Book Review: Manto Saheb Translated by Vibha Chauhan and Khalid Alvi

Manto Saheb is a multi-faceted biography of one of the greatest South Asian writers of the 20^th century. Who wondered that Manto who failed Urdu in his high school exam and later emerge as one of the finest writers of the century. This book brings stories about Saadat Hasan Manto, an essayist, scriptwriter and a master of writing short stories.

The stories written in this book include that of Manto’s family, friends and rivals. Some of the others include Ismat Chugtai, Upendranath Ashk, Balwant Gargi, Krishan  Chander, his daughter Nuzhat and nephew Hamid Jalal. The great cities of Bombay, Delhi and Lahore have been described by various writers. The accounts presented by the writers are those of quarrels, drinking sessions, rivalries, friendships, publishers, literary circles and film industry.

Manto is revealed as a complex man. Moreover he was very upset when he lost his one and a half year old son. He was as comfortable with his family as with the prostitutes he visited. Ismat Chugtai says: “The idea of class difference was a dominant one in Manto’s mind. When he brought down and shattered the idol worshipped by the world, Manto felt that he had done something truly courageous”.

Manto was a fierce critic of the works of other writers but he did not tolerate any criticism for his own work. For some stories he was declared as an obscene writer and had to face court trial. Sardar Gurbaksh Singh Preetladin a famous Punjabi writer refused to give evidence in the court in Manto’s favor. At his behavior Manto was amazed and said: “It is astonishing that there are such writers in Punjabi too. Only God can protect the fate of literature in this language”. Financial issues and non-stop drinking were issues which he faced on his death bed too. Manto said: “I have no faith in friendship, benevolence, or affection. The only thing I believe is in alcohol”. In addition to that he was a chain smoker and used to smoke 555 cigarettes.

He was a maverick of his times, a very sensitive human who explained the intricacies of society through his own lens, unadulterated. Manto died in 1955. Manto’s nephew Hamid Jalal concludes the book with his story about Manto. He believes that his uncle was not a hypocrite. He was what he was and that is why no aspect of his life remained hidden from the general public right till his death.