Priyanka – A Pakistani Girl: Prabhat Ranjan’s next novel

So, finally an author has decided to break the ice on the issue of minorities in Pakistan. And surprisingly, the author I am talking about is not an author who has already enjoyed the ‘established author’ stature by writing some teen-soothing sagas of love or some impotent murder mysteries or some leg-broken love stories which only depict love-making as if there is no ‘love’ beyond this body! I am talking about Prabhat Ranjan, an author who is ready to make his debut with a stunning Hindi novel With You; Without You. However, what’s even more interesting about Prabhat is, it is his upcoming second novel, Priyanka – A Pakistani Girl. Did it give you the thrill? Yes, I also had the same experience while talking to Prabhat.

I was discussing with the author today about his further plans and he revealed about his upcoming novel (to be published after the launch of With You; Without You). Priyanka – A Pakistani Girl is surely going to be a novel which will shatter the status quo and will raise the questions on the silence which most of the intellectuals decide to wear when it comes to the situation of the Hindu minority in Pakistan. Prabhat Ranjan’s story was very much convincing and his vision was far more superior than most of the ‘established authors’ I know by now. Let me give the readers an overview of his idea.

Author Prabhat Ranjan has weaved his fiction which takes us back to the partition. Like many Muslims decided to live in India for they could not leave their motherland, many Hindus also decided to stay in Pakistan – they also had their motherland to love. Priyanka’s grandfather stayed in Pakistan in spite of several warnings from his brothers and well-wishers. ‘They will torture you here.’ ‘There will be no safety for our sisters, mothers and wives.’ ‘They will force us to accept Islam.’ And many other concerns popped up but he listened to none because he has vowed his integrity to the motherland! Things are smooth and their family settles well in newly developed state Pakistan only until the problem begins. Priyanka falls in love with a Hindu boy in Pakistan only to see him being forcefully converted to a Muslim and his father runs away from Pakistan to India with the family. When the pain becomes unbearable, they finally quit and call it a day! In India, Priyanka and her family like it well. They are surprised to see the ‘minorities’ living here and enjoying so much freedom which they couldn’t even dream in Pakistan. … Priyanka, in India, falls in love with a Muslim boy! Many things happen after this episode and riots, tragedies, clashes… Priyanka’s father has to flee somewhere unknown. But before he goes, he leaves a letter behind which tells many stories but one very important thing is that:

“… the land is the same… what matters the most is the conscience of the people…”

Prabhat did reveal a few more things about the story and a little in-depth preview of Priyanka – A Pakistani Girl. However, I won’t get into more detailed version here. As a critic, I can surely say that the novel is stunning and that the readers will surely like this ever-untold tale of love – love as we do in our individual capacity and the love that we have for the motherland…

And meanwhile, Prabhat is busy considering the ideas to get this novel to as many readers as possible. He is quite enthusiastic about the book and he strongly believes that his story will appeal to the readers.