Black Bird in a White Cage-A Review

"Black Bird in a White Cage", a novel, written by the most talented and skilled professor, Author Mr. Azhar Uddin Noonari. I really appreciate that we live where there are such profound writers.

Critical overview (Black bird in a white cage):

The novel is about the corrupt, hypocrite sindhi society- morally, socially and economically. The story revolves around three university friends: Dildar, Raza and Shahriyar.

Dildar, the modest and decent guy. Less experienced, but experiencing more from all situations and events, like a child. His diary signifies his all new learnings, his own honest and solid judgement and definitions about everything that happened. He sees the things as they are, accepts, either good or bad. He lives with his pre-stablished conscious laws, which does not let him astray. And perhaps, that qualities make him hero in the reader’s sight.

Raza, on the other hand, have more than he need, but he want to fulfill all his needs for modernity (inspired by his boss’s family, to be able to ask her daughter’s hand for himself), their lavish lifestyle, tempted him and he wanted to meet with all the needs of modernity in order to live the such pleasure full life, where you don’t have to crave for small things.

Shahriyar, the third friend; a balanced being. He has great art of handling all the situation at the right moment and maintaining the relations at home or out of home. He lives for pleasure, either physical or financial. Equally corrupt socially and morally.

The author has bitterly criticized the superstitious, hypocrite, corrupt patriarchal society where power is ruling over weakened. They are bitterly punished having those sins which they never committed, and who committed, are freely enjoying their life. The most of society is living for the physical pleasure, which is done immorally. The most beautiful thing that Dildar quoted is that sex is not bad thing, but the way it is (immorally) done is bad.  The society is devoid of love everyone lives for his self-satisfaction.

The corruption rampant society has no values for honesty, sincerity, morality. Either we see in Dildar’s clerk office, or in police station or where so ever bribe is the only source of self satifaction. In case, if anybody is honest he is fired (as Dildar). The idea of modernity is based on being rich, materialism, identity is formed through things. Every material thing tempted people’s heart to meet with such height, where they don’t have to face poverty, that’s the sign of weakness ( to be ruled).

When we read, we see in the novel that same patriarchal society, where men have right to live their life freely with all in born rights. Where morality is just for women. Men are unknown to it. Women are killed for honour’sake, and men are enjoying youth with sexual pleasures either at brothel or out of it(without Nikkah). But when women elopes with a man, and living with his husband after Nikkah is a seen to be a sin. And she is murdered. It is not thought that there can be their fault to render them towards eloping. 

The virginity of a women is challenged by the brutal man who always seeks to have pleasure from women, where both are equally guilty, but gender inequality renders only women to be labled as prostitute, whore or an immoral woman. But who rendered her to do such things, who made him impure is never thought.

Heart-wrenching words uttered by Jannat bitterly criticized contemporary so-called develop[ed moral society. Which has vague notion of morality that can be applied only on women.

Dildar beautifully criticized the so called development of Raza, who have branded everything- mobile, shirt, car, home but his mind is still centuries back, his thinking was still older than he himself. Still women are center of honour.

Another point that author indirectly discussed about is girls freedom,  on the one hand in village life,  women are bound in four walls, have no education, living on the mercy of their old sayings and superstitions. On the other hand,  in city life where there is so called modern educated life. Alisha and Aiman have liberal life. They go anywhere independently. Their liberty even from morality rendered them to be involved in immoral activities. So author want to convey that freedom is necessary for human, more specifically for women but should not be independent as much, that they forget their moral values. 

So writer has justly portrayed the society, which is devoid of love, sympathy, sincerity. Where there is living honestly is such a difficult task. Where materialism is prevailing. Where there is always a bad intention for being good. Where women’s virginity is always on target. Where only power can rule, no matter who is right, who’s wrong, whatever is beneficial for sahib, matters much.