Dhonthukkalaa vs Tolstoy: Their search for meaning of life

By Naeem Ibrahim (Naimbe)

‘Gellunu Furaavaru’ (Wasted Youthfulness) by Maldivian writer Dhonthukkalaa (Meerubahurugey Mohamed Ismail Didi) is the latest book I read in my on-going quest to play catch up on essential reading I have missed out in Dhivehi literature.

I have come to realize that my expectations, formed largely around reading books in English language, have to some extent, ruined my reading experiences of Dhivehi books. With this book, I tried as much as possible, to avoid expectations (yes, you can’t pick up Abdulla Sadiq’s short stories and expect it to have the unexpected twists and surprises of Anton Chekhov or the depth of the works of Jose Luis Borges).

The plot of ‘Gellunu Furaavaru’ is (hang on, no drum roll, please. It doesn’t make me feel good to say this. I swore to myself not to say this again the last time I did just that about a work by Maldivian writer considered to be among the finest in the Dhivehi literary scene) the oft-repeated and cloyed tale of the ill-fated young woman gold digger. The protagonist Shakeela, a young woman from a merchant class family, marries the most sought-after bachelor, the highly educated, socialite aristocrat Ahmed Jamaluddeen in a bid to enhance not just her social status but to augment the fortunes of her family too.

In the years following Shakeela’s much-hyped marriage, she learns that her husband is not only a profligate wastrel but fails to even consummate his marriage with her. Jamaluddeen maintains his extravagantly flamboyant lifestyle while Shakeela is afflicted with a mysterious illness that worsens over time, leading to pain and suffering. Despite numerous treatments, Shakeela’s condition continues to deteriorate until her death a few years later. Jamaluddeen in the meantime, spends his way to total insolvency, is forced to sell off his family’s assets and is finally pushed down to the lowest rung of the social ladder.

I have had a bad habit of inadvertently comparing Dhivehi books with works of foreign writers. I just couldn’t help it again. With this book, for some reason I couldn’t help thinking of ‘The Death of Ivan Ilyich’ by Leo Tolstoy.

Tolstoy’s story begins with Ivan Ilyich's colleagues learning about his sudden death. He was a high-ranking, upper-class Russian official. The story delves into the life Ivan led and the experiences that led him to his ultimate demise. He is portrayed as a man who conforms to societal expectations and pursues a career, seeking wealth, power, and social status. Later he is struck by a mysterious illness that worsens over time, despite his numerous treatments.

As Ivan faces his own death, just like Dhonthukkalaa’s protagonist Shakeela, he reflects on the emptiness and superficiality of his life lived in wanton shallowness. He confronts the hypocrisy of the society he embraced, realizing that his pursuit of wealth and status was totally meaningless and to no avail. In his agony, he questions the purpose of his existence and the choices he made.

With Ivan Ilyich's story Tolstoy explores the themes of existentialism, mortality, and the search for meaning in life. Through Shakeela’s journey, Dhonthukkalaa also forces his readers to confront their own mortality and contemplate on the significance of leading a purposeful and honest life. The manner in which the two writers explore similar themes is interesting. Both stories serve as a critiques of the social norms and values that dominate society, highlighting the importance of self-reflection and living a life aligned with one's true values. Juxtaposing Dhonthukkalaa with Tolstoy is like placing an individual strand of polar bear fur beside its 1,500 pound 10 feet tall owner. My comparison is merely an attempt to draw a parallel in the themes, not necessarily to declare a winner.