Adhe Adhoore Khawab: My Reflections

Maimoona Nazneen 

University of Management and Technology, Lahore

"It is not a conventional love story but altogether a different narrative that advocates love of ideology that may lead to  sacrifice  even one's own life."

Adhay Adhooray Khawab" by Dr. Shahid Sidiqui is a beautiful blend of society, politics, education and literature. It advocates a unique socio-political theme, i.e., education should be used as a vehicle for social change. Theories, discussed in the in the four walls of classroom are of no use until they are not applied and practiced.

Professor Saharan Roy is not only a learned scholar but an effective teacher as well. He manages to open windows of light and fresh air in the minds of students, stirs their thinking by asking thought-provoking questions, and stimulates healthy discussions. He uses live examples from everyday life to make difficult concepts easy to understand. He is popular among students because he not only makes things easy to grasp but also gives new dimensions of applying these concepts. According to him three things are very important for teacher, i.e., punctuality, preparation of lesson and self respect of students. It is not a conventional love story but altogether a different narrative that advocates love of ideology that may lead to  sacrifice  even one's own life.  

According to the writer, "mohabbat qurbani mangti ha, kabhi maal ki, kabhi martabay ki, kabi jaan ki." These sacrifices do not mark the end of love rather they make the cause sublime and inspiring. Professor Roy's dream is taken up by his students, especially Imtisal. He has actually presented the dream and inspiration to fulfill it. He has left a role model for his students to follow in their lives.

This novel is an exact social mirror of Pakistan’s political upheaval. Coupled with simple style and language, social relevance makes the story gripping for readers. The use of multiple narrators helps us to look at a situation from both students’ and teachers’ perspective. In this way this novel is an effective contribution to the theme of education. It promotes that students and teacher should play their active in bringing desired social change.