ontemporary Pakistani Anglophone literature is certainly no prisoner to genre or technique. Over the decades, authors have expanded their creative parameters and introduced new dimensions in their narratives. Be that as it may, Anglophone literature from the country hasn’t always tackled the complex mesh of concerns faced by students who attend local universities. Released in 2017, Sheheryar B Sheikh’s debut novel, The Still Point of the Turning World, is a notable exception. Set against the backdrop of a militant attack at a local university, the novel explores how traumatic the transition from youthful idealism to adulthood can be in today’s frenzied and politically charged milieu. Apart from this novel, few cohesive works of fiction have delved into the experiences and challenges faced by university students.

Nadya Chishty Mujahid’s Timeless College Tales fills this lacuna in Anglophone literature through twelve connected stories steeped in the intricacies of campus life at Pakistani colleges and universities. Cynics may be quick to ask whether this genre is of any importance at a time when the reading habit among young people has dwindled. Students are more inclined today to browse through their phone screens than read a soul-stirring work of literature. Their aversion to reading reflects a deep malaise in our education system. Students are largely taught Euro-centric texts, many of which are unconcerned with their social realities. A celebrated teacher at Karachi’s Institute of Business Administration, Nadya Chishty Mujahid, possibly recognised this problem and circumvented it through a creative exercise. She began writing short stories about a diverse menu of experiences that capture the chaos and ambiguities of university life. This has proved to be a rewarding endeavour. These campus chronicles are not only penned with refreshing simplicity but are also firmly embedded in Pakistan’s cultural context.

At first glance, the setting of Timeless College Tales comes across as intriguing. Though an elite institute, the fictitious Saeed School of Business isn’t insulated from the intense political friction prevalent at some local universities. Moving beyond the narrow purview of the well-heeled classes, the stories are spared from becoming recurring meditations on the lives of a privileged, Anglicised cast of characters. Even if they inhabit ‘elite’ spaces, the students who figure prominently in these narratives aren’t part of a homogeneous group. Many of them belong to different ethnic groups and espouse a plethora of social and political values. The fallout of bitter conflicts between student bodies is seeded into these stories as a welcome reminder that the fiery battles of youth aren’t restricted to frivolous matters of the heart.

In her debut collection, Nadya Chishty Mujahid doesn’t shy away from depicting students as impressionable yet discerning adults. Her characters are capable of making both level-headed choices and colossal mistakes - qualities that make them irrevocably human. The author excels at creating flawed characters that are portrayed as heroic in their earnest quest to navigate intricate human relationships.

Timeless College Tales juxtaposes the rigid standards of the university administration with the flexible attitude of students. Faced with binaries, students are likely to feel utterly adrift and lose their capacity for rational decision-making. In one of the stories, students are likened to Karachi’s “restless” coastline and its “uneasy ocean” to depict the sheer fragility of youth and the pressing need for empathy while dealing with them. Amid the sea of unpredictability, Madeeha Sulaiman, a famed English professor at SSB, emerges as an arbitrator, confidante and parental figure. She ensures their wellbeing. She occupies a liminal space between the strictness of the university administration and the permissive attitude which the students desperately crave.

Even so, Madeeha doesn’t monopolise the narratives. She slithers in and out of these stories, offering consolation and well-meaning advice to her hapless students. In The Civics, she remains on the sidelines as a spiritual guide while a conflict brews between twin brothers over a love interest. The King of Diamonds shows Madeeha taking on a proactive role in the edification of one of her students. Madeeha’s overpowering presence is difficult to ignore in other stories. In Dial M for Madeeha, the English professor steps out of her comfort zone and ventures into the murky terrain of student politics to right a wrong committed against one of her pupils.

In most stories, Madeeha’s willingness to transgress the boundaries prods the conflicts towards a satisfying resolution. In The Pisces and the Black Queen, the English professor appears as a saviour to students who are falsely accused of being in possession of meth on hostel premises. Madeeha also comes to the rescue once again in Wamik the Wounded, which is a powerful tale of a friendship compromised by the fleeting impulses of desire. However, the popular professor is equally capable of making some unpopular choices. These occasional lapses shouldn’t be viewed as a sign of poor judgment. On the contrary, some of the challenges she encounters stem from the complex nature of political rivalries between the warring student bodies. Nadya Chishty Mujahid deftly captures these simmering political tensions in stories such as The Terrace and Violated.

Before approaching the stories, readers must understand that Timeless College Tales evokes fairly male-dominated spheres where conflicts have far-reaching implications. As a result, the stories disproportionately deal with seemingly ‘masculine’ concerns faced by students. Nevertheless, women continue to hold sway in the narratives and aren’t portrayed as weaker vessels. In most stories, women are actualised through romantic relationships but find subtle, strong means of making their presence felt.

Every story begins with an epigraph, which includes quotes from literary giants or lyrics from a Pakistani song. These epigraphs set the tone of the narrative or offer some perspectives on the events that unfold in the story. This technique is a well-meaning reminder of the characters’ follies or their lack of experience in handling delicate situations with aplomb. The dialogue is laced with colourful expletives and carries the cadence of conversations conducted among some segments of the youth.

Timeless College Tales is an intriguing addition to Pakistani Anglophone literature that smartly catches the challenges and aspirations of the country’s vibrant student population.

Timeless College Tales

Author: Nadya Chishty Mujahid

Publisher: Liberty Publishing

Pages: 140

The reviewer is a freelance journalist and the author of No Funeral for Nazia.