Syed Ather Enam

Refreshingly bold, brutally honest and deeply philosophical. It's as if Ismat Chughtai and Ayn Rand had come together to write it. I am talking about "Heart Tantrums and Brain Tumors: A Tale of Misogyny, Marriage, and Muslim Feminism" by Aisha Sarwari. This memoir has been lingering on my mind because of so many layers in its storytelling, and its philosophical weight skillfully offset by a brilliant writing style, rendering the content delightfully light. Sarwari's work is a profound exploration of identity, feminism, and the trials of marriage. Born in Uganda, educated in USA, and influenced by South Asian culture, she confronts the challenging dichotomy between cultural expectations and her quest for equality and acceptance. And the foreword by Yasser Latif Hamdani, her husband, centering on “mea culpa” is reminiscent of Manto's bluntly candid style. It sets a compelling tone for the memoir. Despite Yasser's portrayal of his love story as a tragedy, shaped by the events that unfolded, my perspective was markedly different. In my eyes, it was an eloquent narrative of love, steeped in devotion and forgiveness, resonating with a profound sense of reality. Although Sarwari's narrative of her personal story doesn't overtly dissect misogyny and feminism, it's the beauty of her book that these themes implicitly underpin her story, offering not only a subtle but also a powerful backdrop to her experiences. Beyond being a personal account, the book stands as a testament to feminine resilience. It navigates Sarwari's life from traumatic experiences to a place of hope, detailing her struggles with cultural norms, a husband battling a brain tumor and infidelity, and her own quest for identity. Sarwari's writing is eloquent and relatable, weaving through everyday events that resonate deeply. Readers will find themselves connecting with her multifaceted roles as a mother, a daughter, a wife, a feminist, a “bahu”, and a young woman navigating the complexities of societal expectations. It is more than a memoir—it's a journey of empowerment and a mirror reflecting the struggles of women across cultures.