Jul 29, 2006 12:56 PM
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His name was Manto - Saadat Hasan Manto, born 11th May 1912, Ludhiyana, as an unwelcome child of an unwanted mother. A thin lean boy, failed twice in matriculation, struggled with a ‘cheap-sex-writer’ tag through out his life, an alcoholic by core, who died at 43, the last wish being a couple of more pegs for ‘sukoon’ (relief)…
The book is a collection of short stories penned by him. Most of the stories he wrote were ahead of his times, and he often found himself framed for writing obscene stories. However after his death, now he has been recoginsied as one of the best Urdu writers ever. The book includes stories (oringinal names) 'Toba Take Singh', 'Thanda Gosht', Khol Do, 'Upar Neeche aur Darminyan', 'Kali Shalwar' and many others. I am quoting a synopies of cuple of stories as under :
· Thanda (Cold) Gosht (Meat) - During riots, a Goonda protagonist, finds a girl, in unconscious state and thinks of having nice time with her. He carries her all the way to safe place, only to realize that the girl had already died long ago, and that he was bearing ‘Thanda Gosht’. The mild feeling of bearing ‘thanda gosht’ all the way throughout, upsets the man so much that he becomes becomes impotent out of the shock…
· Khol Do - A women, a victim of riots, was discovered. She is in critical state. Doctor checks her pulse, mistakes her as dead and order the windows to be opened for clean ventilation. ‘Khirkiya KHOL DO’ ( Open the Windows)…. But may be all wasn’t over ; those familiar words ‘Khol Do’ were recognized by the girl , and her almost dead body shows sign of some life , as she slowly takes her hand towards the alwar, loosens it, and lowers it down…
'Toba Tak Singh' is about a sardar gone mad due to riots. He climbs a tree and refuses to
come down saying ' This tree belongs to neither India nor Pakistan, so I will live here.'
Most of his stories might look like any other cheap and provoking sex stories, but a rational analysis of his work will sure let all readers to have a second opinion about his writing.
The book is very much recommended.
