Author: Gopi Chand Narang
Translator(s)/ Editors(s): Jai Ratan
Publisher: Sahitya Akademi
Year: 2009
Language: English
Pages: 259
ISBN/UPC (if available): 9788126019960
Description
Among the leading progressive Urdu writers of the 20th century, Rajinder Singh Bedi (1915-84) was also a prolific screenplay and dialogue writer. Born in the Sialkot District (now in Pakistan), Bedi started his Career with the All India Radio in Lahore. He later became director of the Jammu and Kashmir Broadcasting Service.
Of the three Urdu writers, Manto, Krishan Chander and Bedi, who formed a literary triumvirate, Bedi strode the scene like a Colossus. He held his readers enthralled by the use of mots justes virtuosity and grip on the realities of life. He seemed to have arrived with his very first short stories. People read him for pleasure, for illumination and for an insightful understanding of life. Not standing for any "isms", he stood for the entire humanity.
Unique in his delineation of Female characters, Bedi deals with them with a Buddha-like compassion. There is a strong suggestive element in his stories which links him with the mainstream of the Indian Tradition and brings out the Indianness in his stories.
An effort has been made by Professor Gopi Chand Narang to make this Anthology fully representative of Bedi's writings in this genre. It runs through the full gamut by touching upon the various phases of Bedi's development.
Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Woollen Coat
3. The Eclipse
4. Rahman's Shoes
5. Lajwanti
6. Jogia
7. Babbul : The Boy Saved the Day
8. Give Me Your Sorrows
9. Too Tall for Marriage
10. Beyoiid the Terminus
11. Bankruptcy
12. Maithun
13. Only a Cigarette
14. Intermittent Fever
15. Where is the Funeral Procession?
16. The Barren One
17. Speak Up!
18. A Father for Sale
19. In Front of the Mirror
20. A Note on the Creative Process and the Art of Short Story