Invisible PeopleBy Mian Raza RabbaniSang-e-Meel, LahoreISBN: 9693530004130pp.

Mian Raza Rabbani’s Invisible People reminds one of a quote from Kahlil Gibran’s poem.

‘Dead are my people.’ He lamented, “… they say unto me, ‘The disaster of your country is but naught to calamity of the world, and the tears and bloodshed by your people are as nothing to the rivers of blood and tears, pouring each day and night in the valleys and plains of the earth …’” Gibran goes on to point out that “the death of my people is a silent accusation; it is a crime conceived by the heads of the unseen serpents …”

Invisible People is a collection of short stories dealing with the outrageous cruelty of these ‘serpents’ towards the poor and downtrodden. It uncovers the miseries and heartaches of people from the slums and hutments, who are voiceless as their power of speech has been put to sleep by the firm grip of those in authority. These powerful entities have not only sapped the energy of the poor, they have also robbed them of their desire to live, their self-respect, and their identity. The question that might crop up in the minds of the readers is: what is the role played by the writer associated with the PPP and currently serving as chairman of the Senate? Being part of the privileged section of society, has he done anything to lessen the pains of the poor?

Rabbani is desirous of the emancipation of people from suffering and poverty. In his capacity as a senator, lawyer, and constitutional scholar, he has worked to safeguard the rights of people and minority groups, so when he talks about the bird (mynah) that disturbs his vird [chanting], we know instantly that he is talking about helplessness, misery, torture, and the intense suffering of the multitude of people all around him, who are ‘invisible’ “because of an accident — an accident of life.”

The stories presented in Invisible People centre on those faceless individuals we see every day and forget about as soon as they move out of our vision. The old woman who goes to the court daily, asking, “Qanoon kithay way, magistrate kithay way?” [where is the law, where is the magistrate?] is a character anyone can encounter in any court in this country, where the law is deaf and blind to the pleas of the poor. The empathy shown towards these characters is deep; it appears as if the writer feels the scars imprinted on the bodies and souls of these people and desires to put balm on their sores. Rabbani writes with compassion, taking aim at the state in which the poor people live lives that are tragedy personified. In ‘Innocence Lost’ a girl trapped and forced into a life of sin laments, “Despite my longing for education and my efforts to lead an honest life, I have been thrown to the wolves. Am I doomed to sell my body?” In another story titled ‘Pigeons’, a dancing girl tries to give up the life of sin and live a life of dignity, only to lose as survival seems impossible for single girls trying to brace themselves against predatory men.

The “Shack” on the beach is where most of the kids on the block gather in the evening. ... All of a sudden, the rhythm of the music was interrupted by repeated gunfire.People ran towards their jeeps, shrieking. At the same time came the rattle of guns being loaded by the security guards. With my rifle in my hand, I raced towards the Shack only to see chota sab running towards the jeep with blood on his clothes. He held a gun as he tottered along.Later that night, the Sab called me and said, “The police have come to arrest you for wounding the boy in the Shack.”I was shocked. My head was spinning and my legs felt like they were buckling under me. I steadied myself and told him that his son had fired the shots while I had been outside. The Sab said, “They have eyewitnesses, but don’t worry. I will put up bail for you and look after your family.”The SHO came and took me away. I realised how helpless a victim of state and elite conspiracy can be. Six months down the line, I haven’t yet been released.— Excerpt from the book

Child labour is a bane of our society, and Rabbani grapples with this problem as well. The lives of street children are reflected in ‘They Are in Darkness.’ In ‘Broken Dreams of a Boy,’ Habib, a boy who cleans car windshields, finds himself drawn towards a girl who is far superior in status than him. He waits for her outside her school and feels the need to protect her. The story also tells the readers that friendship can develop between children from different classes, as Anwar, a boy belonging to a wealthy family, cherishes his friendship with Habib. The untimely death of Habib in an accident has a deep impact on Anwar who insists that the culprits be brought to law, only to be reprimanded by his father with the words, “Don’t be silly,” as the accident involves someone from the elite class. Anwar wants to bring a change, but finds his hands tied.

Rabbani’s Invisible People opens a door that gives a glimpse into the lives of people in dire straits. It is as if he wants to express an ardent desire to do something for these people, but the question is, are his hands tied too?

The reviewer teaches English Literature

Published in Dawn, EOS, February 19th, 2017