TLK

Or some of it were the fragment of Josh Malihahbadi’sand Qudratullah Shahab’s imagination.

Yadon Ki Barat (Josh Malihabadi)

17 Ishqs
I am more talking about his 17 Ishqs that later converted into 18 ishqs cause he added one more in the later edition of the book. Some of them sounded really one sided. It sounded like that at times, Josh could not differentiate between the respect from her female admirers and a real Ishq.

I understand, and he implied also that he was a very dil phaink ashiq but in spite of being great poet and thinker, he never understood the difference between real Ishq and a flirt (that also sometime one sided)
….
Maoulana Moddoodi

One thing that really bothered me in the book was his openness that entered the vulgarity domain very often. And yes, he was very open about himself but he brought other people’s name in it

…like at one point he talked about visiting a ‘Kothaa’ to see Mujraa of a tawa’ef and amongst some, he had Modoodi with him. He conveniently said that I don’t remember if the person was 'The Modoodi '(founder of Jamat Islami) or his brother. That implication was not at all in good taste, to bring someone’s name as part of a controversial enviornmenet without being sure about it

ShahabNama

In my opinion, it is a much greater biography than Yaadon Ki Baraat, but there is one place where I think that his memoirs were questionable

Daak Bangla

I am talking about his daak banglaa chapter (maybe the name was different) where he came across that supernatural creature. If a very heavy bed (that was raised to the roof by that creature) falls on your toe, your toe will crush to nothingness, though all happened to him was that he lost the senses in that toe for good.

I remember reading an article by his daughter where she also kind of shushed that chapter as somewhat of a gray area where she was not sure about it.

Bushra

Ye Jush Malih Abadi khud itne be hiya o be sharam or baighairat magar sari ghairzt jagti thi orton ki daffa, zanan khany main, "fahush" sabzian sabut nahi katti hoi halat main bhyji jati thin
PS: waise khwateen ko sabzi katne k tradood se tu nijat milti thi

TLK

Hahaha .. yes I remmber .. and oon ke dada jaan, khandaan ki sub bahoo baityon ke "used pads" collect kertay thay, just to keep track of their monthly periods

Mirch

I remember khuda ka wajood kay baray main akhree daleel . It is classic.

Bushra

TLK

I dont recall that Mirch, could you please share ...

Mirch

Josh writes and I quote:
I had a friend who was a lecturer at college , he was nice , honest , hardworking and all that but he would not be employed at one college or city for long time and would be transfered after few months or years.
One day we were discussing about existance of Allah.
He said I can give THE LAST ARGUMENT TO PROVE EXISTANCE OF GOD.
So everybody became attentive "hama tun gosh" as nobody has ever given the last argument for the existance of Allah.

He said, you all know me , I am honest , nice , hardworking , right ?
All the friends said yes .
He said " toh phir yeh kiss ka danda hay jo maree ***** main ghusa hoa hay aur mujhay shahar shahar lee-a phirta hay.!!!!"

TLK

I remember his logic about Sharaab, where he said that Quran only says that dont just go near namaz when you are intoxicated ... it does not say dont drink at all

Mirch

Lagta hay marhoom burhapay main sathia ga-a thay. Khair Haq maghfarat karay , ajab azaad mard tha.

WitchDoctor

This is just one example, there are others such as his correspondence with 90 or the way he has presented (or hidden) his contribution in political affairs during Ayub's reign.

Personally, in all such biographies, more than fact finding, I look at the literary value of the writing and Shahabnama is a brilliant piece of literature.

arjay

WitchDoctor

Speaking of Yado'n kee baraat and Shahab nama, QU Shahab has somewhere mentioned in Shahab naama that his wife (Dr. Iffat) was a great admirer of Josh because of Yado'n kee baraat. I wonder what impressed the late Doc so much.....

BTW, my wife, after she had read (don't know completely or partially) Yadon kee baraat, strictly forbid me to put this book up in the book shelf as she felt that it would communicate a very poor taste on our part to any viewer

WitchDoctor

Out of curiosity, do you know where is Shahab sahib's son and what does he do?

arjay

My parents know SAQIB....fro the time he was born. In fact, due to close proximity with Shahab Chacha and Iffat Aunty---and my parents---my mom specially flew to Rawalpindi when Iffat Aunty gave birth to Saqib ( who was also nicked MOULVI by my Dad and Shahab Chacha )

A few weeks back---upon curiosity---when someone with not a very gullible pseudonym---wrote high and good on Shahab Chacha on my thread ( I guess this thread is the by-product of mine.. onm URDU ADAB.. )....I did ask Ammijan whether Saqib ever calls..and she did say that mid-last year..Saqib did call and spoke to her. Out of her age and memory..she forgets what he told her on his whereabouts..but i reckon he is in Isloo...the fact which I will further confirm from Mumtaz Mufti's daughter N and son Aksi...known to me well...!!

Best,

Raju

Code_Red

TLK

Qudratullah Shahaab's daughter .. and if he did not have one then I goofed up big time

TLK

and please RJ, dont think that I am not in love with Qudratullah Shahaab's writing and dont realize his value in Urdu Adab. I personally think that he is one of the best...

I just have my doubts about that part of his biography that I mentioned

WiseGuy

Yup Saqib is his only son.
I also read somewhere that when people use to call him at office, because of his long name he use to reply like, "hello allah speaking"

Mirch

I do not think he was an atheist ? was he ?

WitchDoctor

Thanks for the info RJ. Because of your family background and your personal interest, you are a valuable source of information that, otherwise, is not available elsewhere.