Mirza Waheed's Compelling New Novel Explores Family, Loss and Identity
Mirza Waheed's latest literary offering, Maryam & Son, presents readers with a poignant narrative centered on Maryam Ali, a 46-year-old school chef of British Indian descent residing in East London. The story unfolds as Maryam embarks on a heart-wrenching quest to locate her missing son, Dilawar, whose sudden disappearance sends shockwaves through their family life.
A Mother's Worst Nightmare Unfolds
The novel opens with Maryam discovering that her 20-year-old son has vanished from their home without explanation. Having lost her husband Ashfaq suddenly when Dilawar was just a teenager, Maryam has devoted herself entirely to raising her quiet, introverted son. Dilawar, affectionately called Dil or Dilly by his family, has carved out a successful career in computer technology, working remotely and demonstrating remarkable aptitude in his field.
When three days pass without any word from her son, Maryam's anxiety reaches fever pitch. Her immediate fear—that Dilawar may have fallen victim to a racist attack—propels her to approach the police, sick with worry about her son's safety. However, the investigation takes a completely unexpected direction that transforms a personal family crisis into something far more complex and politically charged.
From Domestic Drama to Political Intrigue
Waheed skillfully builds upon this foundation of domestic tragedy to explore profound themes of grief, loss, identity, and belonging. The narrative takes a dramatic turn when authorities suspect that Dilawar may have defected to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), where his technological expertise could potentially assist terrorist operations.
Days after his disappearance, a grainy video surfaces online featuring a young man with partially covered face, standing among terrorists while holding a sword. Artificial intelligence imaging analysis suggests a 72% resemblance to Dilawar, though Maryam steadfastly refuses to confirm the identification. For government agencies, however, this figure—dubbed "the Swordsman"—provides sufficient evidence to ensnare the Ali family in a web of suspicion and intimidation.
Beyond Conventional Political Thrillers
While the premise of an ISIS-related novel might seem reminiscent of earlier works like Kamila Shamsie's Home Fire and Tabish Khair's Jihadi Jane (both published in 2017), Waheed's narrative transcends mere political commentary. Much like his previous novel Tell Her Everything (2019), Maryam & Son fundamentally explores family dynamics, particularly the intricate relationship between parents and children, and the unspoken truths that exist between them.
The novel derives its emotional power from Waheed's meticulous observation of life in London's suburbs, particularly in areas like Walthamstow where class, race, and ethnicity intersect to reveal the complex realities of multicultural Britain. The author maintains focus on everyday domestic and sociological dramas, creating a rich tapestry of contemporary immigrant experience.
Complex Characters and Relationships
Maryam's younger sisters, Saffina and Zarrine, play crucial supporting roles, providing emotional anchors for their elder sibling during her crisis. British authorities, including local police and intelligence officers, descend upon Maryam's home, delivering distressing news and posing questions for which she has no answers.
Among these officials emerges Julian Chapman, a young family liaison officer whose sensitivity to a mother's vulnerability allows Maryam to develop a bond of trust and affection. Waheed patiently develops this complicated "friendship" through gradual, nuanced progression rather than resorting to sensational narrative leaps.
A Deliberately Paced Narrative
Waheed's significant achievement in Maryam & Son lies in his ability to sustain reader engagement through a plot that doesn't rely on rapid plot twists. While the novel offers some thriller elements toward its conclusion—particularly during scenes depicting American military operations against ISIS—the story primarily unfolds as a slow, deliberate exploration of internal trauma.
The narrative meticulously examines how Maryam processes her grief as a widow who has devoted herself entirely to her son at the expense of her personal happiness. Readers witness the cyclical nature of mourning as Maryam's thoughts spiral between moments of tentative acceptance and periods of self-blame and recrimination.
The Elusive Son at the Story's Heart
Despite the novel's title featuring both protagonists, Maryam & Son provides deeper insight into the mother's experience than the son's perspective. Dilawar remains the story's central absence and driving force, revealed to readers through carefully placed glimpses and flashbacks. Like a pixelated image coming in and out of focus, his character emerges gradually, with Waheed deliberately leaving aspects of his identity ambiguous.
Even Maryam, who always believed her son to be a "good boy," finds herself uncertain about his true inclinations. The narrative includes some unresolved elements in Dilawar's story, such as a briefly mentioned girlfriend whose fate remains unexplored, presumably left devastated by his sudden disappearance.
Nuanced Exploration of Faith and Politics
In a novel with clear political undertones, Waheed resists simplistic moral dichotomies. While Maryam unequivocally condemns Islamist violence, she maintains steadfast faith in Islam throughout her ordeal. Rather than abandoning her beliefs in grief, she clings more tightly to her faith, finding strength at critical moments when alternative choices might have led to irreversible consequences.
The narrative moves beyond politicized rhetoric about "good versus bad Muslims," instead compelling readers to engage with fragile human beings—whether parents shattered by loss or disillusioned youth carrying hidden scars who make drastic choices.
Philosophical Underpinnings
Waheed frames his novel with an epigraph from Stevie Smith's poem The Reason, posing fundamental questions about human endurance. The poet contemplates what prevents us from ending our lives despite their difficulties, suggesting that hope persists because "Good may befall/I may yet thrive." This philosophical inquiry permeates the novel, exploring uncertainty about divine nature—whether God is "good, impotent or unkind"—and how this uncertainty shapes human resilience.
Maryam & Son by Mirza Waheed, published by Westland Books, spans 264 pages and is priced at ₹699. The novel represents a significant contribution to contemporary literature that examines the intersection of personal tragedy and political reality through the lens of immigrant experience in modern Britain.
