By DEEPAK BUDKI
The short story has been walking in step with the march of times at all India level. From the days of Prem Nath Pardesi, the father of Urdu short story in J&K to the present times the genre has passed through many stages in its development viz Classical, Romantic, Patriotic, Didactic, Realistic, Progressive, Psychological, Modernist and Post-Modernist. Prior to independence short stories were written against feudalism, poverty and social customs. During the progressive period, the focus remained on the plight of peasants and lake dwellers who depended on tourists besides the landless labor who often had to seek employment outside the state in winters. Since J&K state (Now a Union territory with exclusion of Ladakh) was the first state to promulgate laws giving land to the tiller, the progressives were left with no topics to dwell upon. However, the state had its own problems such as political instability, non-representative governments, bureaucratic red tape, illiteracy, corruption nepotism and unemployment. Unfortunately, in an atmosphere where democracy was not in full force, it was difficult for the writers, who were mostly dependent on government jobs due lack of other avenues, to express themselves on the aforesaid problems. They adopted symbolic and abstract form of expression in tune with the modernist trend.
The J&K state is not a homogeneous unit but is what Lord Birdwood calls a ‘geographical monster’. The state has many regions with varied languages like Ladakh with Bodhi, Balti and Sheena, Jammu with Dogri, Pahari, Gojri and Punjabi, and Kashmir with Kashmiri languages spoken by as many kinds of people. Hence Urdu was introduced not only as a lingua franca but as an Official language by the then Dogra ruler and the situation remains unchanged till date. Accordingly, many poets and prose writers from amongst Kashmiris came to the fore and many of them even sought high positions in Mughal and Avadh courts. Unfortunately, the Kashmiri writers (expression includes people from other regions also) who remained confined to the state were not given recognition due to them by the coterie in Delhi and Lucknow who held the hegemony on the Urdu world for example Prem Nath Pardesi, Hakim Manzoor, Pushkar Nath, Prof Hamdi Kashmiri, Veerinder Patwari, Noor Shah, Som Nath Zutshi, Bansi Nirdosh, Rafiq Raaz, Anand Lehar, Abdul Ghani Sheikh, Deepak Kanwal, Tarannum Reyaz and Deepak Budki. On the contrary, many Kashmiris who resided in Avadh, Delhi or Punjab shone like stars in Urdu literature for example Daya Shankar Naseem, Brij Narain Chakbast, Brijmohan Datatriya Kaifi, Kishan Prashad Koul, Pt Badri Nath Sudarshan, Agha Hashar Kashmiri, Sir Mohammad Iqbal, Sa’adat Hasan Manto, Prem Nath Dhar, Kashmiri Lal Zakir etc. Even Krishan Chander, his brother Mohinder Nath and Ramanand Sagar who were not born in J&K but spent most of their childhood and youth in the state attained great heights in Urdu world.
Anyway, the situation in literary scene of Kashmir saw a dramatic shift after rise of militancy in 1990. Initially there was a lull before storm in the state but as the sediment settled down writers started to express themselves for and against the turbulence in Kashmir. The modernist writers retraced their steps and started writing realistic stories representing the factual situation in the state post militancy. The situation in Jammu and Kashmir remains fluid ever since 1990; some highlight the plight of Kashmiri Muslims who have been facing the tyranny of both the state and the terrorists sponsored by neighboring state Pakistan, some highlight the problems encountered by people residing near the LOC facing shower of bombs and shells every day from across the border besides destruction of their crops and property (Mazahmati Adab), some highlight the plight of Kashmiri Pandits who have fled the valley en masse due rise of militancy (Muhajri Adab), while some concentrate on psychological problems faced by innocent people due to suffocating atmosphere in the state (Ghair Wabasta Adab). As if this was not enough the valley faced one of the worst earthquakes in 2008 and later the fury of floods in 2014 which ravaged the valley and its inhabitants. This has resulted in deconstruction of morality and ethics, claustrophobia, Xenophobia, fear of God, nature’s destructive capabilities and existentialism.
As far as short story writers are concerned there are many of them who have either died or rested their pen due to switch over to mother tongue or escaped to Bollywood or else due to venturing into greener pastures. Some names are recounted here: Prem Nath Pardesi, Prof Hamidi Kashmiri, Dr Brij Premi, Ramanand Sagar, Thakur Poonchi, Tej Bahadur Bhan, Makhmoor Hussain Badakshi, Shabnam Qayum, Hari Krishen Kaul, Amar Malmohi, Pushkar Nath, Brij Katyal, Kishori Manchanda, Ram Kumar Abrol, Mohan Yawar, Yash Saroj, O P Sharma Sarthi, Mohd Zaman Azurda, Bashir Shah, Shamsuddin Shamim, Jyoteshwar Pathik etc. In the following paragraphs a brief resume is given of some important writers in the past and those who are currently active in the world of fiction in Jammu & Kashmir.
Prem Nath Pardesi:
Full Name Madhusudhan Sadhu, adopted pen name as ‘Raunaq’ initially and ‘Pardesi’ later. Born in Srinagar in 1909 and died on 9 Jan 1955. Journalist, poet, short story writer and drama writer (wrote dramas and features for the AIR). Due demise of his father left education after matriculation, joined his lawyer uncle as his agent and later got a job in State Excise and Customs department as Mahaldar due to which he was exposed to the life lived by peasantry of Kashmir. When All India Radio was established in Srinagar he was appointed as Program Assistant there and he tried his pen on writing radio dramas successfully. By then he had already established himself as a popular and influential short story writer of J&K rather appropriately as ‘Father of short story in J&K’. Since he was a government employee, he often wrote columns and articles by the pseudonym of Babu, Allai and Balak Ram Bari and his articles were published in Vitasta, Hamdard, Ranbir and Akhbare Aam Lahore. His literary life started in 1924 as a poet. After eight years Pardesi ventured into the field of short story writing through his maiden story, Suchi Prarthana, published in daily Ranbir Jammu in April 1932 and achieved uncontested fame. His one story ‘Teke Batni’ was published in annual number of Humayun Lahore (Jan 1946) and is regarded as his best story. He slowly graduated from romanticism and emotionalism to realism and depicted life of poor Kashmiris in all its nakedness with an unmatched style and dexterity. He often used metaphors and symbols to drive his point home. Pardesi was part of progressive writer’s association of J&K and the Cultural front besides which he also participated in political activity. His song ‘Hamla awar khabardar, Hum Kashmiri hain tayar’ rent the air during the tribal invasion of the state. Books published: Duniya Hamari, Sham-o-Sehar, Behte Chirag (stories), Chaurangi, Char Bete, Char Janbaz Bachche, Kirnein (For children), Pote (Novel) besides dozens of dramas written for AIR eg. Sang Tarash, Swami, Sangharsh etc.
Prem Nath Dhar:
Born in Srinagar on 25 July 1914, died 6 Sept 1976. Journalist and short story writer. Passed his secondary school from S P School Srinagar and later graduated from S P College Srinagar. Joined the freedom movement of J&K but in 1938 had to go to Lahore in search of job where he met and interacted with known Urdu writers and intellectuals and was influenced by Marxist philosophy. Joined National Conference of Sheikh Mohd Abdullah and was instrumental in giving shape to ‘Hal wala Jhanda’ of National Conference. In third decade of twentieth century Prem Nath shifted to Delhi and married a girl there. He was associated with English newspapers like The Hindustan Times and The Statesman where after he joined All India Radio (AIR) as editor of ‘The Indian Listener’ and later ‘Awaaz’. Later Prem Nath Dhar became a member of Central information Service and retired from there as DDG (Audiovisual publicity). In 1975 when Sheikh Abdullah took over the reins of power of the state again, Dhar became his press and publicity adviser equivalent to a Cabinet Minister. His thorough study of socialist thought brought him closer to Pardesi and the Progressive writers besides freedom movement of Kashmir. Even in Delhi he held meetings of Halqa-e-Arbab-e-Zauq in his residence at Sitaram Bazar where many famous writers used to meet. During this period, he started writing short stories and his first story Galat Fehmi was published in Adbi Duniya Lahore in 1945 whose Editor Salahuddin prophesied that a Great writer has arrived on the horizon of Urdu short story. Dhar often used human psychology as a tool and stream of consciousness as a technique in his stories. Books published: Kagaz ka Vasudev aur Deegar Afsane, Neeli Ankhein, Chinaron Ke Saye mein (stories), Ghar Ki Baat (Novel in Hindi), Ze Gabar (Opera in Kashmiri).
Prof Hamdi Kashmiri:
Actual Name Habibullah, born in Srinagar on 29 Jan 1932; poet, short story writer, novelist, and critic. Qualifications: MA (English) from J&K Univ, MA (Urdu) from Punjab Univ and English Teaching certificate for CIE. Was appointed as a teacher in English and later shifted to Urdu. Got his PhD in 1966 by writing dissertation on ‘Jadeed Urdu Nazm aur Europi Asarat’. His knowledge of English literature opened a new vista of knowledge before him. Hamdi worked as an English Lecturer from 1954 to 59 in S P College Srinagar, then as Asstt Secretary, Cultural Academy, J&K and remained associated with editing of the magazine Sheeraza, where after he shifted as faculty in Urdu department, Kashmir University ending up as Vice Chancellor of the University and Chairman, Sheikhul Alam Chair. He had command over English, Urdu and Kashmiri. Though Hamdi started his career as a prose writer but ultimately shifted to writing poetry and criticism in which he invented a different technique called ‘Ikhtishafi Tanqeed’. His first short story was Thokrein published in monthly Shuayein Delhi in 1951. Books: Wadi ke Phool, Sarab, Barf Mein Aag (stories), Baharon mein Sholay, Pighalte Khwab, Ajnabi Raaste, Bulandiyon Ke Khwab, Parchayon ka Shehar (novels), Anjuman-e- Aarzo (Travelogue) and about 27 books on literary criticism besides his poetry collections. His dramas, lyrics and book reviews were also broadcast from AIR. He was also briefly associated with Tameer and Jehat magazines. His stories focused on natural climate of the valley, life in Kashmir, poverty and hunger, corrupt police and bureaucracy, poverty ridden artistes and honest hardworking teachers.
Pushkar Nath:
Actual Name Pushkar Nath Tickoo, born 31 May 1934, died 19 Sept 2005; short story writer and drama writer especially for AIR. Graduated from J&K University and served in Accountant General Office in Jammu. He was part of local chapter of Halqa-e-Arbab-e-Zauq alongwith other known writers and slowly drifted from progressive writings to modernism and frequently used symbolic and metaphorical expression. Pushkar Nath’s first story was penned down as a challenge thrown by Dr Brij Premi to him which was titled Aur Kahani Adhoori Reh Gayi. It was published in Biswin Sadi in Feb 1953. There continued a flow of master pieces from his pen such as Maut Ke Saudagar, Parda Nishein, Dal Ke Basi, Aas Niraas, Galwan, Gali, Neele Amber Tale, Ababeel, Shahre Be Chirag etc. He dealt with psychological and behavioral aspects of human life, social and political problems, degeneration of ethical values, corruption and nepotism besides environmental issues. Most of his stories were focused on Kashmiri characters depicting their poverty, ignorance, illiteracy, innocence and contained beautiful description of the scenery of the valley which showed his keen observation power. Pushkar Nath also indulged in experiments of style and technique and often used stream of consciousness technique in his stories. Books: Andhere Ujale, Dal Ke Basi, Ishq ka Chand Andhera republished later as Saat Rang Ke Sapne, Kaanch ki Duniya (Stories), Dasht-e-Tamanna (novel) besides around 70 radio dramas out of which one titled Sawan Jale Bhadon Jale got All India Akashwani Award.
Dr Brij Premi:
Full Name Brij Kishen Aima, born in Srinagar 24 Sept 1935, died on 20 Apr 1990 at Jammu; short story writer, columnist, Critic, Researcher and Expert on Manto. Educational Qualifications: MA (Hons), B Ed, Ph D. Joined as Teacher in State Govt and later worked as Reader in Kashmir University. His first story Aaqa was published in 1949 in local paper Jyoti. He often wrote column Qashein in daily Naujivan Srinagar with pseudonym as Yugdeep. Brij Premi was very much influenced by Marxism and associated himself with the Progressive writer’s movement. His stories portrayed the plight of poor Kashmiri peasants and laborers and he often tried to emulate the style of Krishen Chander. He has written more than 60 stories but many of them are not retrievable. His greatest contribution to Urdu literature was thought provoking thesis written on Sa’adat Hassan Manto which was later published in the form of book, Sa’adat Hassan Manto – Hayat aur Karname. Books: Sapnon Ki Shaam (stories), Harf-e-Justjo, Jalwa-e-Sadrang, Kashmir ke Mazameen, Zauq-e-Nazar, Jammu wa Kashmir mein Urdu Adab Ki Nish-o-numa, Chand Tehreerien, Manto Katha, Mabahis, Prem Nath Pardesi – Ahad, Shaks aur Funkar besides some books in Kashmiri.
Deepak Budki is a noted writer and author of several literary books
