Saadat Hasan Manto
Saadat Hasan Manto
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Saadat Hasan Manto was born on May 11, 1912, in Lahore, Punjab (now Pakistan). He is commonly known by his pen name, Saadat Hasan.
Birth and Death Dates
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Born: May 11, 1912, in Lahore, Punjab
Died: January 18, 1955, in Sialkot, West Punjab (now Pakistan)
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Saadat Hasan Manto was a Pakistani short story writer and journalist. He is considered one of the most influential Urdu writers of all time.
Early Life and Background
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Manto grew up in a traditional Muslim family in Lahore. His father, Syed Fida Hassan, was a government official who worked as a revenue collector. Manto's mother, Mumtaz Begum, was known for her strong character and literary interests. The young Saadat Hasan showed an early interest in writing, often composing short stories and poems at school.
After completing his initial education, Manto moved to Bombay (now Mumbai) with his family. There, he started working as a writer for various magazines and newspapers, including the famous Urdu magazine, Shabnam. His early work was influenced by Indian and Western literature, which helped shape his unique writing style.
Major Accomplishments
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Manto's writing career spanned several decades, during which he published numerous short stories, novels, and essays in both Urdu and English. Some of his notable works include:
Toba Tek Singh: A poignant story about a partitioned village and its people struggling to come to terms with their new reality.
Thanda Ghosht (Cold Meat): A collection of short stories that explore themes of love, relationships, and social issues.
Notable Works or Actions
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Manto's writing was not limited to fiction. He also wrote extensively on social issues, politics, and culture. Some notable works include:
Babu Gopinath: A satirical essay on the Indian middle class.
Dara Shikoh: An essay that explores the life of the Mughal prince who was known for his philosophical and literary pursuits.
Impact and Legacy
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Manto's writing had a significant impact on Urdu literature, influencing generations of writers to come. His work is known for its raw honesty, sensitivity, and insight into human nature. Many of his stories explore themes of love, relationships, and social issues, which continue to resonate with readers today.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Manto's writing continues to be widely read and quoted due to its relevance and timeliness. His stories often tackle complex social issues, such as the partition of India, censorship, and the human condition. His unique style, which blends elements of realism and surrealism, has made him a favorite among readers and writers alike.
Manto's legacy extends beyond his writing. He is also remembered for his courageous stand against censorship and his commitment to artistic freedom. In an era marked by strict literary regulations, Manto continued to push boundaries, often at the cost of personal safety and professional security.
Today, Saadat Hasan Manto remains a celebrated figure in Pakistani literature. His work continues to be widely read and studied, both within Pakistan and around the world.
Quotes by Saadat Hasan Manto
Writers rarely set out to be national writers. They need small, intimate worlds, full of details; the macro scale of countries, especially those as wide and various as India, cannot be their direct material.
His last years were beset with financial troubles; he drank heavily; he wrote to Chughtai on more than one occasion, pleading with her to find a way for him to come back to India. She was surprised to learn that far from large protests and signed declarations on his behalf, many in Pakistan felt he deserved to be punished. He died on January 18, 1955 in Lahore at the age of forty two.
God commands worship but doesn’t five it. After having spent a few moments with nothingness, he gave life to existence... but where is nothingness now? Like a mother it gave birth to existence and then died in childbirth.
She could crowd a thousand thoughts into her head, but it was, at that moment like a strainer – the more she tried to fill up every little corner, the more emptiness there was.
Engulfed by a sudden emptiness, she was reminded of a train which after discharging passengers at various stations, has finally come to rest, empty at a railway shed.
Literature and film in my opinion are like saloons where bottles have no labels. I want to taste each one myself and figure out which is what. If I’m denied this by labelling, then my entertainment is considerably lessened.
I thought that the Hindus and Muslims would busy themselves in this war and their blood, which did not mix in mosque and temple, would finally mingle in Bombay’s drains and gutters. I.
For me, remembrance of things past has always been a waste of time, and what’s the point of tears? I don’t know. I’ve always been focussed on today. Yesterday and tomorrow hold no interest for me. What had to happen, did, and what will happen, will.
Manto had earlier been prosecuted in Lahore for obscenity, and one of the words alleged to have been obscene was, “breasts.