Draft:Shabnam (novel)
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Shabnam is a romantic novel written by Syed Mujtaba Ali, first published in 1960. The novel revolves around the love story of a Bengali youth named Majnun, residing in Afghanistan, and an Afghan girl of Turkish descent named Shabnam. Their first meeting, acquaintance, love, marriage, and eventual separation due to political upheaval form the central themes of the novel. The author's poetic language, multilingual dialogue, and philosophical reflections give the novel a distinctive significance.
| Author | Syed Mujtaba Ali |
|---|---|
| Original title | শবনম |
| Translator | Nazes Afroz |
| Cover artist | Dhrubo Esh |
| Language | Bengali |
| Subject | Love |
| Genre | Classic Bengali novel |
| Publisher | First: Tribeni Publications, Current: Student Wage |
Publication date | First: January 1960, Current: 2015 |
| Publication place | Bangladesh |
Published in English | January 1960(first), 2015 (recent) |
| Media type | Print (hardcover & paperback) |
| Pages | 144 (Recent edition), 219 (1960 edition) |
| ISBN | 9841800675 |
Plot summary
[edit]Majnun, a Bengali youth from Sylhet, travels to Kabul, Afghanistan to work as a college lecturer. There, he lives with his assistant, Abdur Rahman. During his stay in Kabul, Majnun meets Shabnam Banu, the daughter of Sardar Aurangzeb Khan, and falls in love with her at first sight. Shabnam's beauty and intelligence captivate him, and a deep romantic relationship develops between them. Eventually, they get married, but their happiness is short-lived due to political instability in Afghanistan.
Characters
[edit]- Majnun – The protagonist, a Bengali youth from Sylhet, working as a teacher in Afghanistan.
- Shabnam – The heroine, daughter of Sardar Aurangzeb, an Afghan girl of Turkish descent.
The author describes Shabnam’s beauty in the following words:
A young woman marched out briskly. I first saw her forehead—it was like the crescent moon. But unlike the pale moon, her forehead was as dazzling white as the snow on the Paghman mountains. Her nose was like a small flute—how there were two holes in such a tiny flute, I could not understand. The tip of her nose trembled slightly. Her cheeks were as red as ripe Kabul apples, yet with a shade that made it clear it was not artificial rouge. I could not determine whether her eyes were green or red. She wore a finely tailored gown and high-heeled shoes.
Upon seeing a drop of sweat on Shabnam’s face, Majnun reflects:
Shabnam on Shabnam!
- Sardar Aurangzeb Khan – Shabnam’s father, an influential figure in Afghanistan.
- Abdur Rahman – Majnun’s loyal servant, who also appears in the book Deshe Bideshe.
- Amanullah Khan – The ruler of Afghanistan during the novel’s timeline.
Background
[edit]Syed Mujtaba Ali wrote Shabnam inspired by his personal experiences and observations while teaching in Kabul, Afghanistan. His insights into Afghan society, culture, and daily life served as the foundation for the novel’s plot and character development. Before its publication as a book, the story was serialized from 3rd Baishakh to 11th Bhadra in 1367 of the Bengali calendar (1960). The first edition of Shabnam was published by the now-defunct Tribeni Publications with 219 pages and a price of five takas.
Quotes
[edit]For the full collection, see: Quotes from Shabnam
"An innocent heart believes it can hide love, just as a glass lantern thinks it can conceal the flame."
"Do not grow accustomed to my absence. Do not grow accustomed to my presence."
"What is easier to bear—a heavy burden or an empty heart? The emptier life becomes, the harder it is to carry on."
Enemies cause pain in union, while friends cause pain in separation.
Who knows the beginning and the end of creation? The ancient manuscript—how many pages have already fallen?
"O God, may there be the same love between these two as there was between Adam and Eve, between Yusuf and Zulaikha, and between the Prophet and Khadijah."
Critical reception
[edit]Shabnam has received praise from various authors, critics, and readers for its literary style and portrayal of love.
- Abdullah Abu Sayeed remarked: "Bengali youths should read Syed Mujtaba Ali’s Shabnam before falling in love. There is no other love story in world literature as profound and instructive as this one."
- Arun Kumar Mukhopadhyay commented:
"Union, separation, and the unseen reunion—these three phases complete the journey of love. In Shabnam, the author elevates the reader from the material world to the spiritual realm. By the end, the protagonist achieves the ultimate fulfillment of love, marking the pinnacle of the author’s artistic pursuit."[1]
- Ahona Biswas reflected:
"Why don’t we see novels like this anymore, where humanity, love, and culture blend so seamlessly?"[2]
- Dr. Muhammad Enamul Haq questioned:
"Is this a novel, a drama, or poetry? It is all of these—a love poem brimming with profound emotion and exquisite language."
Dedication
[edit]The author dedicated Shabnam to Rajshekhar Basu:
"To the immortal Rajshekhar—For a long time, I wished to dedicate a book to the venerable Rajshekhar Basu. With his kind permission, I am finally fulfilling that desire." – Syed Mujtaba Ali, Shantiniketan, Rakhi Purnima, 1367 (Bengali calendar)
Authenticity
[edit]There have been questions about whether Shabnam reflects a real-life romance of the author. When asked by his nephew, Syed Moazzem Ali, Mujtaba Ali humorously responded:
"Do tigers eat humans? Yes, they do. So why question whether this story is true or not? There was a woman in Kabul who delivered milk to my home—she was eighty years old!"