My Sahib

``That was the time when Hindus did not kill etc ``

I had heard only good about Manto.

Pakistanis have been brainwashed to worship Jinnah as a god. They will love this. They will feel very emotional. Some will cry at goodness of their ``Great Leader``.

Because this is supposed to be an `emotional tale` I wont bring up how full of untruths this story is. It is a story of a servant toward his `massiah`. The same story of Pakistani public continues toward their dictator `messiahs` today. Nothings changed. Same hatred taught. Hindus kill. Same ruler ruled mentality.

Pakistanis can feel good about the only `god` they have left, even if it is a bogus one.

Godot:

A very very good choice indeed.

Thank you.

It is said that of ALL the writings about Jinnah this is THE best about the personna & personality of the Greatest Man of his time.

Shorn of all intellectualism and educatedness(the ills rotting us to the core these days) this is by a learned ``illiterate`` and written by the Greatest Writer produced by India & Pakistan as yet---(yes he `failed` in urdu exam twice & did not finish intermediate.He was under the tutelage of MAULANA Baari Alig for english/french prose-studies).

& the rest is his-story.

wassalaam.

Ah, now there`s a fresh, new topic to discuss on Chowk. Jinnah. Wait, where`s ylh? We can drag Gandhi into this in no time. Deja vu all over again.

Mera Saheb was the first sketch in Manto’s book of sketches, ‘Gunjay Farishtay’ (Bald Angels). When I had read this book the first time, I thought Mera Saheb was the only angel who was not bald and was immaculate and totally without blemish like a heavenly angel. And curiously, Jinnah was the only person in the book whom Manto didn’t know first hand. He had never met him, had never sought to meet him, and had no sympathy for his political cause also. Before the partition of India, Manto was a nationalist and against the concept of Pakistan. He had no sympathy for the Muslim League and was against the Hindu ideologists also. His short story ‘Mootri’ (Public Urinal) gives a glimpse of his own thinking at that time. With that kind of Manto’s background in my mind, I was stunned to read Mera Saheb. Very few people could pay tribute to Jinnah the way Manto had done. The whole sketch is steeped in a deep sense of devotion and respect expressed in Manto’s unique style. His style in Mera Saheb is distinctly different from that that he used in writing the other sketches. There is not a whisper of loose and undignified expression in the whole sketch. While this is his unique style, as I said, it is so very different from his usual writings, at the same time. He used a style to describe Akhtar Shirani and his other dear friends that suited them. The style that he used for Mera Saheb suited a hero although Jinnah was not even his hero. Why did Manto choose to write such a beautiful sketch of the Qaid-e-Azam? I do not have a clue. He was unpredictable like any great writer.

A long time back, I had also thought of rendering Mera Saheb into English but I did not know what to do with the finished product. I am glad that Godot very thoughtfully selected to do so and Chowk published it at the most opportune time, August 14, when in 1947, Pakistan came into being on this day. It is indeed a heartfelt tribute of a great writer to the Great Leader. Pakistan Paindabaad

Mera Saheb was the first sketch in Manto’s book of sketches, ‘Gunjay Farishtay’ (Bald Angels). When I had read this book the first time, I thought Mera Saheb was the only angel who was not bald and was immaculate and totally without blemish like a heavenly angel. And curiously, Jinnah was the only person in the book whom Manto didn’t know first hand. He had never met him, had never sought to meet him, and had no sympathy for his political cause also. Before the partition of India, Manto was a nationalist and against the concept of Pakistan. He had no sympathy for the Muslim League and was against the Hindu ideologists also. His short story ‘Mootri’ (Public Urinal) gives a glimpse of his own thinking at that time. With that kind of Manto’s background in my mind, I was stunned to read Mera Saheb. Very few people could pay tribute to Jinnah the way Manto had done. The whole sketch is steeped in a deep sense of devotion and respect expressed in Manto’s unique style. His style in Mera Saheb is distinctly different from that that he used in writing the other sketches. There is not a whisper of loose and undignified expression in the whole sketch. While this is his unique style, as I said, it is so very different from his usual writings, at the same time. He used a style to describe Akhtar Shirani and his other dear friends that suited them. The style that he used for Mera Saheb suited a hero although Jinnah was not even his hero. Why did Manto choose to write such a beautiful sketch of the Qaid-e-Azam? I do not have a clue. He was unpredictable like any great writer.

A long time back, I had also thought of rendering Mera Saheb into English but I did not know what to do with the finished product. I am glad that Godot very thoughtfully selected to do so and Chowk published it at the most opportune time, August 14, when in 1947, Pakistan came into being on this day. It is indeed a heartfelt tribute of a great writer to the Great Leader. Pakistan Paindabaad

Gowardhan:

C`mon dude. This was a great story. You are sounding like my pal Madani of the Pakistan Hotel bijness

stuka

I agree the story was good.

Re: freethinker, #4

You captured the essense of Mera Sahib so well in your post.

Looking for something to read while staying at someone`s house on Long Island, NY, about a month ago, I saw Gunjay Farishtay there. Not having read much Urdu in the 27 years I have been in the US (and not speaking it that much either), I read Mera Shaib in that book first. I borrowed the book from my host. With an intention to translate a story from the book for Chowk, I wanted to read other stories in the book also. But nothing in Gunjay Farishtay came even close to being as good and as powerful as Mera Sahib.

I went through the story again trying to translate the words, the sentences, the phrases. When I finshed the story reading it again in Urdu and translating it in English at the same time, I was overwhelmed with emtions and the story`s power. Two paragraphs in particular stood out: when Jinnah is looking at the old clothes of his dead wife and of his daughter when she was a little girl; and the ending, when Azad is telling Manto that he wished he had gone with Jinnah to Jinnah`s final journey.

It is a very sad and a powerful story. Azad`s every word sounds true. I think that`s what moved Manto: Azad`s honesty, which he captured so well. A great writer as he was, Manto did not let his personal opinion influence what Azad had to say. As a result, Manto, together with Azad, left us this greatest of gifts: Mera Sahib.

This was my first attempt at a translation. In the beginning I didn`t think I would succeed in translating it. It seemed way too difficult. In fact, I dropped the idea of translating it altogether. But once started, I tried to capture the spirit and the essense of the story. Judging from yours, Farangi`s, and Stuka`s posts, I did not fail. Thank you guys so much.

Re: Farangi, #2

Thank you so much Farangi. You are right. There is no better biography of Jinnah as a human being, of his inner being. Indeed he was a great man, as this true story tells us about him by none other than an enlightened servant who saw Jinnah, and observed him, from very close. Azad`s honesty is absolutely remarkable. That`s what makes this story so good and so believable.

Re: Stuka, #6

Thanks, Stuka. It is indeed a great story.

Re: Chowk.

Thank you Chowk for publishing this translation on August 14th.

Godot:

I am simply impressed by your brilliant accomplishment especially this being your first attempt.

I wish & pray that others will also enrich themselves with the treasures awaiting for them in the caches of Urdu(& then farsi & arabie).ALL other literature,they say(Goethe,Dante,Bacon,Byron,Tennyson--to name a few),is polyester in comparison.

Such a learning tempers & softens the materialistic brutalities of Science & Commerce.

__________________________________________________

Godot & free-thinker:Why is it called Gunjay Farishtay?I`ll give my understanding of it once I have heard yours.

__________________________________________________

wassalaam.

godot # 8

The guy hates farangis and you continue to call

him farangi.Is that intentional? :)

Dear Farangikush:

``(Goethe,Dante,Bacon,Byron,Tennyson--to name a few),is polyester in comparison.``

They are certainly NOT polyester -- only different flavors of ice creams -- Farangikhush

Dear Godot:

Great translation!

Let`s hear from you some translations of Ismet -- not her brother -- and Krishen -- and of course more of Saadat.

Thanks.

Godot:

Good translation. Manto in general was not thrilled with partition. This piece must be read in conjunction with his other writings to get a better handle on his views about the 1940s and thereafter. But the realist that he was, he chose to live in the present rather than the past. The last paragraph is where Manto removes himself from Azad`s feelings and shows his sense of realism.

re farangi_kush #9:

You are the funniest fogie on Chowk. You are claiming someone as your own who the likes of you took to court umpteen times on charges of obscenity. He was honest enough to admit the influence of French writers like Maupassant and Flaubert in many of his autobiographical writings. He actually liked them so much that he learnt French so that he could read them in original. Even a cursory perusal of his work would show the heavy foreign influnce his work imbibed. But then you`d have to put down that ghilaf-convered copy of Beheshti Zewar to see what else is out there in the real world.

In their own time Iqbal, Hali and Sir Syed and countless other `Muslim` giants were ridiculed by the likes of F_K for their alien ideas. The same are now held up as examples of a rich `original` Islamic intellectual tradition. The fact that the people in question had the integrity to acknowledge the debt they had to `farangi` thought and writing is conveniently forgotten.

The Sipah-i-Sihaba goons of this world can be easily controlled. Its the likes of F_K and Jay that lead the uninitiated into valleys of unbridled false pride that are the real danger.

later

-sac

Sac:

``Munn kee dunyaa mein naa paaya mein nay AFRANGI kaa raaj

Munn kee dunyaa mein naa daykhay mein nay sheikh O Brhamaunn``

One can & must go to even China to acquire learning.

But one need not squint & snort to be mistaken as a Chinese.

In case you missed something here I write in the english language & also try to read & learn the

farangi science,art & literature.I also love the `komaltaa` of hindi-geet poetry,the extroverted-unabashed innocuousness of Panjabi,the melodiousness & fluidity of bengali(even if not understood by me),the most awesome musical expanse of south-India(esp mrdang).

All this has NOTHING whatsoever to do with the entire civilised worlds abhorrence for the imperialism & terrorism unleashed upon the world by the farangi.G-8 might give you some clue about it.

None of the above prohibit or deny me to stay anchored to Islam and strive to be a better muslim.

Now which are YOUR favourite muslim(Islami) authors?Are you living at the cutting edge of `modernity` or not.It is no longer a stigma to admit that one is Indian/Pakistani Hindu/Sikh/or even muslim.Talk to your kids once a while.

PS:It was the BRITISH goverment which took him to court the first time.Late it was under the DOMINION that he was charged & the ENGLISH common

law prevailed.

You better read Nazir Akbarabadi & Masnavi Zehre-Ishque(1700dish?),Dulhan,Hayaa,et al(women poets) Mushafee & Inshaa---& of course Chirkeen et al to really appreciate & understand the level of cultured `modernity`.

It is NOT CHAUCER where the Oxford students get an iron rod get thrusted in their bottoms intead of getting it kissed in the dark by the wenchs` father.The `humor` being that a `f--t` is let out smack on the dads face.

.....& other such GREAT literature before the ``RENAISSACE``

WASSALAAM.

__________________________________________________

Nasah:

I did not say they are polyester.

I simply descibed in colloqial contemporary ling what these giants themselves have said about such treasures.

I am sorry if I did not write clearly enough to be so misunderstood.

WASSALAAM.

`sac` is right. Manto has always criticized Jinnah for the separatist movement and creation of Pakistan in his other writings. So `Meera saheb` should be read just keeping in mind that Manto was just interested in reading a normal poor man who has served a person whom he regarded in high esteem. This is just a personal portrait of Jinnah from his servant`s perspective, not from Manto`s perspective.

All his writings in `Ganjay Farishtay` are from Manto`s first hand interactions with the personalities (correct me if I am wrong). `Meera saheb` is just an exception. Maybe, Manto was interested in the Jinnah`s servant who was leading an anonymous life. Manto was always interested in normal ppl of weird and strange background, like violent political workers, hate-criminals, prostitutes (male & female), etc.

Other personalioties in Ganjay Farishtay included Madam Noor Jehan (very interesting, atleast about her sex affairs), some film personalities (Nargis), etc.

Someone asked here why it is called `Ganjay Farishtay`.

When Manto started writing on big personailities of `pious` nature, ppl were very offended because of his portraying them the way they were. Manto got a letter from a woman, who has vurtually cursed him for being so harsh, realistic, and unsympathetic to dead people. Manto was so annoyed that he wrote in the preface to his book (Ganjay Fraishtay) that these pious angels (like the woman in question), should be slapped on their heads as long as they would go bald. This is somethign that I remember.

Godot:

This is a fine piece of work. Such translations are important, because even though we all understand spoken Hindi/Urdu, reading is a bit hard.

Could you/anyone else also post a translation of Toba Tek Singh. I have seen a televised version, but not read the story.