Manto versus Insha

This play has been written on two beautiful figures of Urdu literature who are not with us anymore. The most interesting point about this play is that both characters belonged to radically different categories of Urdu literature:

Saadat Hasan Manto belonged to the genre of short story writing and Insha belonged to the field of wit, humour and poetry. I have attempted to present these towering figures of Urdu literature in a humourous way in this play. I hope that the Chowk readers will enjoy my humble effort.

(A Stage Play ... Humour In One Act)


Characters:

1 Saadat Hassan Manto
2 Ibn-i-Insha

Scene 1:

A theatre where a play is being produced and performed and Manto and Insha are participating in the play. Darkness is all around in the theatre as well as on the stage. Lights are there and suddenly come on. A big light has been installed in the centre of the roof of the stage. Both, Manto and Insha, are jealous of each other's success.

Act:

[Manto enters and salutes the audience]

I, Manto,Saadat Hassan Manto who spent a major part of his life in India. Ye, citizens of Pakistan, tell me ... where I might find that one humourist?
(expresses his views with great anger)

What was his name? Oh, a bit humourous name I think ... Yes,
"Insha ... Ibnai Insha" (taunts)

Ye, people I know, you ... have read my all short stories and other writings and given me a lot of respect. How can I forget you?

And I know it as well, you also read that one humourist.

I have no malice with him. But I would like to tell you:

You gave him much return, I mean, much respect which he does not deserve!
(expresses his anger)

Tell me, people where he could be? I want him to tell me what is he?

(suddenly Insha enters)

Manto: Who art thou?

Insha: I am a famous figure of Urdu literature, particularly in the field of wit and humour.

Manto: Fa-a-a-amous ... figure! Are you mad? What famous figure? I-I-I do not know, who you are? (saying sarcastically)

Ibnai Insha: I am Insha ... Ibnai Insha.

(saying proudly)

Manto: O-oo-oh! are you the cheapest humourist called "Insha" ... a little humourist, Insha ... hoooh! (saying and laughing sarcastically)

I think you are something of a fool! You think, you make readers laugh and happy ... according to your view, you entertain readers with your cheap humour. Oh ... fool, you do not understand, you are making a fool of yourself. You are making yourself ridiculous. Ha! Ha! Ha! (saying and laughing tauntingly)

Insha: Ha! Ha! Ha! Hoo! Hoo! Hooooh! (expressing sarcasm on Manto's laughing)

Am I a little humourist? I-I-am making myself ridiculous. Am I a fool?
You think, you are a lucky sluggard. (saying and smiling tauntingly)

Manto: Ha!Ha! ... Oh, Mister, my little humourous writer, you are nothing. You know, I have written a lot of short stories and a bit of "WIT and HUMOUR" as well. All my writings are remarkable and well recognized. People know me very well. The whole world knows me, particularly the people of India and Pakistan know me well and respect me a lot. (saying with a ludicrous smile)

Insha: I-I-I-I might confess that you are well known in the sub-continent.
(saying ludicrously)

Manto: (quite happily) Yea, I-I-I am! "Understand". Have you ever written like me? (says this proudly)

My short stories are based on society. It means, I write on the problems of the society. I show the evils of the society. Well! Did you ... read my short stories entitled "Banjh and Sarak key kinarey". These are one of my best stories. Could you challenge the authority of my short stories? Could you write like me? Could you! I know you are a humourist and I am different from you. You know, there is a world of difference between both of us. (says with just pride)

Hi, Hi, Hi(laughing tauntingly)

Insha: Ha,Ha,Ha,--Ho! Yo-o-o-o-o are a big writer. Yo-o-o-o draw a good and correct picture of the society. Hoo-h!(laughs)

You are mean. What is your name? "Mant-oo-o" your name shows that you are a joker and in reality you are ! "Mant-oo-o" Ha, Ha, Ha! (laughs at him)

You write on the topic of society and present or show the evils, bad evils. You might be right but I am not inferior to you. I make people laugh and you know it is the most difficult work in the world.

"Understand ... joker!" (taunts him)

My essays are humorous. After reading my essays, people laugh for a long time.
(stiffs his neck with great pride)

Have you read my books? You can name them as "Creative Books" entitled
"Khumaray Gundam" and "Urdu Ki Akhri Kitab" etc. These books have wonderful reputation in Pakistan. You have written ver few humourous essays but you can not challenge the authority of my humourous essays. (says proudly)

People read my books with great pleasure. Your writings are based on hardly one or two subjects. Mostly your short stories are tragic and a bit romantic. And you also present and show sexuality and vulgarity in your fiction. But my poetry and my essays are bright, beautiful, romantic and full of joy and jokes, all and sundry like my writings, have you read my poetry? It is romantic, don't you know! But I think you know that romance is hidden in every portion of my poetry whether it is tragic or humourous. I use Hindi and Sanskrit in my writings. You are a foolish person, you can not do good work because you are a jealous person. (says all these things with jeer and irritates Manto)


Scene2:


(Manto proceeds with anger and then punches Insha ... Insha falls on the stage. After a while, Insha, with great anger punches Manto)

And finally they both fight with each other,saying:

Manto: You are cheap!

Insha: You are a ridiculous joker!

Manto: Dirty mouse!

Insha: You hippopotamus!

Scene3:

(Suddenly all lights turns off and the big light appears between both of them and suddenly turns off.)

They both are still fighting by using their fists and abusing each other.

Darkness: The play ends!

(curtain falls slowly)