After writing the first novel, "The still point of the turning world" which was limited to college campus and terrorism effects on youth, Sheikh takes up the same subject charged with political flavour in his "Call me Al" He goes beyond college students and explores the life of a much mature and older character that he creates. At the surface level, the novel is about a person’s rise to power in his lifetime and all the ways he takes to reach that position. The life of the lead character Al (short for Almataash) is covered through the narratives of George Gary Grefory Jaffar (also called as GGGJ in the text seeing and narrating Al’s past), Almataash himself (narrating his present) and Edwin ‘Ned’ Steinberg (who is seeing and narrating Al’s future). The interesting fact is that GGGJ and Ned are murdered by Al in the initial stages of the novel and the narrative is told by their spirits. By this, the author cleverly concocts this life and the afterlife.
One of the issues raised are GGGJ, the reporter’s hatred for Almataash as he knew Al was only an evil person. Other issue is Ned’s lonely life and his desire for love and and his death show how consuming one's career and job can be. So much so that they may earn and still they can not fulfill their own desires. Also, the plight of Indians gone to Pakistan after partition and not accepted as Pakistanis is discussed. They are called "second class" citizens, denied jobs and marriage proposals as the author has clearly highlighted.
The most noticeable is the political tinge and an insight into how dirty and inhuman politics can be. This is most apparent on observing Al and his actions. The fact that he is the mastermind behind everything and yet given charge of taking care of public interest by offering him the most prominent political position makes it ironical.
Everyone fears him and at the same time is in awe of him. But the reporter GGGJ knew Al was only doing evil and intended to kill him if given an opportunity. This intention of trying to end evil earns him a place in heaven in afterlife. Ned sees the future of Al and realizes his mistake of not protecting himself. But later he does wish for Al to suffer and his suffering comes in the most unexpected forms.
Al is not a round character but still different shades of his personality are visible. That makes him worth being placed in the title. Altamaash is shortened to Al and he tells people to call him Al (also implying Allah). This may mean he thought of himself as God. There are constant references to Al's body being fat and bulky. Perhaps the author suggested that size does not matter when brain is much more active. Massive size without any muscle and just fat can also evoke awe among all. The muscular Ned is one example of that. Politics and terrorism are interrelated. Al may not be a branded terrorist but his acts are no less than that.
Al is a bit selective about loving also. He loves his mother and daughter dearly, but ordered the murdering of his father. He idealized his grandfather but didn't mind his wife being sacrificed even when he was well aware how it would affect his daughter. Also, he is one smart fellow as he ensured his involvement never becomes obvious in all the acts that happen miles away in Pakistan while he is in England in exile. The back cover says he was an entertainer, but there are no instances in the text where he is shown entertaining anyone as such. Despite Al doing all heinous acts to get to the position is he is at, Sheikh develops him in such a way that the reader can not completely hate him or love him. His past and future are clearly shown but the exact reason and the events that led to his exile are not told clearly.
GGGJ and Ned fade away a little in Al's presence as the reader is never able to forget Al or think of what his next move could be. One noticeable thing appeared that GGGJ and Ned are murdered but there is no follow up investigation the readers get to know of. Does that mean that Al manipulated even the England investigation system? And why are there no relatives of either of the victims to inquire? Al did get punished by God for his deeds but that's a moral justification. What about justice at human level?
The basic theme seems to be the moral lesson of suffering if you do evil. Al commits all atrocities, murders people, orders mass massacre but when it's his turn to suffer, he becomes a pitiable figure.
The novel has sights of bloodshed and violence. The mob is manipulated and instigated into whatever Al wanted. This instigation and manipulation can be connected to today's incidents of mob lynching. Also, the value of a human's life is questioned through the acts of Al. He ordered the murder of anyone anytime for even slightest contraction. Blind hero-worship is also another interesting aspect of the novel. The case of A.D is one instance in this regard. His nephew's dying and his life's savings gone is not something he's sad about, on the contrary he's proud to have contributed in Al's revolution. Al's reactions to this are also noteworthy. This is relatable to the present scenario where people blindly start following anyone. (Asaram bapu, baba ram rahim) ignoring all the wrong deeds they did.
The women in Al's life are very different. His mother seems to never comment or guide or rebuke her son for all he does. Or perhaps she's completely ignorant of everything. Al's wife is also a bit contradictory as a person. She willingly followed him in exile, got married to him but she didn't want to give birth to his child and has no compassion for him at all.
The novel is a fictional account but the references to cities makes the fictional text seem realistic. Al’s character seems to come to life due to his directly telling the reader about his thoughts. The coded names that Al keeps of people he knows and the ones in power more or less make the recall the actual political personalities of Pakistan. (1,069 words)
