By The News on Sunday
Zohaib Kazi merges his love and curiosity about the planet, space, science, history and technology and creates a glorious world.
Ismail Ka Urdu Sheher is so much more than an ordinary book. Merging
Kazi’s curiosity across various disciplines (such as science,
philosophy, history and technology), the book, loaded with beautiful
illustrations and gorgeous design elements, begins on planet earth and
takes us across various dimensions, like a cosmic journey that is as
adventurous as it is inspiring.
At the center of the story lies the individual known as Ismail Alset,
an Urdu speaking scientist of immense intellect and resolve, and a
resident of Elaan, a planet carved by advancements in several fields
upon who lays the responsibility to save the world from an experiment
gone terribly wrong.
If you think it’s just a scientific exploration, think again.
Ismail’s love and relationship with wife Mehr-un-Nisa is at the heart of
this book and is perhaps one of the book’s strongest points. Jauhar,
the artificial intelligent machine poses questions and conversations
between the machine and Ismail are simply fascinating.
It’s a thoughtful book that takes in mind the struggles of mankind,
and the need for discovery, the fear of death and the unknown, universal
laws that seem unapproachable and ties them together neatly.
From Earth to Elaan
Our introduction to the story, however, begins with an unnerved
planet earth as an inevitable energy crisis lurks on the horizon due to
mankind’s persistent recklessness, ignorance and lack of respect for
scientific and natural laws.
Amidst the shadows lies the discovery that private consortiums run
the world as they have ceased control of world resources. This “global
control movement” has a leader organization known as Mandala, a
front-runner initiated by the Caster family, as their manipulation
“initiated wars and fueled conflicts around the world since recorded
history”.
Several characters emerge in this book that are human and hence,
flawed, complex as fiery and unpreditcable as man himself. You can’t
pick a side.
Jalut Caster is the young and dynamic heir to the throne, and
understand earth’s importance as Mandala acquires NASA among other
feats. This opens the story of other unique individuals who gain
importance in the story as the narrative picks up pace.
Two diametrically opposite friends, Colon and Daud enter the terrain.
This subplot is one of the most curious themes in the story as the two
young genius scientists who manage the impossible showcase not just
scientific ideas but also ties that bind, the ties of friendships and
the fragility of relationships and how easy it is to lose one’s way.
Balancing each other’s weaknesses isn’t enough though as their
personal relationship deteriorates and perspective change and
intertwine. Daud, for instance, loses himself to reclusion as he
questions the world around him and is disgusted by things like interest
rates of the banks of the world and the commercialization of the race of
discovery in the name of science. His disconnection from the world past
and growing rage leads him to rebellion and in the arms of underground
anarchy movements. Colon, the other-half of this genius combo,
meanwhile, scales heights of excellence.
As Ismail’s embarks on this journey with Mehr, you root for them and wonder at the same time about what they will or won’t find.
The story so far
Ismail Ka Urdu Sheher isn’t written in a traditional narrative. The
prose, engaging and observant, feels closer because of the design value
of the book which includes skies full of stars. In between the chapters,
the book also has dedicated pages to some of the scientific ideas that
are explored in it. You don’t necessarily have to be a science buff to
understand this world.
The longing and loss of family is also explored beautifully and is one of the many layers and emotions explored in the story.
What’s impeccable in Kazi’s narrative is that the characters blend
seamlessly – they are perfectly imperfect and not viewed with a binary
lens. Even as Kazi’s marvelous imagination and the knock-out design
elements persistently make you marvel, it is easy to note the humanity
and humility that lies within the book. The stories of Jalut, Ismail,
Mehr, Daud and the others interconnect as it reaches a conclusion.
Kazi conjures a world that is often a reflection of some of the most
prevailing questions of our times. A world that is made worse by wars
and divided by religious animosity and intolerance evokes a real-time
image.
Futuristic and engaging, Ismail Ka Urdu Sheher is thing of mystery, a
fantastic achievement for its chief architect Zohaib Kazi and the many
collaborators across fields who have helped in realizing a dream.
