Iqbal
is a fictional account about a person named Iqbal Masih who wanted to liberate
bonded laborers in Pakistan. The narrator of this book is Fatima, a girl who
was inspired by Iqbal’s courage and determination.
As
a sign of resistance Iqbal cut his master’s carpet with a knife. His master
Hussain Khan punishes him. There are also other children who were taken away
from their families and enslaved by Hussain Khan. Once Iqbal tries to escape,
but the local policemen brings him back to Khan, after taking bribe. For his
rebellion he is severely punished by his master. After that incident he tries
to escape again. This time he is successful. He contacts the Bonded Labor
Liberation Front of Pakistan and helps in the liberation of other kids enslaved
by Hussain Khan.
Iqbal
had sown the seeds of hope in all the children. Sadly, he was murdered on
Easter Sunday in 1995 in Muridke, a village near Lahore. This novel gives us an
insight into Iqbal’s struggle. After reading this book, I wonder how many other
Iqbals are still working and enslaved by the carpet mafia.
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