The opportunist and the idealist

Garam Hawwa is based on the consequences of partition in terms of co-existence between Hindus and Muslims in India. It revolves around the story of a Muslim family that is led by two contrasting characters, the opportunist and the idealist.  Halim Mirza, the opportunist, is a member of the Muslim League. He made adamant claims throughout the course of partition to live in India irrespective of who migrates and who doesn’t. His views take a drastic change when after partition his political career ceases to exist in India. He sees the opportunity in Pakistan to improve his financial standing and decides to migrate despite of all his promises and previously held beliefs. Salim Mirza, the idealist, suffers the most after partition because he is a man of outdated principles, who is refusing to evolve with the changing circumstances. He is a man who firmly believes in God and leaves all his matters to Him. He is negating the religious discrimination against Muslims despite of being a victim himself. His living standard deteriorated immensely after partition; his house was taken over as an evacuee property, the moneylenders refused to loan him money, he couldn't find a decent house for his family and yet he never lost his serenity. He is refusing to acknowledge the need of the hour as opposed to his brother. Both of these reactionary attitudes in fact reflect the actual responses to the partition where the majority of migrants primarily aimed for an opportunity in Pakistan and the vast number of remaining Muslims in India left everything on God’s will, essentially because they had no control over the scenario.