Our Dead Your Dead

Our dead your dead by Kamila Shamsi
Summary
"Our dead your dead" is a short story by Kamila Shamsie, set in an office in Karachi, Pakistan, during
the month of Ramzan. The story revolves around the employees of Street Smart magazine, who are
working late into the night to meet deadline. The power has gone out due to load shedding (planned
power outages to conserve energy), and the office is relying on a generator which is low on fuel.
The story begins with, the office peon, being called to bring fuel for generator. The editor of the
magazine, referred to as the General, is worried that if the generator runs out of fuel, they will lose
their work due to power cut. The employees are anxious because they are working during Ramzan,
and the power outages make their work difficult.
The story then shifts to a discussion about the cover of the magazine's upcoming issue, which is
about the ten-year anniversary of 9/11 attacks. The designer, Abrar, has created a mock-up of the
cover, which shows the Twin Towers with smoke rising from them. The clouds spelling out words like
"Guantanamo,"" Drone Attacks," " Waterboarding," and "Islamophobia," are meant to suggest the
aftermath of the attacks and the American response to them.
However, Iqbal Sahib, the marketing manager, objects to the cover. He argues that for a Pakistani
magazine to focus on the 9/11 attacks would be to buy into the American narrative of the attacks,
which he sees as simplistic and misleading. He suggests that the magazine should focus on how the
aftermath of the attacks has affected Pakistan.
The discussion about the cover becomes broader discussion about the relationship between America
and Pakistan. The characters' express frustration with American policies and the way that Pakistan is
often portrayed in American media. They also express frustration with their own government's
policies and the way that Pakistan is often caught in the middle of the conflict between America and
Taliban.
As the discussion continues, there is an explosion outside the office building. The characters are
shaken, and they wonder if it is related to the conflict in the region. Ayla, one of the characters, has
a personal connection to the 9/11 attacks. She had recently been offered a job at a company that
had offices in the World Trade Center, but she had not yet started work there. She had lost several
colleagues in the attacks and the memory of them is still fresh in her mind.
The story ends with characters continuing to work, despite the power outages and the explosion
outside. They are determined to meet the deadline and to tell their story, even if it is not the same
as American narrative of 9/11.
Characters:
Ayla: The main character in "our dead your dead," Ayla is a colleague of Hussain, Iqbal sahib and
Saba at a magazine in Karachi, Pakistan. She is a young, single woman who is trying to make career
for herself in the magazine industry.
Hussain: An editorial assistant at the magazine, Hussain is a young man who is ambitious and
determined to make a name for himself in the publishing world.
The General: The editor-in-chief of the magazine, the general is powerful and influential figure in the
Pakistani publishing industry.
Iqbal Sahib: The marketing man at the magazine, Iqbal Sahib is a charming and charismatic
individual who is well connected in Pakistani society.
Abrar: the designer at the magazine, Abrar is a creative and artistic soul who is responsible for the
visual layout of the magazine.
Saba: The arts editor at the magazine, Saba is a confident and assertive woman who is passionate
about the arts.
Themes:
Identity and belonging: The characters in "our dead your dead" come from different backgrounds
and have different identities, and they struggle to find their place in the world. For example,
Ayla is a young Pakistani woman trying to make a career for herself in male-dominated
industry.
Fear and uncertainty: The aftermath of September 11 attacks has created a climate of fear and
uncertainty and the characters are grappling with the consequences of these events. For
instance, the General is worried about the safety of his staff, while Ayla is concerned about
her job prospects.
Relationships and community: this story also explores the theme of relationships between the
characters and their sense of community. The magazine office serves as a microcosm of
society, and the characters interact with each other in a professional and personal capacity.
For example, Ayla has friendly relationship with Hussain, but she is also competitive with him
in the workplace.
Power and privilege: the excerpt touches on the issue of power and privilege, particularly in
Pakistani publishing industry. The General is a powerful and influential figure, and he hold a
lot of sway over the other characters. Iqbal Sahib, on the other hand, is well connected in
Pakistani society and uses his privilege to use his advantage.
Literary devices:
Imagery: The excerpt uses a vivid and descriptive language to create a sense of place and
atmosphere. For example, the office is described as having "cool marble floors" and "high
ceilings," that gives a sense of grandeur and sophistication.
Foreshadowing: The excerpt uses foreshadowing to hint at future events and create suspense. For
instance, the General's concern for the safety of his staff suggest that something dangerous
maybe on the horizon.
Symbolism: It uses symbolism to convey deeper meanings and ideas. For example, the magazine
office can be seen as a symbol of the larger society and the characters' interaction with each
other reflect the broader social dynamics.
Tone and mood: In this story, tone and mood are used to create a sense of emotion. The tone is
generally serious and contemplative, while the mood is somber reflective.
Situational irony: In this short story "our dead your dead" situational irony is present, which occurs
when the outcome of a situation is different from what was expected. One example of
situational irony is the fact that the aftermath of September 11 attacks, which is a global
event with far reaching consequences, has a direct impact on lives of the characters in the
magazine office. It shows how the global events can have a ripple effect, affecting the lives of
people in unexpected and unpredictable way. The situational irony also serves to remind the
reader of the interconnectedness of the world and the far reaching consequences of the
global events.

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Our dead your dead by Kamila Shamsi

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