Mohd Mubeen, widely recognized by his pen name M. Mubeen, is a noted and acclaimed litterateur of India. He writes extensively in both Hindi and Urdu languages, with drama, science fiction, and fiction being his preferred literary genres. A prolific writer, Mubeen has authored 44 books in Urdu and 33 in Hindi, earning multiple literary accolades over the years. His latest Urdu short story collection, Parayi Kokh Ka Dard, is his sixth anthology of short stories. Spanning 216 pages, the book has been published by the reputed GNK Publications.
The collection’s aesthetically designed cover page adds to its appeal, and the author has dedicated this work to Hafiz Wali Mohd Khan of Ahmedabad. About this collection, Hafiz Wali Mohd Khan remarks: “The author has accorded special importance to the titles of the stories. The locally rooted characters and day-to-day happenings lend a distinct charm to this collection, allowing readers to relate to them as reflections of their own lives.” In his proem, M Mubeen expresses: “While placing this collection in the hands of readers, I experience the same pleasure I felt while handing them my earlier works.” He also reflects on a contemporary concern, observing that literature across the world’s major languages faces numerous challenges today—the most pressing among them being the growing influence of artificial intelligence.
He notes how novice and unskilled writers can now create literary content within minutes—work that once took seasoned writers months to complete. Parayi Kokh Ka Dard thus stands as yet another testament to M Mubeen’s creative brilliance and his deep concern for the evolving landscape of world literature. This anthology comprises twenty meticulously written short stories, each composed with deep reflection on the social and moral degradation of contemporary times. Gonga Boul Raha Hai, the opening story of the collection, is eloquently crafted by the author. It portrays the challenges faced by speech-impaired individuals in expressing themselves, and how society often fails to comprehend their silent language. Beyond this, the story underscores a deeper social issue — a local sarpanch, after violating the chastity of a young girl, abandons her in an open field. A mute man witnesses the heinous act and desperately tries to alert the villagers, but instead of confronting or condemning the crime, they quietly return to their homes, turning a blind eye to the injustice.
“Dakhma ke Gadh” is another short story that reveals the centuries-old traditional practice of the Parsi Zoroastrian community, in which the dead bodies of their relatives are left to be consumed by predatory birds—especially vultures—instead of being buried or cremated, as they consider the earth and fire sacred. The story vividly depicts how, in the absence of human corpses for a long time, vultures begin to attack living people. “Parayi Kokh Ka Dard”, the title story of this collection, is a wonderfully composed narrative that unveils the grave issue of women’s oppression at the hands of a drunkard husband. He rents out his wife’s womb and, in return, earns a hefty sum, which he squanders on drinking and other indulgences. The woman carries a child in her womb for nine long months, but after merely catching a glimpse of the newborn boy, she is forbidden from seeing or searching for him again. Yet, after years of longing and emotional torment, she finally manages to find him—seeing him both in the morning and evening hours—symbolizing the true essence of “Parayi Kokh Ka Dard” (the pain of a borrowed womb). I deeply loved this story by the author; it is indeed both inspiring and thought-provoking. Abdul Puncture Wala — This story captures the grim ordeal of the COVID-19 pandemic, when people were confined indoors and the world was engulfed in fear, hopelessness, and deprivation.
Humanity seemed to have retreated as everyone cared only for their own safety. Amid these testing times, a man who had already lost his son and mother to the deadly virus — rose above personal grief. Risking his own life and health, he selflessly helped others by transporting oxygen cylinders to those in desperate need. “Sone ke Daant” is a reflection of human selfishness and greed. It portrays how people often lose their sense of right and wrong in their pursuit of wealth — especially when it comes without effort. The story revolves around a man with three golden teeth who dies, and after his cremation, ten people desperately search for those golden teeth. However, all their efforts ultimately go in vain, highlighting the futility of greed and unearned desires. Doulat is a satire on the human instinct of greed for wealth and materialism. We often neglect true prosperity and peace of mind, preferring instead to accumulate more wealth—only to lose our inner peace in the process. The same happens to Doulat Chowdry, who agrees to keep forty lakh rupees in his custody to help a friend who doubts his own ability to keep it safe. However, instead of sleeping peacefully that night, Doulat Chowdry spends the entire night staring at the ceiling, unable to rest, consumed by the burden of wealth that isn’t even his own. “Waris” highlights the increasing tendency of begging, the disloyalty of sons towards their parents, and the disregard for the hard work and sacrifices parents make while raising their children. These themes are beautifully woven together through the author’s magical use of words. All the stories in this collection are praiseworthy and commendable, deserving the attention of every enthusiastic reader.
ABOUT THE REVIEWER
Rayees Ahmad Kumar is a columnist based in Qazigund-Kashmir