Baat Umar Bhar Ki Hai/بات عمر بھر کی ہے

by Umera Ahmed

Momina and Sumbal; mother and daughter are two completely different personalities with identical issues. Momina being the ugly duckling in a family full of beauty has had extreme inferiority complex all her life and her personality is badly over shadowed by her low self esteem which gives unconditional liberty to people around her to abuse and insult her. Sumbal, on the other hand, is a classic example of self confidence, brilliance and intellect. She has inherited Momina’s physical features but she tackles every problem thrown at her in a stride and survives with grace and self respect.
Baat Umar Bhar Ki Hai (English: It's the Matter of a Lifetime) is an excellent comparison of different attitudes and their consequences in similar situations. It gives the reader an innovative approach towards self awareness.
It was first published in Khawateen digest and is now available in Sahar Aik Ista'ara Hai.

34 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1999

About the author

Umera Ahmed is one of the most widely-read and popular Urdu fiction novelist and screenplay writer of this era.
She completed her Masters in English Literature from Murray College, Sialkot. Later she became an English language lecturer for the students of O and A levels at Army Public College, Sialkot. However she left the job a few years back in order to devote her full attention to writing.
She began her writing career in 1998 at a quite young age. Her initial stories were published in monthly urdu digests and later came out in the form of books. She has written about 16 books , comprising of complete novels and compilations of short stories. However it was her novel "Peer-e-Kaamil (S.A.W.W)" which became her identity.

Reviews

[Sara Saif · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a family that lives across the street directly in front of us. They occupy the upper storey of the house and are extremely loud and incredibly close as our street is barely 10 feet wide. When they start talking, which in their case is equivalent to shouting, we hear each and every word as clearly as if there was a radio blaring in the house. Naturally, they are a source of constant amusement to me. About a month ago, a fight broke out and I happened to be listening. The reason was this; the son commented that his baby nephew looked kaala. His sister lost her cool completely and a yelling match transpired. She demanded that he take his words back while he refused because in his opinion o hai e kaala. All the while, the mother tried to pacify them both. It seemed hilarious at that time. Now, when I have read Baat Umar Bhar Ki Hai, not so much.

It disgusts me that majority of our people still stick with the assumption that gora is more beautiful and thus superior to sanwala/kaala. Education is meant to change our lives for the better not just to attain degrees and the line we so often read in our Islamiyat books, gore ko kaale par kaale ko gore par koi foqiyat haasil nahi, has merely become a ratta rattaya jumla and nothing else.

I was born fair-skinned so I am not going to pretend that even if I wasn't I wouldn't have been bothered by my skin tone. It is drilled into our heads our entire lives through media, through people around us that "to be pale is to be perfect". It is impossible not to develop that particular mind-set. Which is why, what matters most in the end, is not how you feel but how you react and carry yourself.

Umera Ahmed sets an example of two people in her story. Momina, who chooses to accept herself as inferior and looks up to the beautiful people as immortal beings who can't be touched. She forgets herself and leaves no stone unturned to please her abusive unfortunate husband. Some people may see her as a bechari. I saw her as the stupidest wimp to walk the face of the Earth. Then there is her daughter, Sumbal, her exact opposite, who refuses to take any shit when it comes to her rights and lives with her head held high. Both women are described as being black-skinned. The writer proves her point through a powerful comparison.

The problem with Muslims today is their delusional thinking that only sex, alcohol or murder is a sin. Backbiting, lying, unfair discrimination,etc are just as big and bad. People fail to realize that. Worse, they ignore it.

[Sobia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Umera Ahmed is a gem <3

[Unni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Sumbul!!! She kinda reminded me of kashf from ZGH lil bit!

[Lubat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Shumbul 💗✨

[Ubaid Talpur · Rating 3 out of 5]

ایک اچھا ناول specially انکے لیے جن مین. اپنے اوپر اعتماد کی کمی ھو.

[Musfeera’s bookreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book and felt overwhelmed while reading it. Although I couldn't relate to the racism aspect, I found a connection with the mother-daughter duo. The mother had low self-esteem, while the daughter was confident. This book taught me a lot about the importance of confidence and humility. It made me realize that being humble doesn't mean allowing others to insult your appearance or confidence. Instead, it's essential to stand up for yourself, as not responding to insults could make you look like a fool. Overall, this book was a valuable lesson in life that everyone should learn.

[Maryam (fictional booktique) · Rating 5 out of 5]

یہ کہانی فلشنل نہیں حقیقت ہے۔ ہمارے معاشرے میں آج بھی عورت کالی ہو بد صورت ہو تو قبول نہیں کیا جاتا۔ جوتے کی نوک پر رکھا جاتا ہے۔ عورت کی خوبصورتی کو تولا جاتا ہے۔
یہ ایک عورت کی عورت پر لکھی گئی کہانی ہے۔ اور عمیرہ احمد سے اچھا کوئی نہیں لکھ سکتا تھا۔

[Zaesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

پڑھ کر اچھا لگا مجھے یہ ناول بھی. انسان کو اپنے لیے بولنا آنا چاہیے، اپنا حق لینا آنا چاہیے اور سب سے بڑھ کر انسان کو اپنی عزتِ نفس کا پتہ ہو. کیونکہ ہمارے معاشرے میں کمزور انسان کو مزید دبایا جاتا ہے اور دھمکایا بھی.

[Rubiya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it.

[Zubaa Abdulkhaliq · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunately peaple are still complexed by their complexion. Major part of the problem are those surrounding them who don't miss a chance to make fun. I wish we can get out of these prejudices.

[Mona]

so so

[Fahad Naeem · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did not like the plot. Wasn't typical of Umera Ahmad's style but reflects the image of society.