Saadat Hassan Manto

Saadat Hassan Manto

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Category: Literature

Saadat Hassan Manto Profile

  • Name:
  • Saadat Hassan Manto
  • Born:
  • May 11, 1912
  • Died:
  • January 18, 1955

Saadat Hassan Manto Biography

Saadat Hassan Manto was a British Indian-born Pakistani short story writer of the Urdu language, scriptwriter and journalist. He is regarded as one among the best Urdu short story writers of 20th century. His most popular short stories are Bu, Toba Tek Singh, Khol do and Thanda Gosht. His published collection of books include – 22 collection of short stories, 5 collection of radio plays, three collections of essays, one novel and two collections of personal sketches. Manto was trialed for obscenity six times, before and after independence, but never convicted.

 

His literary career started with translation of great works of famous writers like Victor Hugo, Oscar Wilde and Gorky. He published his first short story, Tamasha and it was based on the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. He was deeply influenced by progressive writers of his times and those impulses were reflected on his early works as well. But his works later progressed towards darkness of the human psyche. But his final works well reflected his own financial struggles. His final work, Toba Tek Singh was a black comedy. His works were often compared with D. H. Lawrence who wrote on subjects that were regarded as taboo in the society. "If you find my stories dirty, the society you are living in is dirty”, Manto commented once.

 

A few of his noted works include - Kaali Shalwar, Shikari Auratein, Badshahat Ka Khatimah, Dhuan, Siyah Hashiye, Atishparay, Chugaad, Afsane Aur Dramay, Badshahat Ka Khatimah, Khali Botlein, Sarkandon Ke Peechhey, Thanda Gosht and Pardey ke peeche. A couple of his sketches are Loud speaker and Ganjey Farishtey. Financial troubles made Saadat alcoholic and in his last days, he wrote only to earn money for a living. In a few years, his fair complexion became pale and his hair turned grey. Extra consumption of alcohol consumed his life in 1955 at the age of only 42!

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Updated: March 14, 2014

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