The Night Diary

“‘Amil, you can’t read. You play around too much and draw little pictures. You must be more serious or you will become nothing.’”

When Amil is seven, Papa criticizes him for not being able to read. Papa’s harsh prediction that Amil will become nothing represents the beginning of a tension that builds until Papa faces losing Amil. At first, it seems Papa does not understand Amil because, on the surface, they are so different. Papa cares deeply for his family, and the many references to his strong work ethic indicate that he shows his love by providing for them. Papa knows the pressures of being the head of a household and, in a well-intentioned, albeit misguided, show of concern, Papa tries to shame Amil into being more serious.

“Nobody ever mentions the fact that you were Muslim, Mama. It’s like everyone forgot. But I don’t want to forget […] I guess we’re Hindu because Papa and Dadi are. But you’re still a part of me, Mama. Where does that part go?”

Nisha and her family are secular, cultural Hindus, taking part in Hindu ritual only on special occasions. Because Papa and Dadi are Hindu, and Mama, who was Muslim, is deceased, Hinduism is the religion/culture that their family practices. There is no dislike or negativity in their home toward Muslims, but Mama is not present to reinforce Muslim traditions. Nisha is curious about the part of her that is her Mama and associates it with being Muslim.