Nadeem Aslam, a Pakistani-British writer gives a vivid picture of Pakistani culture and people. He reveals the psyche of the shattered minds of his people. He delves deep into the Hindu as well as English impacts on Pakistani Muslims. He shows how these two impacts have splintered the minds of Muslims of subcontinent.

1. Season of the Rainbirds
by Nadeem Aslam
Postcolonial Elements in
Season of the Rainbirds
Presented to: Mam Fizza Nasir
Presented by: Samina Asfand,
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2. Nadeem Aslam was born in 1966, Gujranwala,
Pakistan. He is a prize-winning British Pakistani
novelist.
Moved with his family to England at the age of
14, when his father a communist, fled President
Zia’s regime. The family settled in Huddersfield,
West Yorkshire.
He later studied Biochemistry at the University
of Manchester, but left in his third year to
become a writer.
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3. Season of the Rainbirds
This is 1st novel he wrote in 11 months, when he
was 22.it won Betty Trask Prize
Nadeem Aslam reveals awful conditions of his
homeland through English language.
A small village in 1980s Pakistan might seem to
be a quiet setting, but much is going on beneath
the surface in Nadeem Aslam’s Season of the
Rainbirds, even before several major events rock
the community.
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4. Major Characters
Deputy commissioner Azhar
Maulana Hafeez Maulana Dawood
late ( murdered) Judge Anwar
Asghari Anwar(widow of Anwar)
Mujeeb Ali Nabi and Zafri
Nabila Ali, Zebun Mansoor
Mr. Kasmi, Yousuf Rao Gul Kalam
Elizabeth Massih Benjamin Massih
Alice Massih Saif Aziz
Kalsum and Soraya
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5. A prominent figure of community Judge Anwar
has been murdered. Deputy Commissioner
Azhar investigates the case. Judge Anwar left his
wife Asghari and five daughters behind him.
Azhar is living with a Christian girl Elizabeth
Messiah without marriage.
Maulana Hafeez is also trying to lead people of
that community to right path.
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6. There has been news about appearance of sacks
of letters which had been lost in a train accident
19 years ago.
Mujeeb Ali is a local landowner.He may be
responsible for the death of Kalsum’s son.
Kalsum’s sister Suraya, meanwhile is visiting from
Canada, where her husband is trying to divorce
her according to Canadian rules but keep both
her and the new woman he wants to marry
according to Muslim laws allowing for more than
one wife.
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7. Nadeem Aslam being asked about why he has
chosen to write about Pakistan while living in
U.K, says:
“ For me it is still ‘bulbul’ not any anyother
English bird. It is ‘ chambaili’ not English
plant. I still miss my country.”
So, using international language he shows his
own culture, his people. In Season of the
Rainbirds he completely portrays Pakistani
society in 1980’s which was striving for stability
and peace.
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8. Critics on Season of the Rainbirds
Pankaj Mishra says, in New York Times, about
Season of the Rainbirds:
“extraordinary__ it broadens our view of life.”
“ A dramatic and moving portrayal of Muslim life
in Northern town.”
says Independent
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9. Post Colonialism
Us and Other :
we look down upon minorities and appoint them
on ill jobs. When Benjamin Massih passes from
street having bamboo because he has been
cleaning savage, on seeing him says ‘ Christian
bastard’.
Azhar is living with a Christian girl named Elizabeth
Massih without marriage people of that community
are disturbed as they consider it a sin living of man
and woman in same house without marriage.
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10. Oculist reports to Maulana Hafeez about affair
of Azhar and Elizabeth Massih:
““Maulana ji,’ the man began quietly, ‘ when this
morning we went to the deputy commissioner's
house …, we saw a girl in his house.”
When the issue becomes a burning question
Mujeeb Ali says in contemptuous way:
“ so much fuss on a ‘chodhi’?”
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11. People don’t feel it a shameful act to drag a girl
in the street, naked.
“ a girl’s clothes are torn off in the street, so
what? No need to think about how or why it
happened. Let’s just talk about it as though it’s
the most natural thing in the world.”
Maulana Hafeez gives a sermon on loud speaker
on a Friday and people became aggressive they
go to Azhar’s house and pulled out Elizabeth
Massih by her hair. “ … they were dragging the
poor girl, naked, through the streets.”
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12. NayyaNayyar was speaking to The
Express Tribune after the launch of his
book, “Ma Baad-e-Nau Aabaadiyaat
Urdu kay Tanazur Mein” says:
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May 2nd, 2013

13. Confusion
People are adopting the changes technology is
bringing, they are buying Radios and
Televisions. Barbar Nabi is keeping a Radio set
in his shop. He and his friend Zafri, the
butcher, listen to the programme of Talkeen
Shah.
“At the other end of the small room the
television set gave off a bluish-white
glow. Ranged around the set.
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14. Their heads tilted backwards, were about a
dozen of the neighbourhood’s children…They
were watching a violently energetic cartoon.”(p.
52)
But religious people are resisting this new world
and trying to keep their communities away from
new inventions. As Maulana Hafeez goes to
Mansoor for asking him why he has bought
television which is an instrument of devil to
keep people from right path.
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15. Maulana Haeez says:
“On the outskirts of every town in this
province there is cinema which shows
immortal, indecent and sinful pictures.”
(pg. 52)
Maulana Dwood having read an article on
Japanese Robot in Wednesday newspaper
says:
“ misguided mortals’… ‘ Almighty’s
adroitness’. ‘ Allah’s curse on science and
the scientists!”(p.63)
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16. Maulana Hafeez and Maulana Dwood shows
two sects Sunni, Ahl-e- Hadees respectively.
They both are revealing confusion in Pakistan as
well both represent resistance to changes as
colonized people resisted to protect their
culture and religion.
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17. Yousaf Rao and Mr. Kasmi love coffee.
“Mr.Kasmi took out the jar of coffee.
‘Coffee!’ Yousuf Rao exclaimed… where did you
get it?
Mr. Kasmi studied the pleasure on his friend’s
face.”(p.41)
Alice that coffee smells like “ stale hookah-water”.(
p33)
Women have started wearing makeup.When
Maulana Hafeez goes to admonish Mansoor his
wife was wearing makeup.
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18. “Her face was pink with powder but the skin on
her neck showed dark brown.”(p.54)
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19. Upper class suppresses lower class
An old man is waiting among the people who
work in the farms of Mujeeb Ali and have
gathered to collect their wages. Servant of
Mujeeb Ali doesn’t let the old an to sit in the
lawn:
“He did not want me to sit in the shade. He
said I’d ruin the grass in your garden…I
have worked on your lands since the day of
your grandfather.” (pg. 44)
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20. On election days Mujeeb Ali threatens a
gathering and says:
“on three sides…you are surrounded by
water and on fourth side is my family’s
land; so if you won’t support us I will drive
you into the water.” (p. 47)
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22. Nadeem portrays his own culture
Nadeem Aslam portrays very minutely all the
details like Persian miniature his paragraphs are
filled with images.
• Funeral of Judge Anwar
• Condition of our offices
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23. Language
Language in Season of the Rainbirds:
Nadeem Aslam uses words from his native
language where he feels English is not
expressing his thoughts. Like he uses these
words :
Apa, baba, chaval, banera, bhoot, baisan, boti,
burka, choodhi, chachazad, chapati, daig, dhee,
dharaik, djin, shamiana
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24. At places he uses literal translation of phrases
like:
“the ash of seven stoves.” (p.1)
“Baba, have you eaten crows?”(p.21)
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25. Conclusion
Nadeem Aslam’s living in England but writing
about his own country, is evident that he loves
his country, culture and people. It feels as if he
has not forgotten his homeland as he gives
minute details and embroiders tapestries but he
portrays distortion of his homeland.
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