Makaan

Makaan is a Urdu novel by Paigham Afaqui that was first published in 1989 and first published in English in 2002.It is now well recognized as an important Indian novel and a step forward in Indian fiction and a significant part of Indian literature.

The novel has become part of academic studies in university Urdu departments at the undergraduate and post-graduate level, and it is the topic of active literary criticism research.^{[citation needed]}

Since the novel was first published eminent critics and scholars like Prof. Zahida Zaidi, Prof. Sheen akhtar, Prof. Khurshid Ahmed, Prof. irtaza Karim, Dr Ahsan Nishat, Prof. Rafia Shabnam Abidi,^[who?] as well as media Hindustan times, Times of India, National Herald, Patriot, Indian Express, Pioneer and Link have focused on this novel.^{[citation needed]} By now, this novel is a critical part of Urdu literature that has gained notoriety in Urdu, Hindi & English critical circles.^{[citation needed]}

Awards

First Prize, Urdu Academy, U.P. in 1990

Makaan is considered among one of the greatest Urdu novels.

Significance

Since its publication in 1989 Makan has come to be considered as one of the greatest novels in contemporary Urdu fiction and has determined the trend of Urdu novel by influencing the form and philosophies of novels written thereafter. It is marked as a return of story telling in fiction with absolute renunciation of plot construction. Life and this novel become one and the same: breathing at the same levels of despair and ecstasy written in the background of mafia dominated structure of modern India. The novel, however, roars through this jungle of lawlessness and terror with a powerful and far reaching voice of vision of the writer who has whistled afresh the eternal spirit of man’s greatness through the character of a woman who emerges as a prophet of aggressive creativity amidst the wrecks of the old structure of society. Written in the background of the labyrinth of the cosmopolitan city, no other book depicts Delhi’s dark alleys so vividly. The novel is secretly considered by the readers of Urdu as one of the finest in the global literature and a very revolutionary piece of art. The translator V.K. Joshi is a poet and is author of ‘A Phoenix Again’ (Novel) which is a fine example of serious fiction. The translator took up the translation purely due to his infatuation with the book and took nine years to absorb the extremely strange style of the novel before he finally translated it.

Any work of fiction is a living organism. It is a vibrant reality. So, it impinges upon our consciousness all the time. The stunning force of a true novel does not only lie in its theme, plot, story and characterization but in an over-all view of life that it presents.

The very first reading of Makaan overwhelms one by its sheer beauty and magnitude. The work's many dimensions produces an ineffable effect upon reader. On the one hand it gives a profound philosophical appraisal of life and on the other hand it gives a comprehensive depiction of the female psyche in all its possible hues. It gives one a look-into the dormant power of a woman.

A single novel MAKAAN made Paigham Afaqui the most celebrated fiction writer in India. 'Cop's novel makes waves' - reported The Hindustan Times. No Urdu novel ever created such a tremor in literary & intellectual circles alike. This novel re-generated fiction writing not only in Urdu but in English as well - no novelist, including the... much acclaimed English writers like Vikram Seth and Arundhati Roy or the Gyan Peeth Winner Quratul Ain Haider ever commanded such wide respect in media and intelligentsia and ever given such a coverage by national press surpassing all differences and doubts - as there was not a single national newspapers which remained behind in celebrating the emergence of a literary genius. Even much before the novel was translated in English & Hindi it was already a highly respected novel. MAKAAN made Paigham Afaqui to Delhi what Albert Camus had been to France and Kafka had been to Germany. This novel finished the era of 'jadidiat' in Urdu fiction and turned Urdu novel into a tool of creative thinking rather than flat narrative of the earlier era. thus raising the level of Urdu fiction to unprecedented height of originality and creative excellence.

Main character Neera

Neera, who is considered as most representative female character in Urdu fiction is a young medical student, who lives alone with her mother, one day discovers that she has suddenly been beleaguered by the scheming and hostile forces. Kumar, her tenant, wants to snatch away her house from her. A ruthless police-officer and an amoral real-estate agent help him in his designs. Neera fights back. Frustrating all moves of the enemies, Neera most willingly goes through all trials and tribulations. Vision sharpened, she attains an unmatchable stability and experiences a flow of great energy within her. In a moment of truth she realizes that she was not jut a weakling but a living force. Now she is turned into an embodiment of the soul-power of a woman.

In sum, the work expands us at every level.

DD Bharti, Doordarshan, Govt. of India, commissioned and made Serial NEERA based on character NEERA of Makaan.

Sahitya Academy published chapter 20 of Makaan in its series India Literature.