Setting A Satirical Tone
Reviewed by Sher Alam Shinwari02 September 2008: THE genre of the personal essay entered Pushto language, like other languages of the subcontinent, in the 20th century. The pioneers of Pushto literary, namely trends Master Abdul Karim (1908-1961), Amir Hamza Khan Shinwari (1907-1994), Dost Mohammad Khan Kamil (1915-1981), Mir Mehdi Shah Mehdi (1926-1996), Qalandar Momand (1930-2003) and quite a few others, wrote personal essays in their own styles.
These are considered very pointed, substantive and standard writings which are reflective of the writer’s high intelligence, vast observation and good literary taste. After an elaborate critical discussion, the Ulasi Adabi Jirga, a literary organisation, comprising Pakhtoon literary critics, poets, intellectuals and writers named the new literary genre ‘personal essay’, or in Pushto Takal (singular) and Takaloona (plural).
The word Takal conveys the same meaning in Pushto as the word ‘essay’ does in English. It has been derived from a French word ‘Assay’.
The Takaloona written by the Pakhtoon pioneers used to be published in popular Pushto newspapers, periodicals and literary journals in the days past. Many of these essays are unfortunately not available to young writers.
It needs the effort of a hard working writer to collect those personal essays scattered in various journals and newspapers and compile them into book form. It will really serve as a great treasure trove for aspiring prose writers. But still it is a good omen for Pushto literature that a considerable number of young Pakhtoon writers have a propensity for writing Takals.
As a result this trend is growing day by day. Dr Israr stands out who has brought out an exclusive book Takal Pah Takal Ke in 1994 containing Takaloona. Mushtaq Majrooh Yousafzai is yet another author whose book Takaldasta contains
25 very interesting and thought provoking Takals.
Apart from being a very good poet, he is widely known as a keen researcher, linguist and an intelligent prose writer. He seems to be the first writer to have added humour and satire to Pushto Takal writing.
Going through this book one is convinced of his pungent satire and the humorous undercurrents sprinkled all through his essays. He has highlighted some literary and social issues prevailing in Pakhtoon societies that have never been touched upon by any other Pakhtoon Takal writer.
For instance, on ‘Khanism’ Mushtaq writes, ‘Thank God, we Khans are much affluent but still we wish to leave this village because living among this destitute and unprivileged class has become very difficult. However, may God Bless their forefathers who respected us (Khans) so much so that whenever we happened to sit on upright cots they would sit on upside down ones as a mark of respect.
Apart from being a very good poet, Mushtaq Majrooh is widely known as a keen researcher, linguist and an intelligent prose writer. Going through his book one is convinced of his pungent satire and the humorous undercurrents sprinkled all through his essays. He has highlighted some literary and social issues prevailing in Pakhtoon societies that have never been touched upon by any other Pakhtoon Takal writer.
These destitute would honour our commands but a few low-graded poets and some labour unionists empowered the present day poor servants to such a degree that we could not dare ask them. We Khans
still serve poor people. For example, I have employed one poor person to serve my dog of Alsatian breed. I pay him Rs700 a month.
A day ago I granted him leave as his mother had fallen ill. In his absence, I had to take my dog for having a bath into a nearby river. There I found a few village destitutes enjoying a riverside scene totally oblivious to the hard labour I was experiencing.
They did not bother even a bit that a Khan should be helped out. It’s all because a few individuals motivated them to such an existent that they lost the respect and decorum that we Khans used to receive earlier.
It’s not the only stratum of society that has put Khans in trouble. There are many like this.’ The book also contains rare topics like ‘Da Rahman Baba Okhkay’ (Tears of Rahman Baba), ‘Naway Zsaba’ (New language), ‘Dagha’ (This), ‘Tokhee Pasay Tokhay’ (Coughing after cough), ‘Khetah’ (belly) and others.
The book opens with ‘Da Ketaab Noom’ (naming a book) in which he differs with popular notions of Shakespeare saying what is in a name? Mushtaq asserts that giving a suitable name to a book is very important and carries a lot weight. The writers therefore must care for it.
In ‘Haal Bamuqabalah Maaze’ he humorously raises the question of how aged people glorify their past and denounce the present, despite enjoying its privileges while drawing up odd comparisons. He says the degeneration of human values continues in every age.
Another Takal titled ‘I and Co.’ alleges that most Pakhtoon poets have adopted Haiku for expressing views brimmed only with sexual connotations while they should use it for versifying people’s problems.
With a foreword by Dr Israr, the book will attract the readers and must be read for its medley of humour, satire and high seriousness which instigates one’s inner thoughts to catch up with important issues at hand.
Takaldasta
By Mushtaq Majrooh Yousafzai
Qureshi Graphics, Peshawar
Available with
University Book Agency, Peshawar
191pp. Price not listed
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