Cold Flesh

Re: # 11
...when zahraj admits not knowing something and yet commenting on the subject reminds me of field marshal romair...who too admits knowing nothing and then writing a thousand word treatise... this must be the hallmark of great geniuses...

Thanks Godot. I always wanted to read Thanda Gosht, but I must say that it did not come across as strong as I had expected. I am referring here to the plot, not your translation.

This one gets lost in translation.

Okay...if this is Manto, I`m unimpressed....

Godot,

Read Uwem Akpan`s short story from Nairobi Nights and tell me what you think.

www.newyorker.com

hi godot,

``jiggling upright breasts`` makes more sense than ``juggling upright breasts``, no? perhaps that`s what you meant. :)

i`ve never read the original version of ``Thanda gosht`` so i can`t comment on what you`ve left out, or what language you`ve failed to use, as some others can. but i think this captures passion well enough. and whether this was manto`s best or not, this somewhat abrupt switch from being amorous to murderous is a comment on our behavior as humans, and telling of the time he wrote this in.

thanks for bringing it to us,
ana

This was the first Manto story I read in punjabi translation many years ago in a book by the same name,``Thanda Gosht``.I read the original urdu version later.

Manto was charged with obscenity for this story and had to defend himself in court.That also added to its popularity and it remains one of his most popular stories,thogh on the similar theme, Khol Do and Mozail are technically far superior.

This story by Manto was craptabulous. As someone of Pakistani origin, I could enjoy it, but only because it evokes some kind of an emotional response. It`s like watching the ol` Brit comedy, Faulty Towers. No youngster would enjopy that man`s antics but all the oldies would because it brings back memories of low inflation, cheap house prices, and intact sex drives.

Umer M.

Kaurasach`s double standards exposed again!

Re: # 6

Yeah.But, isn`t that how south asian women are?.Possessive, manipulative, controlling and petty.Boa-constrictors, all of them.Manto was far ahead of his time.

#7 by Urstruly

I too read this story a long time ago and felt like missing something. Until I read your post, I could not figure out what was missing. I think ``maa - yaa” must have presented a dilemma for Godot as that combination of words is hard to capture even in Urdu what to talk of English. Obviously, Punjabi is much more subtle to even enjoy it in Urdu.
I do think that Godot has captured the essence of the story. As with many other Manto stories, he would come up with great ideas but often would either lack the time or the skills to develop them. This is actually not a bad idea but people who don’t understand the background of the story would be completely lost and would not be able to follow the story.

This was a common knowledge that Manto was heavily inspired by Maupassant and for that matter most of the Urdu writers were often stealing ideas from European literature.
This business was not confined to short story writers alone but some prominent poets too were often following that pattern. Now please don’t ask me to substantiate this allegation now as I don’t have resources to do that.

Overall, I would say an excellent job by Godot!

Re: # 10

I am sorry I forgot the master knows the most :)

So, is this story part of the Urdu or Punjabi Classics? I have never read Manto so I am not sure if he wrote this in Urdu or Punjabi. Which case? Was Manto fined or prosecuted for writing this story? What an irony! A writer is prosecuted (supposedly) for writing an exotic story whereas criminals roam around without any inhibitions. Another exotic tale is due - this one should come from Urstruly.

Re: # 9

The vulgarities are the real essence of this story in original version. I had to highlite that because this PG version of translation does not convey even a quarter of what Manto had manage to say in original version. The most interesting part of this episode is that the judge who presided over the case was a Jamat-e-Islami hardliner Mullah with beard watwani and all. Manto was let off the hook with just a slap on the wrist - I think witha fine of about Rs. 35

There is always something dark and mysterious about Godot. No doubt he likes to explore intense, weird and (I do not have the right word) stories weaving a pleasant structure around them. The story was captivating. Godot`s handle on Kalwant`s and Eesher`s names must be appreciated. It seemed as if he had gotten some aid from Dullah Bhatti.

Coming to post # 7:

In the first half of your post, you are highlighting the vulgarities that Godot decided not to incorporate in his pleasantly structured fictional work, but in the second half you are grading this story as below average. Although I agree with the latter part of your post, but I am amused to read your drift. Must you highlight the elements that can topple the testosterone level in some or I guess many?

The most annoying thing about this was the repetitive use of the FULL NAMES! I get it, the guy is Singh, the girl is Kaur; typically Sikh last names. But must it be repeated throughout the whole story as if the writer is facing a pronoun famine?

fahd

Godot,

You missed out on one historic detail of extreme importance. In the original urdu version, Eeshar Singh starts every sentence of his with the words ``maa yaa`` - meaning m/fukker in Punjabi. I think in the history of urdu literature Manto used this phrase/curse for the very first or probably the only time. One should keep in mind that the phrase ``maa - yaa`` is phonetically not exactly the same as the correct words in Punjabi and manto did it deliberately. When he was charged with obscenity in court of law for writing this story mantos lawyer actually used this line of defense that the word maa yaa is not exactly what it should sound like but judge didn`t buy his argument.

In addition he used vulgar substitutes for words like hips- he used chootar instead of koolhe - and for breasts he used chaatian instead of seena; that actually intensified the diction.

Technically, I think the story is below average. If you subtract the vulgarities it has nothing in it. As a matter of fact I strongly suspect that the main theme of this story is plagiarized from one of Guy de Mopassant`s story, but can`t say for sure, since I read Guy some decades ago from when I read Thanda Gosht