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Manto has written the brutal reality in a simple way, yet it will leave a chill down your spine.
This story is a product of the darkest time of modern Indian History, the Partition of India. It was a time of strife, terrible violence, and immense bloodshed. It was like the country was being ripped apart, limb by limb. People lost their peace, their minds, and their lives, thus paying the ultimate price.
Saadat Hassan Manto was more than half-a-century before my time and I would probably never have heard of him, had it not been for a movie coming out this yea
Literal Translation: "Cold Flesh"This story is a product of the darkest time of modern Indian History, the Partition of India. It was a time of strife, terrible violence, and immense bloodshed. It was like the country was being ripped apart, limb by limb. People lost their peace, their minds, and their lives, thus paying the ultimate price.
Saadat Hassan Manto was more than half-a-century before my time and I would probably never have heard of him, had it not been for a movie coming out this year that is based on his life. I am so glad this movie has been made; otherwise, I would have missed out on the works of an absolutely incredible writer.
This story was originally written in Urdu and I usually pick up the original prose of a translated work if it's in a language I can comprehend. Unfortunately, I understand Urdu but am unable to read it. I tried to look for an audiobook but couldn't find one. Instead, I found both English and Hindi translations. Ultimately, even though my Hindi reading skills aren't as good, I picked the Hindi one. Hindi and Urdu are 'sister languages' so hopefully I didn't lose out on much of the story. It was a struggle and took me quite a while, but it was more than worth it.
Manto starts painting a picture of home life, an intimate landscape, partners in bed, deep in conversation. He doesn't shy away from going into vivid descriptions to flesh out the characters and their thoughts. Manto actually faced trial for obscenity because of this book, though he was ultimately not convicted. In fact, he faced six trials over the course of his short career because at the time, writing about intimacy or violence was not common, especially in the Indo-Pak society.
What started as an intimate event, suddenly took a turn, when the woman, Kulwant Kaur, accuses her lover, Ishar Singh, of sleeping with another woman. What this conversation then progresses to, can only be described as shocking and terribly brutal. The fact that this was written during one of the most turbulent times of Indian history and that it dealt with such a taboo topic and ultimately saw the light of day, is nothing short of incredible. It is difficult to write about the story without spoiling it, so I must leave it at that.
The fact that Manto could write about something so real and deeply scarring, in such a simple way, with no extra fluff, adds credibility to him as a writer par excellence. His repertoire consists of other short stories, almost all equally shocking and painful, ending in a twist that would leave the reader breathless. He passed away long before his time, leaving quite a void in the world of Asian Literature, but with whatever little legacy he has left and by holding a mirror to society in his works, he has definitely made the world a better place.
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Behind veils of sophistication, hides an animal deep within you. Who better than Manto to paint the grey minds of human beings? The intensity of Lust, jealousy, desires are hard to capture for any normal writer but Manto dips his fingers right into the core of such feelings and smears the colors right onto our faces.
We would be foolish to think that
Behind veils of sophistication, hides an animal deep within you. Who better than Manto to paint the grey minds of human beings? The intensity of Lust, jealousy, desires are hard to capture for any normal writer but Manto dips his fingers right into the core of such feelings and smears the colors right onto our faces.
We would be foolish to think that people exist in black and white and that rioters only don ugly capes of savagery. We believe that their hearts are made only of stone. Their hearts are most definitely solid, but like Manto has shown in his story, the hearts are as solid as ice. Beyond a point, fear grips them and they too, melt.
Note : Read this as part of a flash readathon by BB book-club on Manto's 104th birth anniversary.
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About half way through I continued reading with my hand over my mouth, aghast, cringing over the possibilities of every next word. What vile creatures humans can be! But I felt a disconnect with the English translation and instead read it in Urdu. I think this was perhaps the first book I've read in Urdu and whilst some words I didn't fully grasp, the words were definitely more profound in it's original language. The sentiments, the expressions were more n I started off by reading it in English.
About half way through I continued reading with my hand over my mouth, aghast, cringing over the possibilities of every next word. What vile creatures humans can be! But I felt a disconnect with the English translation and instead read it in Urdu. I think this was perhaps the first book I've read in Urdu and whilst some words I didn't fully grasp, the words were definitely more profound in it's original language. The sentiments, the expressions were more natural, more easily flowing.
Hats off to Manto! For tackling such a taboo topic in his time with such simplicity and authenticity! ...more
I read an English translation of Thanda Gosht and I'm sure it lost some of the poetry and lyricism of the original text. With that said, the snapshot reveals many layers that make you thin
Manto was brilliant in writing short, brutal and honest stories. He wrote exactly what he had heard, seen and lived through and he was very brave to write such revealing tales. He wanted to tell people exactly what had happened and of course people didn't want to read it. The truth can be so ugly and horrific.I read an English translation of Thanda Gosht and I'm sure it lost some of the poetry and lyricism of the original text. With that said, the snapshot reveals many layers that make you think about the story long after you have finished it.
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Manto used the realistic expectations in his writing (Thanda Ghost), which is true depiction of the society. As far as concern with the reputation of writer, which has been extremely exaggerated in negative sense, I don't know the real reason behind this propaganda might be it was personal or political one.
Manto used the realistic expectations in his writing (Thanda Ghost), which is true depiction of the society. ...more
a very tragic short story
P.s. I recommend radio mirchi series- ek purani kahani, there are beautiful narrations of Manto's stories. There are only a few authors who can write such stories and not make it vulgar.
P.s. I recommend radio mirchi series- ek purani kahani, there are beautiful narrations of Manto's stories. ...more
You read the story thinking, it's probably just a jealous spouse and not expect for the tale to take a turn that is a persisten
I read the hindi translation and this is the first work by Manto that I have read. I was put in awe by the beauty of how tactfully and responsibly he has dealt with the description of a woman's body. Some words that have been translated in Hindi may come off as crass, but that's the result of getting lost in translation and yet he conjures up an undeniably true imagery.You read the story thinking, it's probably just a jealous spouse and not expect for the tale to take a turn that is a persistent problem (read: termite like) in the society - assertion of male dominance, anyhow! Manto has frugally, yet, with an assertive dominance highlighted everything that is wrong with the society, the male gaze and how women are objectified. What is diabolically funnier is the fact that this story is as relevant as it was in the mid 20th century as it is 2021. This story will wake you from your slumber.
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I remember reading this for the first time as part of my Indian Lit course while in college. It has stayed with me all these years and I know will stay with me till my last breath.
Manto paints a realistic and horrific picture of one of the most challenging, somber, and chilling times of modern history -the partition of India and Pakistan.
The story captures the atmosphere of the partition, and what many people were going through so vividly. It encapsulates all the horrid experienc Bone-chilling.
I remember reading this for the first time as part of my Indian Lit course while in college. It has stayed with me all these years and I know will stay with me till my last breath.
Manto paints a realistic and horrific picture of one of the most challenging, somber, and chilling times of modern history -the partition of India and Pakistan.
The story captures the atmosphere of the partition, and what many people were going through so vividly. It encapsulates all the horrid experiences people lived. It also shows the nature of man, and how when left unmonitored could lead to any possible extremities.
This story is heart-wrenching but I am glad that it was included in my course. Because now I go back to it time and again to re-live the horrors faced by my ancestors. ...more
Wont tell You much about it but if you have got this one with you and still Havent read it.
READ
READ
READ
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Posted by: kimberliecaliffe0199287.blogspot.com
Source: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/20642794
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