Topi Shukla

I just finished the classic “Topi Shukla” by Rahi Masoom Raza. I had heard about it for quite some time, but looking at its name, I thought it to be a light-comical novel, the same as I had felt for “Aapka Bunti” by Mannu Bhandari. A few days back, I got this book from somewhere. Given its short length, it seemed worth a try.
But once I started reading, my whole perception of the book was shattered. It is such a layered book and contains so much reality that by the end of it, I felt shattered myself. I could not resist writing about it. At times, we come across such books that not only make us think but also help us find ourselves in them. We see our lives unfold before our eyes and cannot help but get lost in oblivion.
I would discuss it at three different levels. And all of these are still somewhat as relevant as they were in the early days of independence. The first one is communalism and rising hatred among our society. The way we are getting polarised and the level of hatred we are cultivating towards each other is a testament to the fact that we haven’t learnt an iota in the last 75 years of independence. This communal poison is hollowing our society and nation at large. The way we are becoming sectionalised is neither a good sign for our civil society nor for international peace.
The second in line is the significance friendship holds in our lives. It is such a venerated relation that no connection comes near it. I consider it a benediction of creation that we are bestowed with this sort of emotion, where we can forget all the differences and live and die for someone just out of sheer emotion. This novel presents a fantastic exemplar of friendship which not only bears the gibes of society but also goes on flourishing against all the odds.
Though this book cannot be confined to these paradigms, our perceptual limitations and rational boundaries restrict us and stifle our expressions. The third layer, which I can relate to most at this point, is the significance of a job. It can’t be better expressed than in the words of the author himself –

“सुना जाता है कि पहले ज़मानों में नौजवान, मुल्क जीतने, लम्बी और कठिन यात्राएँ करने, खानदान का नाम ऊँचा करने के ख़्वाब देखा करते थे । अब वे केवल नौकरी का ख़्वाब देखते हैं । नौकरी ही हमारे युग का सबसे बड़ा ऐडवेंचर है ! आज के फ़ाहियान और इब्ने-बतूता, वासकोडिगामा और स्काट, नौकरी की खोज में लगे रहते हैं । आज के ईसा, मोहम्मद और राम की मंज़िल नौकरी है ।
नौकरी ! तीन अक्षर और दो मात्राओं का यह शब्द आज के ख़्वाबों की कसौटी है । जो इस कसौटी पर खरा उतरे, वही खरा है । नौकरी ही से घर और परिवार की कोंपलें फूटती हैं ।”

There is no more respect for your education and knowledge if you are not employed. Your words mean nothing if you are not employed.

हमारे देश में पढ़े-लिखे होने का सबूत नौकरी है।

The way this societal reality has been dealt with in this book is commendable. In the end, I’ll just give a peek as to how this unemployment ruins one’s love life.

“सवाल हिन्दी-उर्दू या हिन्दू-मुसलमान का नहीं है बलभद्र !” इफ़्फ़न ने कहा, “सवाल है नौकरी का । अब लड़कियाँ लड़कों से शादी नहीं करतीं । लड़के तो सिर्फ़ इश्क़ करने के लिए होते हैं । शादी तो नौकरी से की जाती है । प्यार अब तनख़ाह के गज़ से नापा जाता है और सोशल पोज़ीशन की तराज़ू में तोला जाता है । तुम सलीमा की बात कर रहे हो । अरे, तुमसे कोई लड़की शादी नहीं करेगी ।..”

I don’t know how I was able to say this much! After such tragic journeys through heart-wrenching novels, I just get tongue-tied. I would bid bye by recommending this brilliant piece to all who like to go on a trip to the past to look at present.