Ehsaan Manzil: The status of female education

The status of female educationThe short story gives us a clear insight into the role female education played in the Sharif household particularly amongst the older shareef generation. The narrative begins with the arrival of the magazine entitled ‘عصمت’ in Ehsaan Mazil for Mehmooda. Asmat means 'پرہیزگاری'  and 'گناہی  بے'.It is interesting to note how پرہیزگاری  leads to chaos in the town. The choice of magazine by Intizar Hussain immediately conveys to the reader that female education was not only frowned upon but also considered "معیوب" and "باغیانہ" . The father, Sheikh Irfan al haq, by virtue of his superior position in the sharif household becomes the main agency for this change. He is the secular agent who is going against the dominant and long standing "روایات" of Ehsaan manzil. The negative sentiment associated with female education also becomes clear with the hypothetical scenario painted by Initzar Husain.

خود یا  دیتے نکال سے گھر کے  پکڑ کان کو بیٹے تو یا ورنہ زندہ الحق  احساں شیخ ہوے نا “

. “جاتے نکل   سے گھر کر پھاڑ ےکپڑ    

Nakedness here can imply intense embarrassment and humiliation. The prospect of any kind of female education this is thus directly associated with some kind of loss in honour and dignity. This notion of equating female education is deeply disturbing. In this context the status of female education as infamy becomes clear.