Rohzin
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 | |
| Author | Rahman Abbas |
|---|---|
| Language | Urdu |
| Published | 2016 |
| Publication place | India |
Rohzin is the fourth novel of Rahman Abbas. On this novel he won India's highest literary Award Sahitya Akademi Award in 2018.[1][2][3][4] Published in 2016 by Arshia Publications, Delhi, and launched at the Jashn-e-Rekhta, Delhi on 14 February 2016. Since, then, Rohzin has been widely debated in India, Pakistan, the Middle East, Canada, Switzerland, and Germany.[5][6][7][8][9][10][11] The author coins the word- 'Rohzin' to signify the psychological trauma of children who witness the betrayal of their parents/sleeping with someone else.[12][13] Critics in the Global South think of Rohzin as a literary landmark in Urdu literature.[14]
Penguin Random House published Rohzin in English in May 2022.[15][16][17][18][19] and it has been longlisted for JCB Prize, which is the richest literary prize in India.[20][21][22][23][24] The Deccan Herald writes that Rohzin is one of the most disturbing novels of recent times, the reading of which cannot but leave the reader haunted for many days.[25] It has been shortlisted for the Muse India 2023 GSP Rao Translation Award.[26]
Summary
The two main characters are Asrar and Hina. The setting is Mumbai. The novel begins when the city is submerged, and that day is the last day in the life of Asrar and Hina. Flashbacks tell a story that deals with mythology, legend, religion, magic realism, sexuality, sensuality, love and loyalty. The book is indeed modern in the sense of questioning contemporary lifestyles without much concern for traditions of any kind.[10][27][28][29]