In Pursuit of Begumpura: Anti-Caste Imaginings of Utopia

When Blaft Publications announced that they were in the process of putting together an anthology of anti-caste science fiction, we knew that we wanted to feature it. Perhaps a collection of anti-caste stories doesn’t sound seismic to casual readers of SF. After all, it’s a space that should be, by the very nature of it, anti-caste. Writers of science fiction have, over the decades, explored and decimated the boundaries of the social, political, and geographical. They have built new worlds, toppled regimes, and sailed beyond known horizons. But the reality of the situation is that they often fail to successfully address or depict something that stubbornly remains woven into the fabric of south Asian society: caste.

And as R.T. Samuel, the editor of The Blaft Book of Anti-Caste SF (2024) says in the book’s introduction, “Caste—the millennia-old system of social stratification—isn’t just a relic of the past: it’s alive and kicking, influencing everything from politics to personal relationships in India today. It is an insidious structure that governs most aspects of people’s lives and relationships. It is perpetuated by a relentless karmic metaphysics and a binary of purity and pollution, all steeped in centuries of tradition.”

Featuring authors from all across the country, writing in a variety of languages, playing with form, themes, format and more, the anthology is a collection of some of India’s most diverse and interesting literary works. Don’t miss this excerpt from the book, a passage from Hameedha Khan’s short story File no.786 [The Night Journey].

File no.786 [The Night Journey] 

By Hameedha Khan

SouthernBio Report—File No. 786

Survey Assignment: “Bovid X”

To Be Conducted by: Apprentice Maria Samson Nafis Rahim

 

Recent AutoTrack analysis in Zone H of the Western Ghats Ecological Reserve has detected evidence of an unidentified member of the Bovidae family. The data suggests that this species is likely nocturnal, but there have been no confirmed sightings or images to date. Due to its elusive nature, it is unclear whether it is a solitary individual or part of a larger population. Zone H is classified as a low-risk area, with no resident population of armored boars or other potentially aggressive wildlife. Consequently, this Survey is classified as a Level 1 assignment and deemed suitable for an apprentice researcher by the SouthernBio Senior Research Team.

 

“What will you do in the case of a geolocator malfunction?” Mr. Magizhan asked, watching expectantly across the table. The SouthernBio office room was muggy with the approaching monsoon, and two untouched glasses of nannari sarbath collected condensation between them.

 

To Nafis’s chagrin, she was still recalibrating during the assessment. The sickle-shaped magnetoreceptors in her temples were hot from post-procedure dizziness, and she regretted waiting until the day of her Survey to get the routine neural bioenhancement updates.

 

“I would…” Nafis stalled and avoided eye contact while she loaded the geolocator user manual with her EyeLens. “I would…”

 

Mr. Magizhan removed his cap and sighed. “Nafis, please try not to use Link while answering these questions.”

 

“Sorry, sir.” she said quietly, glancing left to close out the Link tab, embarrassed that her mentor had noticed.

 

“We wouldn’t have approved you for the Survey assignment if we didn’t believe you were capable,” Mr. Magizhan said. “You’ve demonstrated that in the past year. But if you find yourself in a serious situation, you may not have time to use Link. Understand?”

 

“I understand, sir.”

 

“Just remember the safety protocols.” Mr. Magizhan finally took a sip of the sarbath, his round face crinkling in delight from his favorite summer drink. “What are you waiting for? Enjoy the day!”

 

Nafis saw her way out, the automated bamboo door sliding shut behind her.

 

*

 

Nafis knew she’d find Maria in the reading lounge. Sunlight flooded the newly renovated room from the glass window facing the rainforest, and solar-powered fans kept the area at a pleasant temperature. Holophotos of SouthernBio research teams idly moved across the wall.

 

The downtime was a treat after a hectic few months at SouthernBio. For the past decade, new species had been emerging rapidly throughout the Western Ghats Protected Reserve, in what had come to be known as the Deccan Bloom. Summer after summer, SouthernBio researchers had their hands full documenting new species and the evolving ecosystem. Now, after an intense season of data processing, there was finally time to focus on independent projects again.

 

Maria was sitting on the jute sofa, absorbed in study. In their lap was the book On Widespread Cybernetic Enhancements to Adapt to a Heating World by the legendary Professor Samson. “What are you listening to?” Nafis asked.

 

“Oh hi!” Maria said, closing out a hologram. Their EyeLens refocused to look at Nafis.

 

“Some historical archive media from the Heating era—I was trying to see if there was anything similar to the Cyanofication during that time, but I got sidetracked.”

 

“Did you find anything interesting?”

 

Maria twirled a plait between their tattooed fingers. “Yes, but we can talk about it later—don’t you leave for the Survey soon?”

 

“Later tonight, if all goes as planned,” Nafis replied. Everything was packed and ready: DNA vitascanner, vials, clothes for three days, nutrition packs, first-aid, a lighter, a machete for clearing brush, and a tranquilizer gun just in case. These days, fieldwork surveys in the Western Ghats Ecological Reserve were rare opportunities, often limited to experienced researchers due to the rising risks: armored boar attacks and new varieties of fast-growing carnivorous vines had made the terrain increasingly hazardous.

 

Maria mused. “We’ve been waiting for this moment for over a year now? It’s really happening.”

 

“Remember how we would beg the senior researchers to let us go on a Survey?”

 

“You were the one doing all the begging! Serves you right though, they could hardly trust you after you locked yourself in the leopard enclosure.”

 

“It was an honest mistake!” Nafis protested.

 

“Three times, Nafis! No matter, you’ll graduate from the apprenticeship before me,” Maria said teasingly.

 

Nafis felt a pang of melancholy—she and Maria were supposed to graduate together. They had eagerly anticipated this opportunity for months. But when her friend’s father’s condition suddenly worsened a few weeks ago, Maria deferred the opportunity to spend time with him.

 

Unlike other ailments easily managed by advancements in medical technology, the Cyanofication was resistant to all treatments, and most patients succumbed within a year. Nafis’s parents had been among the first victims of Cyanofication when the Deccan Bloom first introduced a host of new microorganisms and vectors of disease. Now, with Maria’s father sick, Nafis felt a heavy foreboding, bracing herself for the inevitability to come.

 

“Anyway, since I won’t see you all weekend, how about we get dinner together?” Nafis said, keeping her tone upbeat.

 

Maria nodded enthusiastically in agreement.