Dr. Gulnar Nadirova

Graduate student Anar Tanabayeva

Kazakh State University named after al -Farabi

Almaty, Kazakhstan

Two novels - two concepts of historical development

A long creative life of a well-known Moroccan writer Abd al Karim Ghallab, a living classic of Moroccan Arabic-language literature, allowed him to witness many historical events in his homeland. Moreover, active participation in these events, analysis and reinterpretation of the historical destiny of his people had made possible a creative and even ideological evolution of this representative of Maghreb intellectuals. Significantly, that Ghallab was not afraid to refuse publicly from some of his earlier views and beliefs, realizing perhaps that there are things far more important and relevant to society than his own ambitions and commitment to the infallibility of the literary patriarch.

The Maghreb had far greater proven wealth than the unknown rest of Africa and a location of strategic importance affecting the exit from the Mediterranean. For the first time, Morocco became a state of some interest in itself to the European powers.

France showed a strong interest in Morocco as early as 1830 [1]. Recognition by the United Kingdom in 1904 of France's sphere of influence in Morocco provoked a reaction from the German Empire; the crisis of June 1905 was resolved at the Algeciras Conference in Spain in 1906, which formalized France's "special position" and entrusted policing of Morocco jointly to France and Spain. The Agadir Crisis provoked by the Germans, increased tensions between European powers. The Treaty of Fez (signed on March 30, 1912) made Morocco a protectorate of France. By the same treaty, Spain assumed the role of protecting power over the northern and southern Saharan zones on November 27th that year [2].

Modern Moroccan border was formed during 1912-1956, when the French, Spanish and international administration have been controlled separate parts of the country. A large part of Morocco was under direct colonial rule of France.
In 1956 the protectorate was abolished and national independence and territorial integrity of Morocco were declared.
Nevertheless for forty four years, the overwhelming majority of the territory of Morocco was under French control. That is naturally reflected in the formation of the modern Moroccan literature.

In fact from ancient period location of Morocco at the crossroads of Africa, the Mediterranean, Christian and Muslim worlds led to the creation of this unique culture of the country. At this moment, literature becomes an ideological tool, plays an essential role in society and begins to acquire a national character. Moroccan literary tradition dates back to the initial period of Arabization of the country, the creation of cities and dissemination of the achievements of Islamic civilization. Probably the most famous first Moroccan author was Ibn Battuta. He was born in 1304 in Tangiers and spent his life wandering through many countries, from Mali to China and India. In 1356 Ibn Battuta completed work on the book of his travels. The spirit of knowledge of Maghreb and distant countries from the time of Ibn Battuta again reflected in the works of contemporary Maghreb writers.

Now the modern literature of Morocco reflects the major problems of XX century: the history of national liberation movement, the preservation of traditional cultures, the Islamic spiritual values. On the one hand, the Moroccan literary tradition is the part of Middle East and France literature, on the other – it’s quite unique and peculiar.

In the Soviet Oriental Studies the period of colonial rule was uniquely characterized as a period of "acculturation" factor, abolishing national culture and traditions to enforce their own education system, alien to the local population. Nowadays, many previous assessments are reviewed, in particular, the influence of French culture, language, education system in Maghreb countries, including the Arabic-language literature. We believe, on the one hand, they opened up to representatives of the local intelligentsia, access to many of the achievements of European civilization. On the other hand, they stimulated the development of local literature in the national language, "pulling" it in a short historical period to the level of French. The representatives of the colonized peoples should evaluate all the "pros and cons” of this historical stage after a long period of time. Perhaps their estimates at the present time will be different from those expressed "in hot pursuit." In any case, the rapid development of the genre of the novel in Moroccan literature is obviously connected with the influence of European genre system. Achievements of novel genre in different regions of the Arab world attract the focus of researchers in Arabic literature. The specific diversity, the ideological and artistic wealth of the Arab authors of novels justifies preferential interest of literary scholars and critics to this genre. This is facilitated by the very nature of the genre: its absence of strict aesthetic regulations, its unlimited possibilities to respond to urgent problems of social life, the image of human person as a hero of time, giving an estimate of the era of social reality and thereby comprehending its essence. The most important prerequisite for the birth of the genre of the novel in a particular country is becoming in its specific historical conditions, independently thinking person, not based in his assessment on the authority of tradition, common standards and etc. The formation of such a person as opposed to archaic norms of traditional society and colonial ideology, tends the Arab world in the twentieth century, where the process of formation and growth of national intelligence, receptive to progressive national ideas. At this stage of the national liberation struggle the novel genre of many Arab countries reflected the theme of resistance nourished individual colonial oppression, and at the stage of independent development the most important role is played by the hero who fights against social backwardness of the society.
In the literature an Arabic novel in which social and political problems of Moroccan society are reflected takes a prominent place. Among the authors who wrote in Arabic especially highlighted is modern author Abd al-Karim Ghallab. One of the interesting and original Abd al Karim’s works in which he described the history and tradition of his country is the novel "We buried the past”. The novel was awarded by the first degreed State Prize of Morocco in 1968 and received the enthusiastic approval of Arabic literary criticism.
The novel "We buried the past" is unique because it covered the thirty years of struggle for the liberation of Morocco from French protectorate since the late-20s until 1956. Naturally, Ghallab’s political views during this period, as the majority of his countrymen, can be briefly expressed as follows. Also he was one of the main and active members of the Istiqlal Party. Under the French protectorate, Moroccan natives were denied their basic human rights such as freedom of speech, the right of gathering and travel in their own country. French settlers built for themselves modern European-like cities called "villages" or "villes" next to poor old Arab cities called "Medinas". The French education system taught a minority of noble native Moroccan families about French history, art and culture, while disregarding their native language and culture. Colonial authorities exerted tighter control on religious schools and universities, namely "madrassas" and Quaraouaine university. The rise of a young Moroccan intellectual class gave birth to nationalist movements whose main goals were to restore the governance of the country to its own people. [3].Nationalist political parties, which subsequently arose under the French protectorate, based their arguments for Moroccan independence on such World War II declarations as the Atlantic Charter (a joint U.S.-British statement that set forth, among other things, the right of all people to choose the form of government under which they live). A manifesto of the Istiqlal Party (Independence party in English) in 1944 was one of the earliest public demands for independence. That party subsequently provided most of the leadership for the nationalist movement. The author referring to the events of those days, in the preface to the novel said: "It was time that my people have lived, driven by a conscious desire for a new world. But as with other periods of turmoil, it was time of psychological, intellectual, social conflicts during which two generations brutally confronted. From these conflicts and struggle … was born a new spirit, to which now Morocco indebted to all its advantages and disadvantages "[4, p.5].

The novel is set in Fez, in the center of traditional education and the origin of Moroccan nationalism movement. Its heroes are two generations of al-Haj Muhammad at-Tihami’s family. Abdelmajid Benjelloun in an article devoted to the novel wrote: "Each character of the novel represents one side of Moroccan society, if it’s possible to imagine such a collection of human types in the same family, in fact, we should look for them in whole society. Thus, the novel is presented as a portrait of society and the family at the same time "[5, p.14].

The head of the family is al-Haj Muhammad at-Tihami and his wife Khadija. They have three sons-Abdelghani, Abderrahman and Abdellatyf and a daughter Aisha. The house is also home to several slave-servants ( the main among them is Yasmina, Haj Muhammad’s mistress and her son Mahmud). About one-third of the novel is a description of the monotonous routine of family life and Mahfiya district, which serves as an introduction to the story of the tumultuous events that followed. Other topics that are disclosed in the novel in critical terms, are the absolute power of household, complex relationships of landowners and the fellahs, the marriage according to Shariat (which implicitly accepts Abdelghani, eldest son of al-Haj, all aspiring to be like his father), the traditional education and education (Abderrahman, the middle son of al-Haj, decides to leave the Koranic school-Kuttab and goes to high school, which is markedly exacerbates the conflict between old and new generations of at-Tihami family).
The novel showed a slow but steady growth of national consciousness, while opposing the colonial archaism of the past and the present reality. This is the main theme of the novel, which is revealed in the characters and actions of heroes, description of family life and society during the Franco-Moroccan conflict. If al-Hajj, for example, operates in the novel as a symbol of the older generation that is in the beginning of the book dominated and lost his position at the end, his middle son, Abderrahman, embodies the features of the younger generation, steadily striving for independence and pushing for it. On the one hand, Abderrahman can not admire the knowledge and erudition of his French teacher in high school, but on the other hand, he holds a strong irreconcilable position in relation to the French political supremacy in Morocco. Among other "contrasting" characters in the novel stand out Abdelaziz: faithful to his revolutionary ideals, he is ready to go on suffering and pain - and Mahmud, for whom his personal interests stand above all else.

However, the situation in Arab society gradually began to change and acquire other features. More extended access to education has caused great social mobility and simultaneously created a threat to the former stability. This gave rise to the realization that each class, social or political group have their own identity and are distinguished from the others. The open area was replaced by a closed urban space, which is characteristic of overcrowded Arab cities, creating a sense of alienation and conflicts. In some parts of the Arab world, especially in older centers, it is accompanied by a weakening or complete disappearance of patriarchal authority over society.

“We have buried the past” is a historical novel, telling about a certain historical period, the events in it are developed sequentially, individual events are described in parallel, and there is also the author of lyrical digressions, especially in the narration of personal experiences of the protagonist of the novel, Abderrahman. From the beginning, the middle son of al-Haj appears as an unordinary person, especially when he openly expresses his attitude to the religious school, with its conservative methods of training and strict discipline. Hearing of the lyceum, Abderrahman decides to go there. At the end he succeeds, even though his father was at first opposed to it, and even subjected him to the faqih’s physical punishment in the Kuttab. Once in the new school, he discovers a new world and a radical difference between their own culture and Western one.
In the novel detailed shown the stages of becoming a revolutionary, rejecting those features of the “old” world, as fatalism, resignation, which are harmful to the country in the face of colonialism, prejudice to the rights of women, racial and social discrimination, reluctance to abandon superstition and magical rituals.
Abderrahman is an attractive image and also the fact that he is looking to break the deadlock, and finds it in an active creative position.

In search of resolving the contradictions embodied the basic idea of the novel, the rejection from the outdated traditional values, a willingness to share new, progressive views do not require destruction of the foundations of "cultural heritage". In the face of this threat, Abderrahman sees salvation in Islam and Arabic nationalism: "The value of a nation is its unity. We, the Moroccan nation, can not be a nation if the French will divide us on the Arabs and Berbers ... Discrimination based on religious and linguistic lines ... to crush the resistance of the nation"[6, p.146].
In a fit of patriotic impulse Abderrahman goes on steadily the political struggle, although sometimes failure leads to despair and then he asked himself, if he should not give up on his dreams because the fate more than once brought him in prison, and some of his comrades - to death, and yet he does not retreat.

Abd al-Karim Ghallab ends his novel with two symbolic events: the funeral of al-Haj, the father of the protagonist, and the proclamation of the independence of Morocco. We have buried the past said Abderrahman himself, but then he heard the voice of his close friend Abdelaziz, who was executed by the colonialists :"No, we did not bury the past" [7, p.408]. Then completed only one phase of the national struggle.

Conflict in the process of cultural interaction is particularly acute in the intellectual environment. How to save in the universalization of the planetary material and cultural values of national identity?
Due to the strong pressure from Euro-American culture the thinking core of the intelligentsia comes to realize their intermediate between "foreign", western, and "their own" traditional cultures provisions as well as inability to accept completely one or the other.
Abderrahman is not similar to those heroes of literary works of Arab authors who are burdened irreconcilable, from their point of view, the contradictions between the old, traditional and new that came from the West. He maintains composure and exhibits self-control, resisting and narrow nationalism, and the temptations of "westernization." Thus the author introduced in modern Arabic literature a special way-man, objectively assessing the role of modernity, national and general Islamic heritage in the fate of their country.
The novel also considers the problem of misunderstanding between "old" and "new" generations.
Feature of the main character is that Abd al- Karim Ghallab described himself in his main hero Abderrahman. He also graduated from Al-Qarauyin, struggled for independence, was in custody.

Further to above mentioned Ghallab stated: “We buried the past” is a responsible novel which described its heroes and their actions not from far away for the aim of oratorio or as description of events on the photos of a traveler who devoted it to his travelling memory without his deep feelings from heart. Some writers describe only face expression of the past society but the mean of folklore and writer’s role in it is to use it for the revolution. That’s why it is a revolutionary novel with its heroes- revolutionaries. I was in the center of this struggle and in it took part the new generation and this is the writer’s duty with society and nation” [8, p. 6].

According to the criticism of al-Mas'ari it is due to the fact that "the author wished to designate brighter the conflict between tradition and modernity in the soul of the hero" [9, p.96].
It’s important to note that the author has continued his work on the novel and one of his latest works was the next novel, entitled " We didn’t bury the past," which in the opinion of the author "is the culmination of the previous immortal novel "We buried the past " [10, p.1].

“We didn’t bury the past” is Ghallab’s last novel. In this novel he analyzed historical and social issues and made a new review to them and after that he concluded that culture and traditions of Morocco had been kept. He pointed out that they were very important and unique to the country. “We didn’t bury the past” was written by the author in 2006.

He describes Moroccan society from another view; his main hero’s name is Abderrakhman too. He is a young man who lives in the city. His character is really different but he is also very curious and ambitious person who would like to find out more about social life of simple people. He works in social organization and to see the true real life he went to fellahs’ village where he met a new person Abd al-Ghani. During their conversations Abderrahman finds out many interesting things on modern life of simple people who live far from the cities. He wonders that all main traditions are still kept by simple people and they live in that traditional way in this modern society. In the new novel Ghallab’s political and social interests are not declared. The hero who tried hard to change the world, now found himself in his own critical vision, he tries to understand the external reality. The structure of the intrigue and action changed the structure of the inner psyche sounding character. The psychological and symbolic embodiments are more common.

Abd al-Ghani told Abderrahman that he had several wives and he even didn’t know how many children exactly he had and what their names were. All wives and children live together and they’re very friendly to each other. He also tells about other interesting and true details of their life. Then Abderrahman meets other people and changes his mind after communication with them. The first novel gave a cross-section of life and represented a variety group of characters. Interest in social and political issues requires analysis of the entire system of relationships between the characters that made the story rich and varied. Generally the social and political activities of the characters were considered, and the psychological aspects almost weren’t studied.
The new novel tends to focus on one character to show not events but their impacts on the character and his relationship with the cultural and political environment and prevailing social values that affect to his psychological development.

The feature of this novel is opposite to his first novel “We buried the past”. New hero Abderrakhman is modern and he becomes the supporter of his national culture and traditions. He knows it exactly. At the end of the novel he meets a girl from the village and decides to get married with her. His parents are against this marriage but Abderrakhman understands that it is his choice and he is really happy.

The main idea is that he is proud of his traditions and culture.

As it was mentioned by Professor Abd al- Ali bu Taiib: “The theme of Ghallab’s novel is new. It’s about the problem of continued past values in the present with all positives and negatives collected in one… ”[11, p.96].

On the 18^th November 2006 Morocco celebrated the 50th anniversary of its independence. Political reforms in the 1990s resulted in the establishment of a bicameral legislature in 1997. Morocco was granted Major non-NATO ally status by the United States in June 2004 and has signed free trade agreements with the United States and the European Union.

Morocco has always been known for its Islamic liberalism. King Mohammed VI of Morocco with his ruling elite are democratically minded, showing tolerance within the limits of territorial integrity and traditional laws and customs.

Changes in political and social life of the writer were forced to think him about the fate of national culture and heritage. The active involvement of countries in the world community with its globalizing tendencies manifested clearly a threat to national identity and the identity of the people of the so-called "developing countries". What they could face to this rapid process erases all distinctions, leveling the original features of specific ethnic groups? Many intellectuals have searched for the answer to this question. Abd al-Karim Gallab offers its own answer. Traditions and culture have become for him the support that needed in the life of every person not to be lost in this world, to justify his existence and open the way for the future.

Bibliography:

1. Pennell, C. R. (2000). Morocco since 1830: A History. New York: New York University Press. p. 40.

2. Furlong, Charles Wellington (1911). "The French Conquest of Morocco: The Real Meaning of the International Trouble". The World's Work: A History of Our Time XXII: 14988–14999. Retrieved 2009-07-10.

3."The Prince and I" Marvine Howe. 1955

4. Ghallab Abd al- Karim. We buried the past. Rabat, 1966.

5. Analysis of the novel “We buried the past”. Rаbаt, 1980.

6. Ghallab Abd al- Karim. We buried the past. Rabat, 1966.

7. Ghallab Abd al- Karim. We buried the past. Rabat, 1966.

8. Ghallab Abd al- Karim. We buried the past. Rabat, 1966.

9. Analysis of the novel “We buried the past”. Rаbаt, 1980.

10. Ghallab Abd al- Karim. We didn’t bury the past. Rabat, 2006.

11. Abd al- Ali bu Taiib. Writing and awarness. Studying Ghallab’s works.Rabat, 2001

12. О.А.Vlasova, A.B. Derbisaliev, C.V.Prozhogina Moroccan literature..М. 1993.

13. G. Nadirova. Formation and evolution of Tunisian Arabic novel. (ХХ century). Published in Kazakh University.Almaty, 2005. p.277

14. Prospects. Maroccan magazine.Rabat, 1991/2.