This is a novel about a young man named Javed alias Avinash who entraps three young maidens in his romantic net merely to prove a point. Among the three girls is one named Anna who innocently succumbs to his charms and enticing moves. But once she is able to break free from his net, she bids him goodbye and marries a well-placed and capable man to end her insecurity and begin a new life. Meanwhile Javed too finds solace when he succeeds in finding a good life partner for himself.
Through this novel the author tries to prove that the world is burning in the fires of terrorism. The integrity and unity of nations is at stake. In the name of jehad, not only the developed nations, even the developing nations are facing a grave threat from terrorists. But, unfortunately, it has become customary for the USA and Europe to view Islam and the Muslims with a touch of suspicion.
The author, who is an English professor in Birsa College, campaigns for a change in the Indian and world attitude towards Islam and the Muslims. Through his novel on love, jehad and terrorism, the author proves that the Islamic path does not subscribe to taking revenge against anybody and nor does it approve of the retaliatory attitude adopted by the developed world against an enemy which is only a paper tiger running amuck on the pretext of maintaining the purity of Islam by subscribing to the Osama cult. He describes both as cowards who have gone wayward. Here the statement made by Javed, the protagonist, that ?all Muslims are not jehadis? seems to form the core of the novel.
The book'smessage is that those who become jehadis and are encouraged to become human bombs have no place in the Islamic battle for improving the plight of the common masses. Islam does not give permission to kill innocents in the name of religion. The fight of one group against another is not jehad. Jehad has a place in Islam but its misuse sends wrong signals to the minds of non-followers of Islam.
The author laments at the irony of the situation wherein to curb the advance of Russian troops in Afghanistan, it was the USA which gave monetary and military assistance to Osama bin Laden, but now after raising the Frankenstein monster itself, it is the USA that is trying its best to destroy Islam. He continues, ?On pondering over the situation, I find that if there is any Ladenism left, it is a gift of political and military campaigns launched by the developed world.? He agrees that though Ladenism has been successful in misleading some misguided youth, it has largely remained unsuccessful in attracting the majority of Muslims. In any case, the USA has already taken its revenge against the attack on the World Trade Centre in USA by annihilating the Talibans in Afghanistan and Saddam Hussein in Iraq.
He continues, ?Unity in diversity is our hallmark and our heritage. Those who indulge in politics of confrontation and tension may succeed by playing vote-bank politics but such success can at best be temporary. What is needed is unity of all religions, and adoption of the right path.?
By untying the knot of the contemporary situation, the optimism of the novelist comes to the fore through this novel.
(Classical Publishing Company, 28 Shopping Centre, Karampura, New Delhi-110 015.)
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