March On Hollow Land (Novel)
March on Hollow Land (original Persian title رژه بر خاک پوک) is a fictional, allegorical novel, first published in 1991. It portrays a primitive, backward society immersed in superstition and ignorance, ruled by a small number of elites while most of the inhabitants live in suffering and illusion.
The narrative unfolds in a mythical land where traditional belief systems and entrenched customs dominate everyday life, creating deep contradictions and social unrest that eventually threaten to unravel the community’s cohesion. As modern ideas begin to penetrate this society, the story explores the clash between tradition and modernity through symbolic characters and events.
A key plot-line involves the arrival of Chista, a figure representing modernism, who enters the village of Pal and starts a school, introducing new knowledge, sciences, and tools. Through the influence and interactions between Chista and others like Maniak and Zharf, the people start moving away from superstition toward a new social awareness. This shift brings both hope and tension, sparking conflicts between those who cling to old beliefs (symbolized by characters such as Korou and the sons of Zar) and those open to change.
Langeroodi uses surreal imagery and metaphor throughout the book to illustrate the turmoil of transformation, emphasizing how deeply ingrained ignorance and fear can disrupt a community’s progress and identity