Award-winning Pakistani author Mohammed Hanif discusses his fourth novel, Rebel English Academy, in an interview with The News on Sunday. The book examines the aftermath of former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's 1979 execution through the lens of a small town. Hanif draws on personal recollections and satirical elements to critique authoritarianism and societal norms.
Mohammed Hanif, born in Okara and now based in London, has built a reputation for satirical novels addressing Pakistan's political turbulence. His debut, The Case of Exploding Mangoes, earned the 2008 Shakti Bhatt Award and 2009 Commonwealth Book Prize, and was long-listed for the Man Booker Prize. His second novel, Our Lady of Alice Bhatti, was shortlisted for the 2012 Wellcome Prize, while Red Birds won the 2020 KLF-Getz Pharma Prize for English Fiction.
In Rebel English Academy, Hanif sets the story in the fictional OK Town, loosely inspired by his hometown of Okara. The narrative begins with Bhutto's execution, a moment Hanif recalls from his youth: after finishing his Class 8 exams, he emerged to find deserted streets amid widespread fear. "I thought I was writing about growing up, education and bad romance. Bhutto’s execution was just a random point to start," Hanif explained.
The novel critiques authoritarianism, religiosity, and patriarchy, blending humor with serious themes. Hanif notes that small towns reveal change more visibly than large cities, where "people’s secret histories litter the street corners." Characters like the morally conflicted Captain Gul embody the tensions of power and privilege, while Sabiha's 'homework' chapters mimic formal school essays to explore motivations and constraints.
English in the book symbolizes both survival and rebellion, though Hanif acknowledges its dual role as a language of power and deception. On faith and authority, he approaches with "a lot of love for religion; a lot of respect for power; and some disdain where both overlap."
Hanif sees no strong parallels between 1979 and today beyond recurring imprisonments of elected leaders. He hopes readers view the story as a love tale and that finishing the book inspires a small act of rebellion, like setting aside a phone for reading.
