The Writers of Angaray and Class Struggle

Abstract

Abstract:             "Angarey" ("Embers"/"Burning Coals") is a collection of nine short stories and a one act play in Urdu written by four young firebrands i.e. Sajjad Zaheer, Ahmed Ali, Rasheed Jahan and Mahmud-uz-Zafar. It was first published in 1932 and is generally considered to have marked the beginning of "Taraqqi Pasand Tehreek" or Progressive Writers' Movement in India. All contributors of "Angarey" were highly educated and were inspired by the writings of James Joyce, Virginia Woolf,  D. H. Lawrence as well as from Marxist writings. They were critic of conservative elements within Indian society especially the Muslim community of India. Release of the book triggered protests and it was banned by the government just a few months after its publication.             This research article provides an insight into the life and philosophy of the contributors of "Angarey" along with a detailed socio-political background in which such a controversial book was written. With a special emphasis on various classes of the Indian society and their conflicts, it evaluates the circumstances that led to these writers to strongly protest against the prevailing social, political and religious institutions, the economic inequality of the society, uneven distribution of wealth, plight of the poor, peasants, laborers and women, excessive role of the most rigid version of the religion as well as sexual repression and other unnecessary restrictions against human freedom. On the other hand, the article also elaborates how the society received this set of revolutionary ideas and the outrage from social, religious and civil authorities. The article concludes that "Angarey" was not just a collection of short stories but a sophisticated protest against established traditions and conventions. It challenged the taboos and tried to pave a path towards an enlightened, progressive, liberal and just society but the call was completely misunderstood being too early for various segments of the society. The writers of "Angarey" performed their part in a befitting manner in reducing class contradictions in the society. Their efforts not only attracted the contemporary writers and intellectuals but also they provided a great platform to the influence makers of the future. That is why their footprints are still visible and echo of their thoughts and philosophy could be felt in the literature of the Indian sub-continent even today despite passing many decades.