The Clay Bird Page #3

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- A little while ago.

How's your sister?

She's... no more.

- What happened?

- Some kind of fever. I don't know.

Where do people go when they die?

What happens to them?

- I think they turn into birds.

- Really?

Anu, something's happening to me.

I couldn't sleep last night.

There's a strange noise in my ears.

It keeps getting louder.

Your hair's gotten long.

Yes, I've got to cut it again.

What's this?

It's a flute to charm snakes.

Just fasting and prayer

don't make you a Muslim.

You need true conviction.

Islam is a total way of life.

Thus it differs

from other religions.

It guides

not just our religious life.

Our social, economic, cultural,

even our political way of life

are clearly prescribed by Islam.

To understand this

you need Islamic knowledge.

But knowledge is not enough.

We also need Islamic practice.

In the name of secularism,

our sacred Muslim land

is being threatened

by forces of blasphemy.

We must be brave and confront them.

We have to prepare ourselves.

If needed, we will make Jihad!

Hurry up!

We have to make 300 before sunset.

Do we really need so many?

In Arabia,

stones or clay

were used after toilet.

But our country is full of water

and water cleans a lot better.

No one's stopping you

from using water.

But using clay is Muhammad's way.

That's true.

The Arab system's still better

than the English one.

Englishmen destroy trees

to make toilet paper,

but does it clean properly?

How did you find

the Head Sir's speech?

Wasn't it inspiring?

Yes, it was indeed.

But I have

a few modest reservations.

Such as?

What he said about

knowledge and practice,

could mislead the pupils.

You see,

Islam didn't spread here

through the sword.

It was the selfless Sufis

who went to low caste Hindus

to spread Islam's message

of peace and equality.

The kings of Iran and Arabia

conquered land

but not people's hearts.

It was thanks to the Sufis

that people embraced Islam.

The truth is:

You cannot make Islam

flourish with politics or arms.

It's by spreading Islamic knowledge

that Islam will prosper.

So our mission is only

to spread knowledge?

Knowledge for knowledge's sake?

No.

What are we doing here?

This is not just knowledge.

This is also practice.

Who is sent to madrasa?

Mostly orphans,

and children whose parents

are too poor to afford

food and clothing,

not to mention education.

They are sent to madrasa.

Our duty is to take care of them

and make them into true Muslims.

It's unfair to use

these children for political ends.

But in the name of secularism

the communists are endangering

the very existence of Islam.

Don't we need to confront them?

Then what's the difference

between the communists and us?

Can you separate Islam

from politics?

Now Pakistan's unity is at stake.

If Pakistan is torn apart,

Islam will be weakened as well.

Halim Miah, tell me one thing,

if Pakistan collapses,

why would Islam be endangered?

What makes you think that?

Did Pakistan establish Islam,

or rather enforce military rule?

Let's kill a bird with my slingshot.

There goes Nutty Boy!

Let's see where he goes.

Keep quiet. He'll hear us.

Throw it!

What's the matter?

Halim Miah!

What's going on?

It's Rokon,

he's been acting strangely of late.

His head's overheated.

Pour water on his head.

Then lock him in the storeroom.

Yes sir.

Let me see. How is he?

I've brought Rokon's food.

Let's go then.

Is he going to be all right?

I consulted a doctor.

He gave some medicine.

Give it after his meal.

The Head Sir

mustn't know about this.

Yes sir.

It's me Anwar...

Anu.

Do you recognize me?

Anu's mother?

If you continue to be frozen

with grief like this

you'll break down

physically and mentally.

I think you should go out,

maybe take a trip or something.

Once, home and outside

were like heaven and earth for me,

now it's all the same.

What I meant was...

If you went to your brother's place

for a few days,

you might feel better.

If I go, I won't go for a few days.

I'll go for a long, long time.

Why are you talking about leaving?

I know you don't like me anymore,

but this house is yours too.

Isn't it?

I've been rotting in this house

for those I loved,

but they've all gone.

There's nothing to hold me back.

Is this grief yours alone?

Haven't I suffered too?

Don't I have my own pain?

You do.

Those who hurt others

may have their own pain too.

Uttam, try to understand.

It's not a matter of democracy

or national liberation,

the issue is economic.

Here lies the question

of imperialism and class struggle.

You're still spellbound by

your communist ghosts.

You know something,

despite your differences,

you're like your brother.

Kazi's homeopathy

and your "Marx-pathy"

both came from Germany.

And fascism is also from Germany.

Whether Marxism or capitalism...

All "isms" are western.

These isms & schisms

just leave us screwed in the end!

So you also dismiss Islam

as western?

Not at all.

Our Islam has flourished

on our own soil.

Nothing's purely indigenous,

it's all mixed up.

Sit down.

- How is Rokon?

- He's worse today.

He didn't sleep last night.

He's out of medicine.

Go past the courthouse, take a left,

then take a right,

on the next corner is the pharmacy.

Show this prescription

and get more medicine.

Anwar, be careful!

The town isn't safe these days.

Yes, sir.

- May peace be upon you.

- Upon you also.

Peace for the people!

Vote for Boat Symbol!

This is radio Pakistan.

Now a special election bulletin.

In Faridpur-2, the Awami league

candidate is ahead of

the Muslim league candidate

by a margin of 5,200 votes.

Kazi?

Are you home?

Who's that?

Karim?

Come in.

What's the news?

My wife is much worse,

she's been in terrible pain.

Please give me some medicine.

I stopped giving medicine at home.

Go see the doctor in town.

I don't have money for a doctor.

Please, at least blow a prayer

on a glass of water.

I don't do that.

In Chittagong-3,

the Awami league candidate defeated

the Nezam-e-lslam candidate

by 10,304 votes.

Take this money,

and take her to a doctor.

Go forward!

Go on!

Go further!

Allah, free this stupid boy

from the clutches

of the evil spirit.

Allah is healer and forgiverl

You must immerse yourself 101 times.

It'll force the evil spirit to flee.

Begin!

Go under!

One...

two...

three...

four...

five...

six...

seven...

He doesn't feel the cold.

It's going straight

to the evil spirit.

Eight...

nine...

ten...

He doesn't feel the beatings at all.

It's hitting

on the evil spirit's head!

Fourteen...

fifteen...

sixteen...

All praise be to Allahl

The spirit was bound to flee.

Halim Miah!

Bring him up!

Rokeya, my daughterl

Milon, can I take you across?

No, I'm going to Uttam's place.

Can you take me there?

Well, I've got ferry duty,

but I'll give you a quick drop.

What a game those English

got stuck in your heads!

Games shouldn't last

more than one hour.

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