The Tribune, Chandigarh 12/09/12

Say his writings bridging gap between communities

Vivek Gupta

Chandigarh

“I do not have much of memories of my father, perhaps the time was bitter then, said famous Urdu writer Sadat HasanManto’s elder daughter Nighat Patel as questions started veering around Manto’s past.

Down memory lanes, Nighat, in Chandigarh along with her other two sisters on Tuesday evening said that she was just nine when her father died. I vaguely remember that things were not well then. The family had financial problems. “Abba” was having extremely difficult time. Besides, he was not keeping very well during his last days,” recalled Nighat while sharing that in spite of all the problems, her father continued to resist through his strong writing and that is why he is still relevant today.

Nighat along with her sisters NuzhatArshad and NusratJalal celebrated Manto’s centenary programme held at Saupin’s School, Sector 32. They are in India since September 4 and were part of many celebrations held in Ludhiana and Delhi. Asking the highlight of their visit, NusratJalal said visiting father’s village near Samrala was the best highlight. It was their first visit. “Though there is nothing left in the village but we could feel the sense of belongingness with the place, she said.

She said, “We have immense pride in being Manto’s daughters. The fact that he always advocated for humanity as a biggest religion. Much of his writing include “Toba Tek Singh”, “ThandaGosht” and “Khol Do”, brutally unravelled the tragedies of partition which still keeps us reminding that why peace is so important among both of these countries. The daughters while responding to questions about his days in Mumbai from where he shifted to Pakistan said Manto did not want to leave India. But he was extremely dejected by the series of the event which led to partition and that forced him to leave Mumabi, they added. Nusrat said Manto however, belongs to both India and Pakistan. His writing is equally loved in both the countries. We are overwhelmed by seeing such a heartening welcome by people, she said.

His writing has always worked as a bridge between these communities to bring closer and will keep doing in future also, she said. From here, they will go to Amritsar. Manto spent much of his childhood in Amritsar. Though much of it has been lost today yet we feel connected to it because his soul is still not lost, said Nusrat.