(Hatak) Sugandhi's back-story

A very interesting point which we may have overlooked in our discussion of Hatak is the absence of Sugandhi’s back story. All we know about her past is her blissful life with her parents five years ago. Between that and her prostitution at present, there’s a long and dark gap that Manto chooses not to fill. I believe it’s a very intriguing move and deserves closer inspection.

Manto’s narration does not concern itself with judgments. All it does is present her feelings (conflicting at times, harmonious at others) in a neutral manner, without an outward agenda to provide a social commentary that we as readers sometimes await. Its only purpose is to display her emotions and feelings in response to what she has to deal with. How she’s arrived at where she is isn't important.

Some may find this technique depriving the story of higher stakes (for it doesn't address society’s ills) and the reader of sympathy for Sugandha (since it doesn't focus on her past troubles). But if anything, this brings her closer to center stage and dispels speculation about things that she couldn't directly control, such as the circumstances that forced her to prostitute herself. The absence of a back story elevates the status of “the woman” – and her actions, choices, feelings, pains and joys. The hypocrisy of the society, the men and their exploitation, the biases towards women, all these bigger things appear to be beside the point, lighting up the point.