The most important novel of twentieth-century Urdu fiction. First published in 1959, Aag ka Darya encompasses the fates of four recurring characters over two and a half millennia: Gautam, Champa, Kamal, and Cyril—Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, and Christian. In different eras different relations form and reform among the four: romance and war, possession and dispossession. Interweaving parables, legends, dreams, diaries, and letters, Hyder’s prose is lyrical and witty. And she argues for a culture that is inclusive: Aag ka Darya is a book that questions the relevance of religion in defining Indian identity.
Reviews for the English translation:
A glorious tapestry of India’s history….Brilliant and thought-provoking…this book is fascinating! — India Edghill, Historical Novels Review, February 2004
A rich and ancient tapestry, interweaving the tiny threads of individual human experience into a panoramic spread of cultural diversity. — Linda B. Osborne, WorldView, November/December 2004
An Urdu classic with a breathtakingly vast canvas. — Outlook
Hyder is a wonderful writer. Hers is one of the most important Indian voices of the twentieth century. — Amitov Ghosh
To Urdu fiction what A Hundred Years of Solitude is to Hispanic Literature. — Times Literary Supplement
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