Paleeta

Paleeta is an Urdu novel, the second major novel of Paigham Afaqui, consisting of 600 pages after his first epic novel Makaan published in 1989. This multi-layered novel has been written in an unconventional and unique style of its own just like the earlier novel by this author which too is based on a technique of its own. The novel depicts the life of an idealist young man who is champion of civil society and democratic rights. The present world has been artistically mirrored through the life of prisoners of Kalapani (he finds the two identical), a penal settlement established in the islands of Andaman & Nicobar in Bay of Bengal in the second half of the 19th century by the British government. The novel vividly depicts the episode of assassination of Lord Mayo by a prisoner Sher Ali (a historical fact occurred in 1870). The main character visits the place in search of information and grave of his grandfather. During this journey he is seriously disillusioned with the horrible functioning of this penal settlement. This experience affects his mind and heart so seriously that he starts exploring the character of governments and power. He is depressed and dies. But his writings catch the imagination of people like fire.

The author Paigham Afaqui, who has been a student of history and has a masters degree in it, had served in the islands of Andaman & Nicobar for 4–5 years from 1980-1984 as a senior police officer and his deep insight into the historical background of the novel seems to be enriched by his close experience and research in the subject. Paigham Afaqui's being an insider of the governmental machinery and functioning, seems to have helped him understanding the dynamics of the ruling minds that has been made part of the theme of the novel.

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