The book is about a young woman named Zari Bano who falls in love with a businessman named Sikander. However, her father Habib Khan takes an instant dislike to Sikander. After Habib's only son dies, he decides to make Zari Bano his heir by forcing her into a life of celibacy according to a family tradition where she becomes "The Holy Woman." This denies her the chance to marry and have a family of her own.

1. A U T H O R
Q A I S R A S H A H R A Z
PRESENTER
WASEEM HASSAN
THE HOLY WOMAN

2. TITLE OF THE BOOK

3. 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

4. CHARACTERS
 ZARI BANO
 Most fortunate young
woman. She has wealthy,
beauty and brain, and
plenty of freedom.

5. CHARACTERS
 SIKANDER DIN
A most young handsome
business tycoon.

6. CHARACTERS
 HABIB KHAN
 The father of ZARI
BANO but with his rigid
mind he takes an instant
dislike to Sikander.

7. CHARACTERS
 JAFAR KHAN
Only one son of Habib
Khan and brother of Zari
Bano.

8. CHARACTERS
 RUBY
 The beloved sister of
Zari Bano, and very
intelligent and confident.

9. CHARACTERS
 RAJA DIN
The Father of Sikander
and they lived in Karachi.

10. CHARACTERS
 SHAHZADA
 The mother of Zari Bano.

11. CHARACTERS
 SIRAJ DIN
 The Grand father of Zari
Bano.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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”

17. GENERAL IDEAS(CONT)
 The author deftly explains many of the cultural terms
and practices without being patronising.

18. 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.

19. MAIN TOPICS(CONT)
GOOD NAME
SOCIAL STANDING
ENVY AND JEALOUSY

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. END