‘Kali Shalwar’ sheds light upon the alienation of the
courtesan from mainstream society. Although they are not formally a part of the
society but that does not mean that they are without the fear of God. Religion
is a part of their lives which they have managed to preserve in the midst of
corrupting influences and thus turning it into a means to redeem themselves. The
morals of these women are stronger than the decadent morality of a hypocritical
society. This is manifest in the feelings of Sultana regarding Muharram.
The beauty of the story lies in the fact which portrays that
how a prostitute’s life is direction-less, uncertain and lonely to an extent
which is almost unbearable. This thought has been expressed by Manto using an
apt metaphor in the following passage:
“At times when she saw
a train switched from one track to another and allowed to go on its own along a
path, it brought up her image in her mind. Others would change the tracks and
she would have to go further, without knowing where she is headed.”
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