“Lahoo Rang e Falasteen” is an awe inspiring novel which narrates the story of Palestinian Muslims who were forcibly evicted from their homeland to establish a separate Jew state at their place. It’s a story of warfare between two groups not necessarily to be called the Muslims and the Jews but the invaders and the defenders. The novel tells that the Arabian Jews who inhabited in Palestine hated the violence and aggression of the foreign invaders as much as the Muslims did and they loved and longed for living in peace with the Muslims who were in harmony with them since generations. It describes that the motive of foreign forces behind setting stone into Palestine was not the welfare of Jewish community, which was scattered into the different parts of the world but it was the long awaited revenge they wanted to take from the Muslims since the time of Salah U Din Ayubi. The novel speaks of the love and affection which all the Palestinians bore for each other irrespective of their faith and religion. The Jew and Muslim communities lived together like one and they also enjoyed the emotional support of each other. It was after the foreign invasion backed by the super powers that the peace was lost and the two communities were forced to set barriers between them.
The story starts from 1899 when the seed of Israel was being sown and the idea of a separate Jew state into the land of Jerusalem was being promoted. It is shown that some conspirators are discussing the different aspects of creating a Jew state, out of which one is that the Arab Jews resist the idea of foreign Jews to inhabit alongside them as they have nothing in common with each other, other than the religion. Yet the connivers are shown to be hopeful as they see the end of Ottoman Empire in near future due to its non-popularity and the desperation into the Muslim community itself to develop and embrace the change. In order to accomplish their objective they give air to the desire of progressiveness of the Muslim community and on the other hand ignite emotions into the Jews in the name of religion and launch a campaign through press. They escalate the Jewish sentiment by reminding them of their history and the superiority which they enjoy upon all other nations. An entire plot is prepared to first step into the field by way of purchasing the lands and then gradually taking over the entire territory through force.
The story then takes a shift from the historical aspects of Israel and goes to the two families who live together in love and cohesion with each other and their children growing up together since generations. The two families belong to two different communities i.e., Muslim and Jew but the way they love each other is beyond any malice and greed. Eyal and Mansoor are the main characters of the novel who know each other since their childhood and fall in love. Despite their limitless love for each other they cannot merge into one family by way of marriage because of the barrier which has been set by the extremist mindset on both sides. The story is just one example of those countless relations between the Palestinian Muslims and Jews who lived like one but were set apart by force. Both the communities had nothing against each other to take up arms and kill one another but these were merely the ulterior motives and foreign inferior designs to plant a Jewish community in isolation with any other in the land of Palestine, which was subsequently named as Israel.
Even when the war between the two groups was being fought the Muslims and Jews were busy in serving each other in different walks of life e.g., medical and other. They worked together like one and despised the destruction of peace of their region. Many foreign critics also unveiled the true purpose behind the bloodshed of Muslims and criticized super powers particularly America for supporting Israel in pursuit of a brutal mission.
The novel ends up at a conclusion that the fate of the nations does not change within a fortnight but it takes centuries and countless sacrifices to be victorious in their cause. The Muslims of Palestine have to wait until the moment comes when the atrocities of Israel over Muslims cross every limit and prick into the wrath of God. That would prove to be the turning point for the Palestinians to attain back their destiny.
Title: Lahoo Rang e Falasteen | Writer: Salma Awan | Genre: Novel | Pages: 356 | Price: Rs 475 | Publisher: Dost Publications