´But this was a city of contradictions: nothing was black and white and no one´s loyalties were straight forward´.
On one literary side, you have representations of non-white women, of South-Asian/Middle Eastern background, mostly Muslim as victims, that in order to get ´liberated´ from oppressive families and husbands - that they were not allowed to chose themselves - they have to run away, become secular, modern, deny their upbringing. And there is Jia Khan.
It was so much buzz lately around The Khan by award winning journalist and writer Saima Mir that I was a bit reluctant to get involved in the conversation. I said to myself that maybe I better wait a little bit until reading and sharing my opinion, in order to take distance from the pressure of the public opinion. But I am also an impulsive reader and I prefer to do what I want when I want no matter the circumstances so I´ve spent a full night and an early morning delved into the story.
The sudden murder of Akbar Khan, the head of a British city´s biggest organised crime ring lead to a wave of clashes for local supremacy between the Pukhtun predominant group and the newest white - Polish - group. There is a clash of gangs that will be lead by his daughter, Oxford-graduated and seasoned barrister Jia.
Jia is the most important character in the story, with a personality finelly created through her interactions with the big cast of characters, from everyday people, some of them in deep need of financial support, to those with whom she shared secrets and blood. Through details and fine descriptions the events and characters are brought to life and the scenes are created in a very direct realistic way. There is a crescendo of actions which culminates with the final confrontation, but the limelight is on Jia - her strength, ambitions, wild independence and power to play the men´s game to change the course of events to her advantage.
The immersion into the British race policies and their failure is part of the background noise which nurtures and creates movements such the Jirga. The gap between the priviledged and the havenots, based simply of the geography of their families. The range of motivations multiplies the various possibilities and introduces nuances instead of the usual judgemental interpretations.
There are no sides taken in The Khan, but facts of a conflictual reality and a raw fight for survival and Jia is mostly the center of all these. With a trained cold heart she is assuming a bloody mission in the hope of a challenge. She is not opressed, not trying to break free. She is born free and she acknowledges the privilege of her mind in a world that does not want to see her.
The story was optioned already by BBC Studios and has a great visual potential. It will only amplify the message of the book which is a great literary spin that blows up the usual stereotypical interpretations and mindsets.
After all, following the literary trends is not such a bad idea.
Rating: 5 stars
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