Review: 'A Case of Exploding Mangoes' by Mohammed Hanif

Summary
On 17 August, 1988, a plane carrying Zia-Ul-Haq, the military ruler and eventually the President of Pakistan from 1977, several important army generals and the U.S. ambassador to Pakistan, exploded soon after take off. There were many conspiracy theories but like most assassinations, no culprit was identified. In this book, Mohammed Hanif explores who could have assassinated the President and why? Is it a general waiting for a promotion, Junior officer Ali Shigri with his own private vendetta, or someone else?

Review
The novel is irreverent and darkly humorous exposing the corruption as well as the stupidity and hypocrisy of the people in power. It is a political thriller, though the tension builds up only in the last few chapters. There are times when the book tends to get a bit tedious, but not to the extent where one would lose interest. It is a scathing portrayal of the paranoia of the President, his toadying officers, the ruthlessness of people in power and the helplessness of those without it.

In terms of characters, I enjoyed the portrayal of Obaid or Baby O, Ali Shigri's roommate, who disappears at the beginning of the book, while Ali Shigri is detained in the questioning for his whereabouts. Baby O is seen reading books and poetry, splashing eu de cologne rather generously, and is somewhat of a misfit in the army. He provokes empathy more than any other character in the novel, including Ali Shigri himself. Another memorable character is the nameless Secretary General of the Sweepers Union, who further exposes the farcical government systems, who is Ali Shigri's neighbor in prison.

Superstition becomes a recurring theme in the novel as General Zia-Ul-Haq, uses the Quran almost like a horoscope. It becomes the basis for some of his most important decisions including the execution of the former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, whom he overthrows; and for declaring Code Red. There is also a suggestion that his death is caused by the curse of Zainab, a blind woman, sentenced to death because she cannot identify her rapists, due to her blindness, and thus can't prove that it was a rape. Zainab's situation showed the idiocy of the system. The only other woman with a voice is the First Lady, who promptly declares she is a widow, when she sees a picture of her husband staring at an American reporter's cleavage. Unsurprisingly,  she is the one who sees the ridiculousness of the Zainab verdict.

What is interesting about the book is that various motives for the assassination of the President collide in the end. In some ways, all the various attempts work (I can't say too much without giving it away!) The political satire dominates the novel, and other aspects of life form the backdrop on which the political games are played.  Definitely a worthwhile read, especially for those intrigued by the machinations of government politics.