Introduction
- ISBN: 978-8-184-00308-6
- Category: Fiction
- Publishers: Random House
- Price: Rs. 399/- ( I got this book from the publisher for review)
Not long back I was introduced to
Saadat Hasan Manto’s writings by none other than Rukun from Random House and to
tell I loved his writing would be less. I lived his stories as somehow I have a
deep love and respect towards Urdu as a language. Dozakhnama - conversations in hell is an extraordinary
story as it’s a biography of Manto saab
and Ghalib and a history of Indian culture rolled into one. This was perfect I
thought when I read these lines on the backside of the book and grabbed it for
reading!
Behind the book
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| Source: Google Images |
Compose some more poetry, Mir sahib your words may survive
on someone’s lips.
About the Author
Rabishankar Bal is a Bangla novelist and short story writer
with over fifteen novels, five short-story collections, one volume of poetry
and one volume of literary essays. He has edited a collection of Saadat Hasan
Manto’s writings translated into Bangla.
‘Me’ Thinks
Ghalib is a name to be reckoned with Urdu literature from
centuries. Maanto Saab is also a wonderful writer known for his contribution to
the literary world. Both of them truly celebrated till date, admired and missed
with a smile for the magic they managed to create.
This book by Rabishankar Bal has brought them together in a
conversation just at the door step of hell. What begins is a journey through
shattered dreams, love, broken trust, fragile relationships and the beauty of
human nature. We as a country have been extremely proud of our cultural
heritage but this book gives you an insight as to how did we end up having this
culture and what lay the base for it. The strength of it being the beliefs that
we have been carrying forward till now. Sharing some of my favourite lines / couplets from the book:
- It seems you are by my side when no one else is.
- This city of hearts was founded in sorrow years ago The verdict has come , it shall be emptied out.
- Now grief and I remain in a hopeful city the mirror you shattered held a thousand images.
- The old heart is gone, the mind too. There’s life in the body like a lamp burning down.
- Marriage transforms the relationship between a man and a woman into a set of habits, and then the relationship begins to fade and finally turns utterly grey.
- You never understood my desire, my soul. The regret kills me, but you don’t know Let the lotus claim the heart I don’t care What value in a soul that dies of only virtue?
- Deliverance lies where there is sanctuary.
- Do you know who wept inside those words? Souls that had been lost in the sky and the air and the space. I could hear their sighs as I wrote my ghazals.
- There’s so much in my heart, my soul mate But not a single word reaches my lips.
Reading this book makes you feel no wonder this beautiful
book was bestowed with the BankimChandra Smriti Puraskar.The cover page, the
titling, the index, the simple language, the beautiful shayris teamed with
wonderful narrative make this book simply a wonderful read. A complete
masterpiece for all Urdu lovers and a must must must read for people who love
shayris. This book makes you feel nostalgic as it reminds you of the bygone
times smelling of things which take you down the memory lane.
Foodie Verdict
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| Source: Google Images |
This book is life Sheer Khurma - yummy, tongue tantalizing, leaving you in a dreamy state of mind.
P.S: This book has been received from Random House for review