Saadat Hassan Manto is widely recognized as one of the finest Urdu writers of the 20th century with his short stories in particular being held in high esteem by critics and writers alike. Reserving his most nuanced gaze for those on the margins of society, in this particular scenario "sex workers", Manto's "100 Watt Bulb" with its contentious writing style traps the reader into a web of words exploring the themes of violence against women and the male gaze in the context of Indian society with profound subtlety and depth. The tale is set at the time of Partition reflecting the mood of the gloomy period when rampage was at an all-time high between the peoples of British India sharing different faiths and caught between them were the womenfolk who were forgotten as humans. Manto viewed partition (the subject for which his work is best known for) as an overwhelming tragedy. He vehemently opposed the 'maddeningly senseless' move, which can be surmised in the following quote:
HINDUSTAN HAD BECOME FREE.
PAKISTAN HAD BECOME INDEPENDENT.
BUT MAN WAS STILL A SLAVE IN BOTH THESE COUNTRIES,
SLAVE OF PREJUDICE,
SLAVE OF RELIGIOUS FANATICISM,
SLAVE OF BARBARITY AND INHUMANITY.
The narrative follows a pimp who attempts to convince a desperately sleep deprived prostitute to wake up and service a client. What follows this is a heart-wrenching depiction of the complex web of direct and indirect gender-based violence that society often chooses to turn a blind eye to.
The author begins the story with a well-defined exposition. Lulling the reader to
continue, the setting, mood and the sense of tension has been elaborated upon in the first two paragraphs of the work. Written through an omniscient point of view, the physical details about the characters are missing (especially their names) but the elements of dynamism and roundedness have been incorporated and communicated through the flow of short and crisp dialogues, thoughts, actions and reactions of the character-actors. The emotions of the characters have lent a unique gravitas to the plot. Details of physical locations and conditions have no shortage in the text. The introduction of the famed Kaiser Bagh (Park) of Amritsar that was constructed with an amalgamation of Gothic and Mughal styles of architecture is a visual treat.
The story's theme and motif is particularly tied to the plight of South Asian women
who within the framework of a traditional and conventional society, have been subjected to unjust cruelty and looked upon as toys rather than humans with the requisite minimum decency. Additionally, questions challenging perceptions of justice in the real world and the nature of violence inherent in human beings are raised in this piece. Interestingly the title of the story is in a very unique contrast with its setting. The readers will only be able to connect the dots when they reach the end of the composition.
The Pimp is a representation of everything violent within the deeply patriarchal
structures of Indian society. As he struggles to make a living, the procurer owns the
luxury to thrive on his status as a man within the hierarchy. Complexities of class and caste politics have burdened his entire life. Oscillating between emotions of guilt and anger while dealing with the prostitute, he uses compassionate pleas at first and ultimately having no options in the end, always resorts with demeaning violence to exert his power as a 'man'. An uneducated man from a lower middle class background, the pander's foremost agenda is to support his family of four lovingly by any means available within reach.
The Prostitute like the pimp, is caught within a web of violence and degradation. She is struggling to survive within the realms of patriarchy that have internalized her identity as a woman and is immunized to being the subject of male power, entitlement and abuse. Undefeated and strong-willed she begs for her basic rights to exist within these structures. Arriving in the city at six years of age, she was peddled into the world of the flesh trade by her uncle which has made her accustomed to the harsh realities of life as a woman with little to no belongings or self-respect. She struggles to make ends meet for her only daughter. Undefeated in the face of exhaustion and countless burdens this woman continues to perform her job with whatever little dignity she can muster to afford.
(These character sketches have been appropriated from the listings of a casting call for the production of a short student film by the California Institute of the Arts in 2017.)
A short dramatic adaptation of the Urdu story lasting 28 minutes was theatrically released in Indian cinemas (2009).
Here is the link to the translated work, hope you like it!
-excerpt translated to English from the Urdu story ‘Sau Candle Power ka Bulb’ by
Kishwar Ahluwalia with The Little Magazine.
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