BOOK REVIEW: DOZAKHNAMA

Dozakhnama is an intriguing novel. It is a masterpiece in literature. It is written by Rabisankar Bal in the Bengali language. Indian-Bengali writer is known for his two best novels, which include dozakhnama. His books are translated into English by Arunava Sinha.

Dozakhnama is considered a magnum opus. It is a thrilling novel, hard to put down for the reader.

Once a reader gets interested in reading this novel, he/she will become curious to read more and more. Like a thirsty person wants water to drink. But for the reader, even he drinks enough water (get knowledge) but still, his thirst never ends. His curiosity develops by reading pages after pages.

The most fascinating element of this novel is Writing Style. Simple language and easily described all things, so no matter the reader is a beginner or high-level reader. It is for everyone.

Rabisankar Bal mixed two different genres into one novel. Poetry and prose both go parallel in the novel. Indeed, stories in the novel are in prose style but the touch of poetry makes more excited and interesting to the stories and novel itself.

Adorable is the way it presents the essence of storytelling. The writer is telling stories through different characters. Stories related to topics that are considered taboo and society not allow us to talk about them. Like brothel, prostitution.

"One day none of us will be here, not even our names, but the stories will still be floating about."

It is a phenomenal novel, it builds the emotions into the readers. They relate their lives with the stories. Stories, which are meaning full. They give peace to the soul and at the same time digging pain and suffering for one's soul. Pain, unbearable pain for the reader. Reading painful stories makes the reader feel it and know how it feels to others. It left deep influences on the readers' psyche.

Dozakhmana is an ode to love and despair. A representation of sadness and suffering in its all forms. A mirror to hollow humans' society. This novel is a perfect portrait of human nature and life. The reader intellectually and emotionally goes into its depth and gets affected.

"What's wrong with you, innocent heart?
What's the cure for this illness?"

Dozakhnama is a conversation in hell of two great literary lasting personalities, Mirza Asadullah Khan Galib and Sadat Hassan Manto.

Mirza Galib, who is famous as a poet, his poetry touches the mind and soul of the reader. Manto is famous as a short story writer. His stories open the eyes of people and shack them, hammer their closed minds to see the real face of harsh society. Let them feel the pain of people, who sacrificed everything and get nothing.

The conversation in hell is a Surrealism element, which is also mentioned in the novel. That element also makes the novel an interesting read.

Dozakhnama is a detailed biographical novel as well. It depicts the lives of writers. Mirza and Manto how they face poverty, criticism of society, bitter words of people, family issues, timely friends which left them in their worst times, their works under surroundings influence. They were suppressed not to write or do whatever they please to do, that was the reason they were unable to find inner peace. Their souls were restless, disturbed, wandering here and there.


ہوئی مدت کہ غالبؔ مرگیا، پر یاد آتا ہے
وہ ہر اک بات پر کہنا کہ، یوں ہوتا تو کیا ہوتا
"Galib has long been dead, but we remember him
Wondering, what if this had happened or that?"

Listening to Galib's stories lets the readers peep into his miserable life. He survived in hell, all his life. But he has the only pen, which could help him, the only source of his survival, he used his pain and came out of miseries.

جی میں کیا کیا ہے اپنے اے ہمدم
ہر سکون کا تابہ لب نہیں آتا
"There's so much in my heart, my soulmate
But not a single word reaches my lips."

Whenever Galib's part come into the novel, Ghalib recites Meer's shair in every situation of his life.

Sadat Hassan Manto, the most honest, outspoken, and straightforward person. A best short story writer. He, who saw the hidden faces of people in his devastating life.

Manto, who traveled from Bombay to Lahore, saw Ismat Chughtai, Ashok Kumar, Noor Jahan, has met divergent personalities, but among all those famous writers, he was the loneliest and miserable person in his times.

Manto faced harsh words in his life. He went to jail many times because of his obscene stories about prostitutes and brothels. Manto always wants to show the real face of society to people, who are unaware of that. Manto was very lovable towards all the women who were forced by society and converted to prostitutes.

Manto (In high court) said that "I couldn't stop writing because I'm not afraid of showing this society the mirror, If you cannot bear these stories then the society is unbearable".

Mirza Galib and Sadat Hassan Manto, both writers often suffered. Because they didn't have anything to sell except their words and emotions but their price can never be given to them or the World could never estimate the prize of their words.

"Their lives are like measuring tapes, and they want to trim the lives of other people to the same measurements."

One must need an eye to understand the Ishq (true love) of their writing, what they write everyone had opposed to their works. Both intellectuals never got appreciation and encouragement in their lives, rather they were criticized, they were cursed, they were detested by society and even by their families.

The depth of their words is magical and touching deeply to souls.  The readers couldn't understand their emotions behind their words, but their words were their breath. We (the readers) lack such understanding and knowledge of the sufferings and pain that they went through.

"You'll never understand, what a punishment it is to have to keep writing all your life."


Alas!!! legends like these writers did never get that much appreciation. They wrote and made themselves immortal and lasting for centuries. Their works are still "new"  as generation after generation. Their memories and words will always remain fresh and live forever.

There were many good moments, where the reader smile and laugh but mournful, mascaras, bloodshed cruel incidents of their lives which tear one's heart. Those lamentable and sad moments are heavy on happy moments. The novel refreshes the readers' pain as they relate things and events to their lives. Find themselves into the stories and the characters from the novel.

Moreover, lots of stories are included, which the reader comes to read in this novel. Rabisankar Bal covers almost all important topics of life and human nature in this novel, such as hopelessness, poverty, love with different aspects, physical attraction, spiritual love, mysticism, love for fellow men, brothel, lamenting on ancients sacrifices, effects of war so on.


جلا ہے جسم جہاں، دل بھی جل گیا ہوگا
کریدتے ہو جو اب راکھ، جستجو کیا ہے؟

The most essential thing that Pakistani and Indian readers can relate to their lives. It has their cultures, rituals, traditions, and their history. Events that changed the history and people of those two countries. 1947 Partition give them independence and separated countries but what was asked in return? How many lives were sacrificed and how many families ruined? no one knows the exact number.

کریں کیا کے دل بھی تو مجبور ہے
زمین سخت ہے آسمان دور ہے.

Harsh and heart-breaking incidents took place, such as history's few glimpses, Rabisankar Bal, portrayed in this novel. The reader feels intense pain and suffering and unwanted events that happened either in 1857, or 1947. The writer does not write history directly, but through Galib's or Manto's stories, he reveals things. Because Galib said, in the novel, " History will turn into dust, Manto Bhai, stories live on."

All board topics are discussed simply. So the excitement of the reader prevail and last from the beginning to the end of the novel.


Dozakhnama is a journey for the readers. It takes the readers to different places. It is one of the detailed conversations of two intellectuals. Through which the readers visit without moving, to Calcutta, Lukhnow, Delhi, Bombay, Agra, Mughal Rule, Heera Mandi, Anarkali Bazar, British invasion, Sepoy mutiny, and partition of India and Pakistan. A complete tour for the readers. Not only that, but the readers also go under different experiences of emotions as well.

The art of storytelling of Rabisankar Bal is appreciable. Dastans (stories) makes the novel more captivating and thought-provoking for the readers.

Therefore, a novel has a beginning and an end, while a Dastan is a never-ending story. Galib's and Manto's Dastan would never be ended. It would always remain as new as young generations. The novel is unforgettable for the readers (for me 200%).

Poetry lines and quotations add taste to this novel reading. It gives more pleasure to the readers. This makes the novel lasting and influential for the readers.

*Recommendation:
Highly recommend. All readers must read this novel. If they know anything about Manto and Galib then it is going to be their favorite one. Don't let the chance go away, just grab this novel and start reading it.

*My personal experience:
I wrote the above review as being a reader. But I am excited to share my own experience. I started this novel, a month ago.  I read slowly because of my final year thesis and viva. I also took my time to grasp more knowledge out of it.

This novel has life in it. It gives reading pleasure to me. Different journey for me and new experiences and emotions I felt while reading this novel. I loved it. I relate every quote to my life.
بےقراری سی بے قراری ہے
وصل ہے اور فراق طاری ہے⁣
جو گزاری نہ جاسکی ہم سے⁣
ہم نے وہ زندگی گزاری ہے

Whatever I read, I feel it. Like this is related to my life. I find I am a character playing my role in it. Different characters reflect different aspects of my personality.

I cried many times, smiled, laugh, and unstoppable reading pleasure. I love reading poetry and stories. That is also one of the reasons this novel is close to my heart.

"Karbala is what happens when this life becomes an expanse beautiful.
That is the destiny of the writer of stories, janab."

It is a mind-blogging novel. It is the greatest and most beautiful read for me ever. I go into depths and let it hurt me, heal me, make me suffer, and give me more pain, same time solace me, hugged me. This is not only a novel to me but my friend. It is unforgettable for me as l make hundreds of memories before, while, and after reading this novel. I am sad now that I completed this novel and what I will read next, why it ends? I don't want this novel to end, should I be happy or sad? I won't forget this ever in my life.

"Each one of my thousands of desires puts me on the verge of death. How many have been fulfilled? Many--and yet too few." -Galib

Dozakhnama changed my life, l see this world and my life, from a different angle. After having my hands on this novel, l feel the luckiest girl, l truly love this novel. l decided from now that this novel is my top best read of 2021.

*Thanks Note:
Thank you to a dear friend, for giving me this novel as the best gift ever received in my life. Also for giving me a friend who is always with me, around me, my Dozakhnama.

"I still remember those days, when our friendship. Brought us together, do you still remember those days?"
-dozakhnama.