Random Things Tours: No Honour by Awais Khan

´Love is not a sin´.

 

What comes first: Love or Honour? What honour means anyway? Whose honour? Who decides what and especially whom has honour and whom not?

No Honour by Awais Khan is as precise as a cold judgement about honour could be but with the pace and intricated intrigue of an old epic tale. The action is taking place between the Pakistan capital city of Lahore and the village realm dominated by ancient justice concepts according to which children born out of wedlock should be drown in a bucket full of milk and women stoned, humiliated or/and simply drown into the river, preferably by their own fathers. A world made by men against women who are disposable material, that can be sold to a brothel for a pouch of heroin. 

The story alternates between the accounts of Abida, the 16 years old who left her village to follow her husband to Lahore and her father, Jamil, who started an incredible journey to find her. They are surrended by a cruel world, translating its frustrations and harsh life into a vocabulary of abuse. A world where women are expected to be hit and men are taught that hiting a woman is how they maintain their honour. ´My father says that all men beat their wives. They need to be beaten or they can end up forgetting their place´. There is no religious reason or excuse outlined to do so, there is just the social reflex who is followed blindly. But in a turn of events that reminded me at a certain extent of Jia from The Khan, there are the women who, in the end will settle the chaos and will take the risk to end the injustice. There is no honour among thieves.

Despite the rough cruelty and blind hate and the stench of addiction which dominates most of the story, a realism which is with such a precision painted with words by Awais Khan, there is place for love, pure love of Jamil for Abida. Part of the realism of the story are also the complexities of the characters, which may be sinful, traditional, despicable to each other but still preserving a pinch of kindness. In a way, besides following the many events unfolding, there is the very nature of the characters who is equally an element to take into consideration. 

Another aspect which made me interested into the book has to do with the diversity of Pakistan, both culturally and linguistically and after reading it I was interested in finding out more about the Saraiki language, used in the part of the country where Abida and Jamil are originary from. The ambiance of the book is create through language, by using local words and expressions. The amplitude of social problems Pakistan has to deal with, in addition to human rights abuses, particularly the honour killings, as well as the widespread drug addiction are not new, but writing books inspired by such circumstances can only raise awareness and empower women as well to not give up their fight for a decent, honorable life.

I´ve read No Honour in one sitting as both the story and the intense writing, as well as the topic were so entincing that I simply couldn´t stop until the end. It´s a memorable book that will stay with me for a long time, for all the good and bad reasons. 

Rating: 5 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered part of the book tour, but the opinions are, as usual, my own