Thursday, November 18, 2010

A reading of Ahmed Essop’s “The Hajji”

‘The Hajji’ by Ahmed Essop is a gripping story based on the internal moral conflict of a man called Hajji Hassen. This inner conflict can only be understood in the wider social and political context which forms the background of this compelling narrative. The story is set in South Africa and the writer, himself born in India, provides a commentary on racial injustice which is intricately linked with the concept of apartheid. This racial bifurcation is a central motif of ‘The Hajji’ as it aids the reader in his understanding of the moral conflict inside Hassen. Due to these racial divisions, Karim’s decision to cohobate with a white women results in his social isolation from the Muslim community. This very racial division breeds loathing in the heart of Hassen, a hatred so great that it transcends religion and fraternity.
In the story, racial separation is palpable, manifested when Hassen goes to Hillbrow to see his brother. The three white youths that mock Hassen in the lift serve an important purpose as they lay bare the social reality of apartheid. The ridicule directed at Hassen cause him to react and in doing so, Hassen exposes the racial mistrust and revulsion present in a country plagued by apartheid. Hassen’s own thoughts are a reflection of social mindsets,” He remained immobile, his dignity clawed, Was there anything so vile in him that the youths found it necessary to maul the last recess of his self respect? ‘They are white’, he said to himself in bitter justification of their attitude.” (Essop, p. 165, 1988). That Hassen mitigates his insult by reminding himself that these were white people is a showcase of the racial hatred that forms the backdrop of the story. This insult has severe ramifications as Hassen is once again reminded of his brother’s decision, one that has tainted his moral integrity.
Hassen is torn between the need to salvage his dignity and self respect with a desire to embrace a brother on the verge of dying. The mercurial nature of Hassen stands as a testament to the inexorable conflict that goes on inside him. Hassen is conscious of the way his behavior is seen by others. This derives in part from the fact that he has been crowned with the consecrated title of a Hajji, which is a constant reminder that he has visited the house of God in Mecca. Such a title symbolizes purity of spirit and nobility of character, a standard with which his behavior is gauged by others and one through which he sees himself. The very title of the story is pivotal to our understanding of Hassen as it magnifies the gap between a man of God and an individual consumed by his need to protect his dignity. This is exemplified by the debate that goes on unabated inside Hassen, ‘Was it for this that he had made the pilgrimage- to cleanse his soul in order to return to the penumbra of sin?’ (Essop, p. 168, 1988). The interplay of religion and culture exacerbate the bitter moral conflict inside Hassen. Hassen himself explains his quandary’ He had recently sought God’s pardon for his sins in Mecca, and now this business of his brothers final earthly wish and his own intransigence was in some way staining his spirit.’ (Essop, p. 162, 1988). It is rather ironic that Hassen professes to be a Hajji, yet he does not have the capacity to grant the last wish of a dying brother. How can a man seek the mercy of God when he is not willing to extend the same to his brother? Such an intriguing question is put by Mr. Mia to Hassen, ‘Hajji, what sort of a man are you? Have you no feeling for your brother?’ (Essop, p. 167, 1988).
Although the brothers have parted ways for ten years and Karim has caused overwhelming humiliation to Hassen by defiling the color line, it would be wrong to imply that Hassen does not love his brother. Hassen displays affection for his brother by remembering the past, ‘O Karim The thought of the youth he had loved so much during the days they had been together at the Islamic Institute, brought tears to his eyes and he stopped against a shop window and wept.’ The fact that Karim can be loved and hated at the same time is a conspicuous signal of the internal struggle inside Hassen. This very behavior of Hassen provides the story the emotional richness that one usually associates with the writing of Ahmed Essop. The climax of the story pertains to a transformation in Hassen, a change accompanied by the sudden resurgence of love for his brother. In this great state of emotion, Hassen is stripped of all worldly consciousness as he strives to embrace his brother for the last time. Such a powerful emotion is captured in plain words by the writer, ‘He would return to Karim. A fervent longing to embrace his brother came over him, to touch that dear form before the soil claimed him. His whole existence precipitated itself into one motive, one desire, to embrace his brother in a final act of love’. (Essop, p. 171, 1988).
It becomes difficult to account for the erratic behavior of Hassen as the story progresses as the initial hesitation gives way to obduracy. Hassen is a man captive to the social definition of what constitutes integrity and manhood. In his attempt to¬ retain his dignity, Hassen paves the way for his humiliation at the hands of the very society that he seeks redemption from. Hassen’s tension is compounded when Karim arrives in the Muslim community, for this leaves Hassen in a very awkward position. Hassen is trapped in the prison of his own making, and although he wants to go back to his brother, his inner sense of moral worth prevents him from doing so. This is the internal moral conflict that resonates throughout the story, one that paves the way to a very tragic ending. Taken together, it is the interplay of culture and racial segregation that overpowered Hassen to behave in such an eccentric way. This beautiful story is ironic in its recognition of Hassen being a religious man and yet not being able to exercise one of the central principles of Islam: forgiveness. The bitter internal struggle of the protagonist shows a man who is bound by forces that make him rebel against his own nature. Although Karim has been painted as a rebel throughout the story, in essence, it is Hassen who deviates from the path enjoined by his religion.

1 Comments:

At May 29, 2018 at 8:54 PM , Blogger Unknown said...

This is so great

 

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