Review: ‘Sang-e-Zar Se Zakhmon Ke Phool Tak’
By: RAYEES AHMAD KUMAR
Dr Azizullah Sheerani hailing from Tonk Rajasthan is a multidimensional and renowned literary personality. He has tried his luck in every genere of literature and has succeeded in writing simultaneously about research, criticism, fiction, translation, travelogues and book reviews. He was associated with teaching profession also in Rajasthan and for some time he held the post of educational officer too.
There is a long list of his creative achievements. Most of his authored books received awards and appreciation for his outstanding contribution to Urdu literature.
The short story collection ‘Sang-e-Zar Se ZakhmonKePhoolTak’ published by GNK Publications, Kashmir is a combined form of his two collections, one Sang-e-Zar which is the collection of 11 short stories published in 1990 by Rajasthan Urdu Academy and 2nd one ZakhmonKePhoolTak in 2012 a collection of 15 short stories.
The cover is eye catching while the qualitative paper quality has further adorned it. Noted fiction writer of Valley, Noor Shah says “DrAzizullahSheerani has succeeded in illuminating his name in the world of literature. Though he has proved his mettle in every genre of literature but for fiction he is known all over the country. His magical and powerful pen has always remained nonstop to highlight the romantic, social and other issues of society through his writings”. DrAbulFaizUsmani and DrRifatAkhtarhave also highlighted the contribution made by AzizullahSheerani in the field of literature. According to them AzizullahSheerani has started writing short stories and essays from his college life which were published in monthly urdu magazine Paasban and applauded by a wide readership.
The opening short story of the book Sang Reze (50-56) based on a romantic story of Arshi and Azar reflects AzizullahSheerani’s artistic prowess of creating best fictions through his pen encompassing emotions and aspirations of two young souls. Another story AjnabiAjnabi (57-66) is about a female nurse who works in a hospital to bear the expenses of his home and to live for others. However she looks lugubrious because she lacked a decent and kind relationship in her life as her dreams of tying her nuptial with Adnan were completely shattered by Adnan’s Meternal aunt and Uncle who had raised him and were hellbent to marry him with their own daughter Azra.
MasoumSiski(68-74), is skillfully crafted encompassing a myriad of social issues. Poverty which is the biggest curse and hurdle in one’s educational journey forcing even tender aged children to work in factories and Mills to minimise the financial burden of their parents is clearly evident in this story besides parent’s conservative ideology of restricting their sons to marry a girl of their choice just because her mother had committed a sin in her youth. Aajki Salma (82-88) – DrAzizullahSheerani has nicely composed this one compelling a reader to go through its end. It manifests the fickle minded nature of women who seem to be loving a person but in reality they only swindle and mislead him. Poverty and humble family background always acts as an impediment in one’s healthy relationship particularly the one’s intending to marry as has been portrayed in this story.
Another story, Kotahiyan (89-93), highlights the avaricious and acquisitive nature of people who intend to marry their sons only in royal and affluent families to get plentiful of dowry. They completely neglect the value and principles of a good relationship. Love, compassion and mercy are almost alien to them who only care about accumulating huge wealth by whatever means.
Dhalan(94-101), this one a romantic one has been artistically woven by DrAzizullahSheerani about Neelam a woman who anxiously crave for her lifetime companion but loneliness haunts her most and she almost makes an immortal friendship with Sun and Moon which rise and set at regular intervals of time without any illusion or deceit like men. Faisla (102-109), this one is a commentary of the court discourse between Faesal a lawyer and the supporters of girl who craves for a divorce from her husband. It is a clear reflection of the varied judgments at different occasions to either disappoint or please the justice seekers in the court room.
Maqtoolkoun(153-59), this one has been meticulously penned to make the expression of severe consequences of disturbance and armed conflicts of a region where the killer knows not why he has done a murder and the victim is unaware about his crime. Ye Jung KabKhatam ho Gi (165-72), AzizullahSheerani has skillfully written this one highlighting the devastation caused by wars and erecting borders to restrict the movement of people through them. It is a detailed analysis of how wars transform happy homes into mere four walled houses by killing their guardians, women get widowed and innocent children become orphans due to bloodshed.
In war torn regions of globe the dreams of young girls are shattered the moment their paramours cross borders to get armed training there and create an atmosphere of terror, chaos and confusion here. DarpokLamhein (173-77), in a state of chous and confusion, terror and panic people feel lugubrious and doesn’t know the cause of uncertainty. This story reveals the malpractices in offices and how a boss is duped by his own subordinate staff. ZakhmonKePhool(189-93)- this one is the title short story depicting the predicament of a couple who had lost three children one after another in ten years of their marriage.
It brings tears in the eyes of readers and the pain of losing one’s child is felt while going through the lines of this story. Praying for years to get the tag of mother and then losing them one after another is the most challenging situation to bear. Farar(201-05), this romantic story revolves around Shamas a guy who makes intimacy with many girls and Shama a girl who solemnly declares that she loves only Shamas that too from the core of her heart but her statement proves wrong and inaccurate when Shamas discovers her with a young man Kashif.
Thoker(206-08), meticulously penned story reflects the mere friendship between Faheem and Nargis proving a Mirage the moment he had thought to make her a lifetime companion but she actually had maintained a crystal clear friendship with him and never wanted to shatter the dreams of ShahidaFaheem’s legal spouse to whom Faheem never treated humanely.
BholaKishan(223-27), delves into the world of illiteracy where people suffer at each step for being uneducated. They may be skilled and smart, but the lack of education haunts them most in life. BholaKishan an illiterate person feels handicapped to know about the bus he had to board but in his adult age he makes dedicated efforts to learn about reading and writing after being inspired by a passenger in the bus.
Rang ChodtiHina(228-31), amidst an environment of suspicion and misgivings families get devastated as cracks develop among the blood relatives dwelling under a common roof as has been beautifully portrayed in this story about Hina and her brother’s wife. After going through the stories of this book, I am of the firm belief that DrAzizullahSheerani is one among the leading and distinguished fiction writers of country who knows how to write fiction and what makes a story to be hailed by the readers.
Writer is a columnist.
Kashmir Images is an English language daily newspaper published from Srinagar (J&K), India. The newspaper is one of the largest circulated English dailies of Kashmir and its hard copies reach every nook and corner of Kashmir Valley besides Jammu and Ladakh region.
