h the character of Majeed in the light of “Tree Without Roots.” [2021] ✪✪✪ Or, Analyze the evil sides of Majeed’s character. [2018] Or, Would you call Majeed the hero of “Tree without Roots?” Give reasons. [2016]
Every literary work has a unique character whose actions and nature make them the center of the story. Majeed is such a character in Syed Waliullah’s (1922-1971) “Tree Without Roots” (1948). At the beginning, Majeed is a poor, rootless man without family or fortune. However, by exploiting the blind faith of simple villagers, he transforms himself into a respected religious leader. Through this transformation, Waliullah explores how religion, poverty, and power can shape a man’s destiny.
Majeed’s Arrival in Mahabbatpur: Majeed comes to Mahabbatpur from a barren and poverty-stricken village. He has no home, no family, and no peace. In the beginning, he is just another wanderer searching for food and survival. When he finds an old, neglected grave on the edge of the village, he sees it as his chance. He tells the villagers that he had a dream in which Saint Shah Sadeque spoke to him. He covers the grave with a red cloth and declares it a holy mazar. The innocent villagers believe him, and soon he becomes their spiritual guide. The narrator describes how religion fills the land:
“There are more tupees than heads of cattle, more tupees than sheaves of grass.”
Manipulator of Faith: Majeed uses religion not to serve God but to control people. His sermons teach villagers about sin and the consequences of punishment. He says,
“It is well that a man should know it when he sins… ignorance is the greatest sin of all.”
His words sound holy but serve his selfish plan. He earns money, respect, and power through fear and superstition. He makes people depend on him for every problem, whether it’s illness, crop issues, or family matters. He forces Khaleque to divorce his wife, Amena, by fabricating a false story about her alleged impurity.
Symbol of Patriarchal Power: Majeed becomes a symbol of male dominance in rural Muslim society. Using his authority as a so-called pir, he controls not only the villagers but also the women around him. He marries twice: first Rahima, the kind and obedient widow, and then Jamila, the young and lively girl. He enjoys complete control over Rahima. But Jamila challenges him and refuses blind obedience. Her courage threatens his power. Majeed calls her “a snake… her charm is a snare, her sweet winsomeness a trap.” Through Majeed, Waliullah shows how men in a patriarchal society use religion to silence women.
Existential Loneliness and Moral Fall: Even after gaining wealth and power, Majeed remains lonely and restless. He cannot share his secrets with anyone, not even with his wives. His false identity isolates him from peace and truth. He tries to hide his emptiness through strict religious control. Yet, his second wife, Jamila’s rebellion exposes his weakness. When she defies him, he kills her in anger. But even in death, Jamila destroys his pride. Her feet face the holy mazar, mocking his false holiness. Majeed realizes that his life is built on a foundation of lies. He is both sinner and victim, proving his own words true:
“Man is made both angels and devils, sinners and innocents.”
In conclusion, Majeed is a tragic figure. He is a man who gains the world but loses his soul. His rise from poverty to power demonstrates his intelligence and determination to succeed. But his greed, fear, and falsehood destroy him in the end. He begins as a victim of hunger and ends as a victim of his own deceit.
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