Manto - Selected stories translated by Aatish Taseer

"Manto - Selected stories" translated by Aatish Taseer. This book is published by Random house India in 2012 and has 200 pages. This is a collection of ten short stories.

Manto was born in Punjab, made his career in Bombay as script writer, is considered best short story writer of Indian subcontinent, was controversial and was tried for obscenity. He moved to Lahore after partition, a decision which he later regretted. Translator Aatish Taseer is son of Indian journalist Tavleen Singh and Pakistani politician Salman Taseer.

In 'Ten Rupees' Sarita, a 15 year old care free girl is sent for prostitution by her mother. She spends a day with three Hyderabad youth in Bombay. What happens?
'Blouse' is story of Momin, a servant on the edge of puberty, and the unknown strange feelings generated within him when he sees his young mistress sew and try on a new blouse.
'Khol do' is the story of Sirajuddin who's young and beautiful daughter was left behind in Amritsar during partition and found.
'Khaled Miyan' is the story of Mumtaz, a doting father of Khaled, who is afraid that Khaled will die before turning one. He is paranoid. Will Khaled Miyan die?
'My name is Radha' is the story of Neelam, an actress, who is infatuated with the handsome and well behaved hero.
'Ram Khilavan' is the Dhobi of Manto and indebted to his wife for saving his life. During partition riots, drunk Ram Khilavan attacks Manto. What will happen next?
'Licence' is the story of Nesti, beautiful wife of a coachman who dies shortly after marriage. Nesti decides to drive the coach herself. Can she?
In 'The mice of Shah Daulah' Salima gives up her first born to Shah Daulah for blessing her with children but can never forget her first born. By luck she meets him. What next?
In 'For freedom' Gulam Ali and Nigar are active in independence struggle and enamoured. Babaji (A character based on Gandhiji) announced their marriage and has very high expectations from them. Can they live up to it?
'Smell' is story of Ranjit who had bedded many girls. He can not forget a working class girl and her earthly smell even after marriage.

Of these stories I liked 'Khol Do' and 'License' the most. These stories awaken a feeling in the reader that makes him think of the stories long after.

Three of the stories have author as a character and are narrated in first person. Seven stories have implied, overt or covert sex or sexuality in them. Such stories made Manto controversial more than 60-70 years ago. All the stories are pre independence stories but the period is only a few years before independence.

All the stories have the smell of earth. They are precise and to the point. Manto unhesitatingly puts his point across without floral wordings or delving too much in the background information. Thus all the stories are really short. Sometimes there is a sudden end to the stories that is less comprehensible.

Credit should also go to Aatish Tasir, the translator, for bringing these Urdu stories to the non-Urdu readers.

Good book. Read it to get introduced to Manto.

The Ekkos Clan by Sudipto Das.

"The Ekkos Clan" a debut novel by Sudipto Das.

Story starts in Senpara, a village now in Bangladesh, before partition. How a family is devastated by the inhuman atrocities during partition and how a mother, Kubha, makes ultimate sacrifice to save 2 of her 4 children. This account is riveting.

Then there is a time leap to present time. Protagonist is grand son of Kubha. Kubha's family had migrated from Hindu kush region to Senpara long time ago. Kubha tells stories to her children that have been passed to her orally through generations. The same stories are passed on to the present generation.

There is a deep meaning in these stories. What is it? Are the stories very similar to Rig Ved? What does it mean? Someone is trying to kill Kubha's family and decendants. Why? Who is murdering? Is there a bigger conspiracy? What has Russia or a young and beautiful linguist of Pakistani origin to do with it? Who are Kalash people in Pakistan?

Scientific name of horse is Equus caballus.
It is said that before the arrival of Aryans (some say they never arrived, they were always here), India did not know the animal called horse. Hence the title of the book.

Sudipto has done a decent job in narration. The expectations and excitement is set high in the first few chapters during partition, but author could not maintain the same tempo in the rest of the book. Story gets boring at times. Sometimes  characters find very old information very easily which is far from reality. Although the seed of this book is brilliant the execution could have been better.

Chetan Bhagat has started trend of IITans writing books and Sudipto had continued the tradition. We can expect more from his next book.

An OK book. Read if you have time and patience or for a change.