Beyond Beliefs: The Incredible True Story of a German Refugee, an Indian Migrant and the Families Left Behind by Sohail Husain (Book Review #1929)

Beyond Beliefs: The Incredible True Story of a German Refugee, an Indian Migrant and the Families Left Behind** by Sohail Husain is an epic memoir that weaves a rich tapestry of love, loss, and resilience against the backdrop of some of the 20th century’s most momentous events. The narrative primarily chronicles the lives of Sohail Husain’s parents and grandparents, whose stories intersect with World War I, the Great Depression, the Partition of India, and the Holocaust. Through evocative prose, Husain also recounts his own remarkable journey to uncover their histories.

The memoir begins with Husain’s maternal grandparents, German Jews who faced harrowing challenges during the rise of the Nazi regime. Friedrich, Husain’s grandfather, was a WWI veteran who, despite his patriotism, could not escape the brutal persecution of the Nazis. Imprisoned in Buchenwald and ultimately murdered in Auschwitz alongside his wife, their daughter Karola’s escape to England in 1939 was a narrow and heart-wrenching one.

Karola’s survival in England was marked by resilience and an unexpected romance. Working at a renowned London café, she met Afzal, Husain’s father, whose own life had been shaped by migration and loss. Afzal’s story is equally compelling: born to Indian Muslims in Punjab, he endured the mysterious disappearance of his father to Argentina and an unsuccessful attempt to reunite in South America. Afzal’s detour to London marked the beginning of a love story with Karola that defied the odds, spanning continents, cultures, and personal tragedies.

Their relationship was fraught with challenges. Living together in London’s street markets, Karola faced ostracism from the Jewish community and trauma from her past, while Afzal balanced his responsibilities to his first wife and daughter in India. The Partition of India added another layer of complexity, with Afzal briefly relocating to help his family in Pakistan. Despite these hardships, their love endured, and they married in Karachi, only to find life in post-Partition Pakistan even more daunting.

The couple’s return to London brought new challenges but also new hope. Their determination to provide a better life for their children, Sohail and Marium, drove them forward. A rare compensation from the German government for Karola’s suffering allowed them to secure a home and some financial stability.

Husain’s memoir is not just a testament to his parents’ and grandparents’ extraordinary resilience but also a poignant exploration of the human spirit’s capacity to overcome adversity. The love story of Karola and Afzal, though unconventional and complex, shines through as a beacon of hope and endurance.

**Beyond Beliefs** delivers a deeply personal and insightful look into a family’s journey across continents and cultures, exposing the horrific consequences of war and violent extremism and the ongoing struggles faced by immigrants and refugees. Husain’s narrative is, at times, distressing and frequently emotive, yet it is also filled with moments of humor and profound reflection. This powerful homage to his family’s legacy is thought-provoking and timely, revealing astonishing discoveries and the haunting echoes of history.

Written Jeyran Main

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