Photo: Amarjit Chandan

As India and Pakistan celebrate Urdu writer Saadat Hasan Manto’s birth centenary, Daily Post delves into what makes him the phenomenon he is “Writers came and went, books came and went, sales declined, but Manto is read as much today as he ever was,” says Tejinder Singh of the famous Lahore Book Shop in Ludhiana.

Singh’s family has been in the business of books for generations and Singh has, in the last three decades, noticed that anybody harbouring even a little interest in literature will read Saadat Hasan Manto. Even after over half a century since the short story writer’s death, Manto is a profitable business opportunity for booksellers and publishers.

Manto’s birth centenary was celebrated on Friday. So, what is it that makes Manto timeless?

Sahitya Akademi winning writer Mohan Bhandari, who has translated Manto’s short stories and these days translating his pen sketches ‘Stars from the Other Sky’ written on film stars, says, Manto’s works were path breaking in the true sense of the word. “He wrote on subjects which were not much touched in Indian literature before him. He was realistic, honest and truthful. Though he had to face allegations of obscenity and vulgarity, his works were no less than digging a well himself to get water. He opened a new paradigm in writing,” smiles Bhandari.

Ask Harish Jain, owner of Unistar Books, Chandigarh, as to why he took to publishing Manto when there were so many others doing so, and he tells you that this is what an icon does to you. “For any publisher, it is as obvious to publish Manto as it is to publish Rabindra Nath Tagore and Munshi Prem Chand,” he says, adding, “and that’s what icons are.”

He says when a society takes up an individual like Manto for an icon, everybody will be seen “riding on Manto wave”. And a writer becomes an industry. “Whether there is something written by Manto, something written about Manto, a film on him, anything to do with Manto is hot,” he says. Jain’s publication has translated books like Manto De Rang, Manto Ate Ashleelta and Manto Diya Kahaniyaan from Urdu to Punjabi.

His birth centenary celebrations make Manto even sought-after with books written by him selling like never before.

It surprised Avtar Pal, managing partner of Punjab Book Centre, Chandigarh and Jalandhar, when 75 per cent of the stock they took to a centenary celebration function in Punjab Arts Council, Chandigarh, last week, sold in no time.

Manto passed away in 1955 at the age of 42, only to inspire generations altogether with his writings that were unabashed, frank and critical.

“Whatever book of Manto is available, it sells. Over the past several decades, different publishers have published Manto’s stories and writings. And interestingly all of them have been selling equally well. Over all, the sale of books might have dipped, but that hasn’t affected the sale of Manto’s books,” says Tejinder Singh.

Daily Post: May 13, 2012