AUTHOR

Q A I S R A S H A H R A Z

PRESENTER

WASEEM HASSAN

THE HOLY WOMAN

TITLE OF THE BOOK

ABOUT AUTHOR

Qaisra Shahraz is a British Pakistani novelist and script writer, Collage Inspector, Teacher trainer, Education consultant and freelance journalist.

Qaisra’s first novel A HOLY WOMAN won the Golden Jubilee Award and known as:

BEST BOOK OF THE MONTH

CHARACTERS

ZARI BANO

Most fortunate young woman. She has wealthy, beauty and brain, and plenty of freedom.

CHARACTERS

SIKANDER DIN

A most young handsome business tycoon.

CHARACTERS

HABIB KHAN

The father of ZARI BANO but with his rigid mind he takes an instant dislike to Sikander.

CHARACTERS

JAFAR KHAN

Only one son of Habib Khan and brother of Zari Bano.

CHARACTERS

RUBY

The beloved sister of Zari Bano, and very intelligent and confident.

CHARACTERS

RAJA DIN

The Father of Sikander and they lived in Karachi.

CHARACTERS

SHAHZADA

The mother of Zari Bano.

CHARACTERS

SIRAJ DIN

The Grand father of Zari Bano.

CHARACTERS

RUBY

The beloved sister of Zari Bano.

RAJA DIN

The father of Sikander.

SHAHZADA

The mother of Zari Bano.

SIRAJ DIN

The Grand father of Zari Bano.

SUMMARY

ZARI BANO is a most fortunate young woman. She has wealth, beauty and brains, and plenty of freedom. At the age of 27, she remained unmarried, since non of suitors she has met at university in Karachi.

Then she meets Sikander din, a handsome young business tycoon, who sweeps her off her feet. The pair fall in love and wish to marry, but Zari bano’s father has other ideas.

SUMMARY (CONT)

Imagining his daughter has been snubbed, he takes an instant dislike to Sikander.

A family tragedy follows. Jafar the Habib’s only son is killed in a riding accident and Habib is left with terrible dilemma:

Resurrecting an ancient and terrible tradition, Habib decides to make Zarri Bano his heiress. After a ceremony of marriage to Quran, she will led a life of religious duty, and of celibacy.

SUMMARY(CONT)

Wedding, children, the love of a man and a woman-all will be denied to her.

For Zarri Bano is about to become her clan’s SHAHZADI IBADAT – The Holy Woman.

GENERAL IDEAS

After reading this novel we know about the general idea like; Zari Bano’s father takes a jealous, irrational dislike to man and uses the sudden death of his son to breakup the relationship.

He resurrects an ancient family tradition of forcing his daughter to remain celibate by becoming his clan’s “The Holy Woman”

GENERAL IDEAS(CONT)

The author deftly explains many of the cultural terms and practices without being patronising.

MAIN TOPICS

TRADITION AND INDEPENDENCE

SENSUALITY AND SACRIFICE

PASSION AND ISLAMIC TRADITION

BAD CUSTOMS AND TRADITION

AN INTRICATE STUDY OF LOVE, FAMILY, POLITICS AND SACRIFICE.

MAIN TOPICS(CONT)

GOOD NAME

SOCIAL STANDING

ENVY AND JEALOUSY

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

THE HOLY WOMAN BY QAISRA SHAHRAZ deals with an important issue, that of women’s rights and freedom in Pakistan. These issues had been well researched.

Promising start which sadly developed in to a predictable ending. Very repetitive and at times non sensual.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS(CONT)

Look at the Hierarchy Islamic culture in Rural Pakistan and its affect on women.

Then I found the style of writing as a genre romance at odds with the important content of a beautiful young lady forced to marry the Qur’an to become her father’s heiress rather than marry the man she loves.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS(CONT)

The kindness of mother and rude attitude of father, who jealous with Sikander. Its completely against from Islamic traditions.

Zari’s father should not ignored the joy city of her daughter.

Habib khan forced to Zarri marry with Quran and called forever “SHAHZADI IBADAT” that is completely wrong according to Islamic Law.

END