I’m really enjoying Manto at this moment, I’ve …
// September 9th, 2010 //
Comment posted Sadaat Hasan Manto: A Profile by Layli Uddin.
I’m really enjoying Manto at this moment, I’ve just finished reading Ganje Farishte and am glad that someone is paying tribute to this great writer. Another great Urdu writer is Premchand, I will be reading his Bazaar-e-Husn next, it’s apparently one of the greatest novels in modern Indian literature. Do recommend other good writers that I should read.
Recent comments by Layli Uddin
- Paban Das Baul & Darymple in london (asian lit festival) good lord this is a must
Thanks for this, I missed Pabanda the last time, but now come hell or high water, I shall be there! I’m glad that there are more people out there that share similar sentiments to me on Fatima Bhutto’s work. - Like That Only » The Reluctant Novelist
I’ve been wanting to read Mohsin as well but alas, time does not allow such simple pleasures. Your post reminded of this article though that I read on the guardian late last year that I saved in that vain hope that I may get to read any one of the writers but have not done so as of yet: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/feb/17/fiction-pakistan-hanif
have you?if so, which would you recommend to a snowed-under student. I have to get on to Patras Bokhari as well, thanks for the heads up. On that note, I love Faiz and if that was his mentor, then I shall read it with great delight…. - Bashi to bajish na re – exactly how awesome is this? very! Baul music
Quantification theory- yuck! I do feel much better now as I’m about to throw in the towel for the night and move onto Manto’s ‘Ganjey Farishte’- have you read? I shall indeed try to return to the translation if my absent-mindedness doesn’t get the better of me. - Bashi to bajish na re – exactly how awesome is this? very! Baul music
I really should be working on an essay on the Madras Presidency but procrastination and paban das has got the better of me, a literal translation of the first four lines is ‘oh flute, do not play, it inflames/adds to the pain of my heart, how do I tell you how weak I am,? Oh do not play’. Essentially, it’s a song about how music is woven into love, death, life, death, the rekindling of old memories etc etc. If you want a full translation, you need to give me a month and I’d happily do it for you…… - Bashi to bajish na re – exactly how awesome is this? very! Baul music
Given that I grew up listening to Baul music, I had to correct you, it is not rajasthani music but music from West Bengal and Bangladesh sung by a syncretic religious sect comprised of Vaishnava Hindus and Sufi Muslims. Literary legends such as Rabindranath Tagore had been greatly influenced by Baul and you can see the spirit and essence of Baul in his poetry particularly Gitanjali. But you are right, Paban Das Baul is excellent.
as reported by the organic brew: london, pakistan, photography, travel, poetry & a general acerbic sentiment
