Nawab Faizunnesa's Rupjalal (Women and Gender: the Middle East and the Islamic World, 7)

In the framework of a romantic tale, Faizunnesa recorded how women were always treated as agents of chaos and desire, and how their resisting voices were always silenced in a religiously motivated society. This book examines her text as a critique of male dominance in the Muslim society of colonial Bengal. Contents Acknowledgements Chapter 1: Introduction Recasting Muslim Women: Nawab Faizunnesa's Rupjalal Biographical Sketch The Muslim Community and its Women in Colonial India Recasting Muslim Women Women, Writing, and the Body History of (Bengali Muslim) Sexuality in Literary Culture Crossing Genre: Rupjalal and Bengali (Muslim) Literary Traditions My Method of Translation Chapter 2: Translation of Rupjalal Prologue Introducing the Text My Family History and My Reasons for Writing this Book Light three-lined verse (book one) Book One Part One. The Beginning The Birth of a Prince Growing into a Man Prince Jalal Went in Search of a Bride In the Garden Prince Jalal Saw Rupbanu The Prince in Torment: (How Much Pain Can this Soul Endure?) The Wailing Prince Tried To Gain Self Control Attendants Brought the Prince Home A Mother's Lament A Mother's Plea to her Son The Queen Sent for a Female Messenger Regaining Consciousness, the Prince Inquired About the Lady Jalal's Description of the Mysterious Woman In Search of the Maiden Rupbanu's Story The Maiden Sang her Song of Sorrow Rupbanu Narrated her Story Rupbanu Lamented seeing her Nurse Depressed The Foster-Mother Condemned Men and Tried to Console Rupbanu All Words Failed Part Two. Merchant Omar and King Zamzam The Envoy entered the Garden The Merchant's Prayer The Merchant Became a Father A Lamenting Father The Power of Destiny The Voyage Nurbanu and Fortas Faizun's Defense of Women Fortas tried to Court Nurbanu Chaos in King Zamzam's Land The Battle King Zamzam Praised the Lord King Zamzam Killed his Daughter The Evil Plan The King went to Execute his Evil Plan King Zamzam Rebuked Hurbanu The Transformation Part Three. The Ordeal of Rupbanu The Abduction of Rupbanu A Damsel in Distress The Maiden's Lament Fortas in Love again The Love-struck Prince The Envoy and the Prince The Florist Inquired The Gardener's Words Prince Jalal spoke Stern Words The Gardener's Request Part Four. The Correspondence and Courting Jalal's Letter to Rupbanu Prince Jalal gave his Letter to Shama Her Letter You stay within me, yet you don't let me See The Wailing Woman bemoaned her Grief Part Five. Searching for the Enemy The Journey The Song His Love song and Love Sickness A Fairy Princess and her Love song Princess Gulchehra and her Schemes In Deep Trouble The Prince and his Rescuer Prince Jalal Destroyed his Enemy In King Zamzam's Land Part Six. The Change of Fate King Zamzam's Plan The Prisoner's Lament Khizir's Advice to Jalal The Wedding Ceremony A Marriage Unconsummated Hurbanu's Attendants Challenged Prince Jalal Jalal's Response to the Challenge Rupbanu Rupbanu's Letter In Search of a Lost Prince Part Seven. The Journey Back Troubles Waiting in the Way The Enchantress and her Victim Her Song: Prince Jalal Planned to Escape Freedom Jalal's Complaint (book two) Book Two Chapter 1: Battling a Giant Chapter 2: The Tale of King Aardbel Chapter 3: In the Land of the Glendoveers Chapter 4: Rescuing the Glendoveer Prince Chapter 5: The Tale of Seven Brothers Chapter 6: The Rescue Chapter 7: Battle with the Giants Chapter 8: King Kaiser's Tale Chapter 9: Death of King Rayhan Chapter 10: The Princes Returned Home Chapter 11: In Search of the Death Giver Chapter 12: A Visit to the City of Demigods Chapter 13: All Ended Well (book three) Book Three The Ordeal of Rupbanu Prince Jalal Returned The Lovers' Quarrel The Royal Ministers met a Stranger Preparation for the Wedding A Wedding Song In the Bridal Chamber Homecoming Hurbanu King Jalal's Dream A Happy Ending Chapter 3: Rereading the text Rupjalal as a Counter-narrative of Masculinity Desire, Resistance, and the Female Body The [Silenced] Female Voice in Rupjalal Bibliography Index Nawab Faizunnesa (1834-1903) Challenged Established Notions Regarding Women's Position In A Muslim Society In Colonial Bengal. Her Rupjalal Was The First Literary Text Written By A Bengali Muslim Woman. The Translated Text Is Placed In The Historical Context Of Colonialism And The Nationalist Movement Of Colonial Bengal. An Analysis Of The Text Is Also Included In Order To Invite Readers To Explore The Woman Question In Context Of Islam And/in Imperial Society. With The Translated Text, Along With A Critical Overview And Textual Analysis, This Book Traces In Faizunnesa's Life And Works The Emergence Of A Self-conscious Female Voice By Addressing The Issues Of Social, Political, And Economic Marginality Of Women In An Islamic, Nationalist, And Imperialist Culture Of Colonial Bengal.--jacket. I. Introduction ---- Ii. Translation Of Rupjalal ---- Book One. Part One. The Beginning --- Part Two. Merchant Omar And King Zamzam --- Part Iii. The Ordeal Of Rupbanu --- Part Iv. The Correspondence And Courting --- Part 5. Searching For The Enemy --- Part 6. The Change Of Fate --- 7. The Journey Back ---- Back Two. 1. Battling A Giant --- 2. The Tale Of King Aardbel --- 3. In The Land Of The Glendoveers --- 4. Rescuing The Glendoveer Prince --- 5. The Tale Of Seven Brothers --- 6. The Rescue --- 7. Battle With The Giants --- 8. King Kaiderʹs Tale --- 9. Death Of King Rayham --- 10. The Princes Returned Home --- 11. In Search Of The Death Giver --- 12. A Visit To The City Of Demigods --- 13. Allended Well ---- Book Three. The Ordeal Of Rupjalal --- Prince Jalal Retuned --- The Loversʹ Quarrel --- The Royal Ministers Met A Stranger --- Preparation For The Wedding --- A Wedding Song --- In The Bridal Chamber --- Homecoming --- Hurbanu --- King Jalalʹs Dream --- A Happy Ending ---- Chapter 3:rereading The Text. ... Translated And Commented By Fayeza S. Hasanat. Translated From The Bengali. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [217]-220) And Index.

Nawab Faizunnesa (1834-1903) challenged established notions regarding women’s position in a Muslim society in colonial Bengal. Her RupJalal was the first literary text written by a Bengali Muslim woman. The translated text is placed in the historical context of colonialism and the nationalist movement of colonial Bengal. An analysis of the text is also included in order to invite readers to explore the woman question in context of Islam and/in imperial society. With the translated text, along with a critical overview and textual analysis, this book traces in Faizunnesa’s life and works the emergence of a self-conscious female voice by addressing the issues of social, political, and economic marginality of women in an Islamic, nationalist, and imperialist culture of colonial Bengal.