Mushtaq Soofi 

‘Raj Kahani’ is a book of tales published by Sanjh Publications, Lahore, dealing with historical or semi-historical characters of the sub-continent. The tales told by folk-story tellers have a magical touch about them. Professor Saeed Bhutta, a known scholar who painstakingly collected the stories, has a visceral feel for the Punjab’s folklore which gives us people’s view of history ignored by chroniclers and court historians. We come across characters with Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim origins displaying a stunning diversity which has been a hallmark of our culture. The story tellers rising above the local or parochial vision give universal dimension to what they have to tell. And what they tell is nothing less than a delicately constructed artistic narrative describing the complex interplay of social and cultural forces shaping the sub continental society. The way Mian Kamal Din builds his stories is simply breath taking. He with his unparalleled mastery over the language and history creates such a dramatic ambiance that when he speaks, the noisy birds fall silent. Six stories Ram Chandar, Raja Karnal, Raja Birball, Mullah dopiaza, Sa’adullah Khan Chinoti and Bhor Sultan are by Mian Kamak Din. Taan Sen and Radha Bhattiani are by Nazar Mirasi and Ghulan Rasool Mirasi respectively. The book is a source of joy and pride for anybody interested in our culture and history. The carefully prepared glossary can help understand the nuances of the language. Saeed Bhutta deserves to be lauded for documenting a hitherto ignored chunk of our social and cultural history.

‘Tand Tand trakkla’ is Dr. Azam Samor’s first collection of poems brought out by Purab Academy, Islamabad. Poetry for Punjabis is everyday visitation. Anything and everything can become stuff of poetry. The so-called distinction between ‘poetic’ and ‘non-poetic’ has always been rejected by Punjabi poets. Being an emotionally sensitive and socially conscious artist Azam is no exception. While being a part of the tradition Azam stands out as a poet who has his own vision informed by critical aesthetic consciousness. Sublime and mundane expressed in an evocative diction gives his verses spontaneity that we find increasingly missing in our modern poetry. Maturity of reflection and a sense of vigour created through the rhythmic resonance run through most of his poems which is a no mean artistic achievement from someone who makes his debut on our literary landscape. His simplicity like that of his great distant predecessor Pilu of Dhanni (both belong to the area of Dhann) is as much charming as deceptive. “At the entrance gate of the city an image of guillotine has been sketched with charcoal / let us pray it is a child’s prank!”

“Kabutar, Banere te galian” is Zubair Ahmad’s second book of short stories published by Sanjh Publications, Lahore. Art of storytelling/writing is as old as human race. Whatever happens or may happen can inspire stories. Happenings tangible and intangible constantly provide the material that can become stuff of artistic narrative. Even non-happenings like dreams are nothing less than fragments of untold and untellable stories in need of narration and description. An important theme of Zubair’s stories is time; how it changes or transforms things making the alive dead and the dead alive. But being a fiction writer he does not conceive of time in abstraction. Rather we see time in terms of its effect that leaves its pervasive marks on all aspects of life, individual and collective. Somewhere in his stories the forgotten past appears a familiar territory and the unforgettable present a path leading to deviously uncertain and uncertainly devious nowhere. Nostalgia evokes dreams and dreams nostalgia. Sensitively constructed stories with artistic care show us what we live with at conscious and sub-conscious level. The book makes a delightful read.

Mian Mohammad’s ‘Saiful Maluk’ is one of the most loved books of classical poetry. Its latest version prepared by Chaudhry Ismail Chichi has been published by Rafiud Din Research Centre Government College Mirpur, Azad Kashmir. Mian Mohammad finished composing this non-indigenous but fascinating legend full of adventures in 1863 as the internal evidence tells us. Mian Sahib being aware of new printing technology came to Lahore which was the hub of publishing in Punjab. He, according to his own statement, stayed for three months in Lahore with the express purpose of getting his book published under his own supervision. He himself did the proof-reading. But unfortunately neither his original manuscript nor the copy of the first edition is available. The book became hugely popular resulting in many different editions hitting the stalls. And this paved the way for heaps of interpolation. Mr.Chaudhry has done a commendable job by pointing out the inconsistencies in different editions and preparing much improved version for the aficionados of Saiful Maluk’s adventures. — soofi01@hotmail.com