. For his milieu is conservative, even dogmatic and superstitious, his family's means are humble and often stretched, his father isn't unkind but routinely goes off to undertake tableegh or missionary work, leaving his family in a depressing lurch, and the boy has been deprived of a school and modern education, sent off only to a madrasa to memorise the holy texts. However despite his very simple surroundings and unhappening life, his as yet young and evolving mind, and the overwhelming mood of unquestioning and turgid religiosity around him, the child often lives up to the name of the philosopher-writer he is named after - Khalil Jibran - in his poignant and probing questions.
Why for instance he asks did Allah create the cat, when he had created the chicken. This he puts to us while mourning the loss of a beloved chicken to a predatory cat which caused him to mournfully reflect on the meaning of the entire scheme of things. It is also quite often that he wonders about what Allah Miyan is really like and whether such a lofty divine presence is fixated on the small matters of his life. He seeks solace from Him when aggrieved but his notion of Allah Miyan appears to carry all the constraining and very human characteristics of the adults around him who are shackled by their parochialism and lack of vision and insight. How we as adults brutally decimate the imagination and sense of wonder of those who still possess the eye to look at things deeply and creatively because of their young years.
Young Khalil Jibran's world however is not one devoid of kindness and generosity. This is not a novel that thrives in painting monochromatic images of grief. His devoted and adorable kid sister Nusrat; his over-worked mother who often thrashes him when he is naughty but also fiercely nurtures, loves and protects her brood; his indulgent, progressive, book-loving and quiet mannered uncle; and his rather comical madrasa teacher Hafi sahib who though he makes children press his shoulders and feet, beats them often with a stick called Hidayat ki Chari, and is overfond of eating and somewhat gross in his habits, emerges eventually as a much more substantive man - these are all characters that are full of largesse and tenderness. And though the book also has moments of tragedy and episodes of gloom it is largely vibrant, upbeat and importantly, very humorous. I have deep admiration for writing that offers wit and sparks of hope and joyfulness even while exploring testing milieus and themes. Every chapter starts with an innocent quote from little Khalil Jibran, which is often disarmingly deep. This is a child who would rather loot a kite than do anything else but a child nevertheless who is undertaking his own special journey into the world of metaphysics.
I find the madrassa teacher Hafi jee's character particularly heartening and edifying. So often are religious figures or those associated with anything religious simply caricatured, mocked and stereotyped. Here is someone who does at first glance appear to be a caricature and even somewhat self-serving but as events unfold one realises how the genuineness and sincerity of his faith has moulded him into a truly noble and generous human being.
There is in the backdrop of the main narrative a distinct yet subtle commentary on how the political mood of the country is changing quite ominously - the ascendance of right-wing politics, the growing insecurity and apprehensions of the Muslim community, the rising intolerance and Islamophobia, talk of terrorism, palpable prejudice against Pakistan, and growing fear amongst ordinary Muslims about the high-handedness of the progressively harder state.
This is a book which I read with great pleasure and the kind that will stay with me. The Pakistani editions are hard to find anymore. However, apply a new one is in the offing.
I was inspired to also do a vlog on the book. Here is the link: https://youtu.be/FMppe5QzBCM?si=M12x9...
July 30, 2026
”When it is possible to pluck fruits by pulling the branch down, it is foolish to pluck them by climbing the tree.”
- Mohsin Khan, Allah Miyan's Workshop (Translated by Maaz Bin Bilal)
Allah Miyan's Workshop reimagines a world through an innocent fourteen-year-old boy (Gibran). Set in a small village in Awadh, Uttar Pradesh, the mischievous lad wants to fly kites and chase butterflies when his conservative father decides for him that he should work at a Madrasa. Culturally rooted in Islamic values and tradition, the book defies norms set by the society. Mohsin Khan vividly describes the evil shadow cast by a conservative society on the face of humanity.
”Reading those inscriptions, I thought I too should put up tombstones and inscriptions on Amma's and Chachajaan's graves.”
Gibran is devastated when his father is arrested for ’suspicious activities’. The novel takes a complex turn when he had to visit a kabristan for a final goodbye. The inscriptions on the epitaph though translated in a simple language, is layered and nuanced. For instance, one of the engravings read - ’Time does not stay still for anyone. A bird eats ants all its life, but upon its death, ants eat it up.'
Born in a humble family, Gibran innocently addresses the prophet as Allah Miyan and seeks answers when life inches towards a hostile world. Through a masterful translator (Maaz Bin Bilal) evocative prose retains its warmth, lyricism, and emotional depth, making Gibran's voice feel both authentic and deeply affecting.
”A man reaps what he sows, and he gets the just punishment for his sins within this life.”
- Mohsin Khan, Allah Miyan's Workshop (Translated by Maaz Bin Bilal)
Allah Miyan's Workshop reimagines a world through an innocent fourteen-year-old boy (Gibran). Set in a small village in Awadh, Uttar Pradesh, the mischievous lad wants to fly kites and chase butterflies when his conservative father decides for him that he should work at a Madrasa. Culturally rooted in Islamic values and tradition, the book defies norms set by the society. Mohsin Khan vividly describes the evil shadow cast by a conservative society on the face of humanity.
”Reading those inscriptions, I thought I too should put up tombstones and inscriptions on Amma's and Chachajaan's graves.”
Gibran is devastated when his father is arrested for ’suspicious activities’. The novel takes a complex turn when he had to visit a kabristan for a final goodbye. The inscriptions on the epitaph though translated in a simple language, is layered and nuanced. For instance, one of the engravings read - ’Time does not stay still for anyone. A bird eats ants all its life, but upon its death, ants eat it up.'
Born in a humble family, Gibran innocently addresses the prophet as Allah Miyan and seeks answers when life inches towards a hostile world. Through a masterful translator (Maaz Bin Bilal) evocative prose retains its warmth, lyricism, and emotional depth, making Gibran's voice feel both authentic and deeply affecting.
”A man reaps what he sows, and he gets the just punishment for his sins within this life.”
August 2, 2026
Quoting from the translator's note at the end, "I felt like I had been given a sucker punch deep in the pit of my stomach, and my guts were spilling out..."
This is exactly what I am feeling right now after finishing the book. Because, this EXACTLY how growing up felt, didn't it?
Do you remember that era of your life where everything was so pristine blue and sunny yellow and birds were chirping and afternoons meant playing with friends and nights meant the safety of family and everything seemed... intact? Yes, THAT feeling. That pure innocence of childhood days. Doesn't feel like it was this life only, does it?
Anyway, the story is about that feeling of childhood. Child protagonist Gibran is a little boy still learning about the ways of life with his Amma's thrashings and his Abba's religious preachings and his sister's constant presence and support and his own shenanigans of kite flying and stealing a bit and trusting a wrong friend - all bubble wrapped in a liveable life. Until it was not. His father leaves and doesn't return and gets arrested on suspicion of terrorism. Gibran's life upends and we, readers, see his childhood end right in front of our eyes, unable to help him, just like it happened to us many years back. The natural flow of life going on, following the Almighty's laws, because He has already written everything. But at what cost to this mortal mind?
The story broke me by the end. I ended up crying and hugging my mother. This story might be about a family, a community and a country...but in truth, to me, it felt more about the irreversible passage of life. This deep heartclawing feeling that I'm feeling currently will stay for a long time.
This is exactly what I am feeling right now after finishing the book. Because, this EXACTLY how growing up felt, didn't it?
Do you remember that era of your life where everything was so pristine blue and sunny yellow and birds were chirping and afternoons meant playing with friends and nights meant the safety of family and everything seemed... intact? Yes, THAT feeling. That pure innocence of childhood days. Doesn't feel like it was this life only, does it?
Anyway, the story is about that feeling of childhood. Child protagonist Gibran is a little boy still learning about the ways of life with his Amma's thrashings and his Abba's religious preachings and his sister's constant presence and support and his own shenanigans of kite flying and stealing a bit and trusting a wrong friend - all bubble wrapped in a liveable life. Until it was not. His father leaves and doesn't return and gets arrested on suspicion of terrorism. Gibran's life upends and we, readers, see his childhood end right in front of our eyes, unable to help him, just like it happened to us many years back. The natural flow of life going on, following the Almighty's laws, because He has already written everything. But at what cost to this mortal mind?
The story broke me by the end. I ended up crying and hugging my mother. This story might be about a family, a community and a country...but in truth, to me, it felt more about the irreversible passage of life. This deep heartclawing feeling that I'm feeling currently will stay for a long time.
June 20, 2026
اللہ میاں کا کارخانہ ایک مختصر مگر ایک پر اثر ناول ہے جو اپنی سادہ زبان مگر گہری معنویت کے باعث دیر تک ذہن میں رہتا ہے۔ یہ ان کہانیوں میں سے ہے جو پڑھتے ہوئے دل کو اداس کرتی ہیں مگر ساتھ ہی انسان کو زندگی، تقدیر اور محرومی کے بارے میں سوچنے پر بھی مجبور کر دیتی ہیں۔ مجھے نہیں معلوم کیوں لیکن اس قسم کی کہانیاں پڑھ کر ایک عجیب سی بےچینی گھیر لیتی ہے۔ ایک کسک سی دل و دماغ میں رہ جاتی ہے جو کہانی ختم ہونے کے بعد بھی دیر تک ساتھ رہتی ہے۔
اس کہانی کا مرکزی کردار جبران ہے جو اپنی معصومیت، سادگی اور چھوٹی چھوٹی خواہشوں کے ذریعے قاری کے دل میں جگہ بنا لیتا ہے۔ اس ناول کا سب سے مضبوط پہلو اس کی حقیقت نگاری ہے۔ یہ ہمیں جبران اور نصرت جیسے ان بچوں کی دنیا میں لے جاتا ہے جن کے حصے میں بچپن کی بےفکری، آسائشیں اور آسانیاں نہیں آتیں۔ ان کے خواب بھی چھوٹے ہوتے ہیں اور خواہشیں بھی سادہ ہوتی ہیں مگر زندگی اکثر ان سے وہ بھی چھین لیتی ہے۔ یہی احساس کہ کچھ لوگ بغیر کسی قصور کے اتنی سخت آزمائشوں سے گزرتے ہیں، اس کہانی کو بے حد دردناک بنا دیتا ہے۔
بعض سوالوں کے جواب انسان کے پاس نہیں ہوتے، بعض محرومیوں کی وجہ بھی سمجھ نہیں آتی، لیکن پھر بھی یہ دنیا اور کائنات اللّٰہ کے حکم اور اپنے طے شدہ نظام کے تحت چلتی رہتی ہے۔ ہر چیز ہماری سمجھ اور خواہش کے مطابق نہیں ہوتی، ہوتا وہی ہے جو اللّٰہ کی مرضی ہوتی ہے۔
ضرور پڑھیے۔
اس کہانی کا مرکزی کردار جبران ہے جو اپنی معصومیت، سادگی اور چھوٹی چھوٹی خواہشوں کے ذریعے قاری کے دل میں جگہ بنا لیتا ہے۔ اس ناول کا سب سے مضبوط پہلو اس کی حقیقت نگاری ہے۔ یہ ہمیں جبران اور نصرت جیسے ان بچوں کی دنیا میں لے جاتا ہے جن کے حصے میں بچپن کی بےفکری، آسائشیں اور آسانیاں نہیں آتیں۔ ان کے خواب بھی چھوٹے ہوتے ہیں اور خواہشیں بھی سادہ ہوتی ہیں مگر زندگی اکثر ان سے وہ بھی چھین لیتی ہے۔ یہی احساس کہ کچھ لوگ بغیر کسی قصور کے اتنی سخت آزمائشوں سے گزرتے ہیں، اس کہانی کو بے حد دردناک بنا دیتا ہے۔
بعض سوالوں کے جواب انسان کے پاس نہیں ہوتے، بعض محرومیوں کی وجہ بھی سمجھ نہیں آتی، لیکن پھر بھی یہ دنیا اور کائنات اللّٰہ کے حکم اور اپنے طے شدہ نظام کے تحت چلتی رہتی ہے۔ ہر چیز ہماری سمجھ اور خواہش کے مطابق نہیں ہوتی، ہوتا وہی ہے جو اللّٰہ کی مرضی ہوتی ہے۔
ضرور پڑھیے۔
July 26, 2026
A beautiful and sad book. The saddest I have read in a long time. Personally haunting.
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