Class complexities in Lahore

~ The End of Innocence, by Moni Mohsin ~

This novel is yet another example of very high quality fiction in English from Pakistani women writers. Mohsin joins an elite group comprising the likes of Sidhwa, Suleri, Shamsie, who have all produced outstanding pieces of writing with distinctively Pakistani flavours, as opposed to being generically South Asian.

The End of Innocence is set in Lahore, telling the story primarily through the eyes of 8-year old Laila. Laila is a privileged little girl, whose mother was an ambassador’s daughter and whose father is a landowner in Sabzbagh, where his family have been landowners for eleven generations. Her favourite companion is the 15 year old Rani, granddaughter to the personal maid of Laila’s formidable grandmother.

Mohsin manages the plot beautifully, unraveling it smoothly while presenting many angles of the story though the eyes of its diverse cast of characters. Her characters are deftly sketched, instantly recognizable and yet remarkably fresh. The juxtaposition of the lifestyles of different classes are presented not only in black and white, but also in the many subtle in-between shades of grey. Mohsin teases out the intricate threads of social proprieties and customs and norms, displaying a fine discernment and the ability to represent complex issues in an enthralling manner.

Rani turns out to be as much a protagonist in the tale as Laila. It is the entanglement in Rani’s adult issues that bewilders Laila, while making her feel privileged to have been chosen as Rani’s confidant. Laila struggles with her powerlessness in her position as an 8 year old; in her desire to aid Rani, she inadvertently brings about a tragedy instead.

The touches of the Anglicized influences in Laila’s life, the nuanced interactions between individuals in this complex hierarchy of class, the many personal stories neatly interwoven into the narrative, all come across as immensely convincing. It is a very fine effort, all the more so for a debut novel, and this is definitely a read not to be missed.