Daily Times

Maqsood Ilahi Shaikh from Bradford is considered as the inventor of Pop Kahani (a small story); a new domain of literature; the word ‘pop’ being borrowed from the word pop music or from the word popular of which pop is the abbreviation.

The first chapter of his book Samunder Upar Jhaag Ander Moti (Surf above and pearls beneath the sea) compiled by Abdul Hye and published by Creative Stars Publications, New Delhi, India comprises Pop Kahanian. The most interesting is a three liner Pop Kahani titled ‘Cloning’. It says that there are no two views on the creation of Eve (Hawwa) who was created by God by taking her from the rib of Adam, to be Adam’s companion in Garden of Eden. Then why cloning is not allowed in the Present Day, questions the author?

Another pop story is related to the one just quoted. It is titled ‘Jurm’ (crime). In a park a Padre was explaining to a non-Christen about the creation of this world. Adam bore two sons Hebeel and Qabeel. The site muslimink says that wretched soul was Q?beel (Cain), who was led by arrogance and envy to do away with his younger brother, H?beel (Abel). The story is related in S?rah al-M?’idah2, beginning directly with the incident which provoked the resentful brother to obey his evil inclination. Old Testament legends say that Q?beel had already rebelled and angered his Lord. He refused to marry his twin sister to H?beel as their father, Adam, had ordered because he desired her for himself.

The fourth section of the book comprises essays on various topics. Maqsood Ilahi Shaikh shares his memory of greeting Queen Elizabeth and Duke of Edinburgh in Buckingham Palace during her 60 years as Queen of England in June 2012. He remembers the sweetness and the soft touch of her hand

Then H?beel, who was a shepherd, sacrificed the best of his flock to Allah while Q?beel, who was a cultivator of crops, offered only that which was spoiled and unfit to eat. So Allah sent a flame from the Heaven which consumed the offering of H?beel, showing His acceptance of it, while that of Q?beel remained untouched. About the murder of Habeel, Padre said that Qabeel being afraid of peoples’ anger prayed to God to forgive him that He did. “This means that we all are the off-shoots of the criminal Qabeel” exclaimed the non-Christian! An atheist sitting close-by thought that God is strange that he remained a silent spectator on Habeel’s murder and pardoned Qabeel with His statesmanship.

The next section of Shaikh Saheb’s book comprises ‘Afsaney’ (short stories). The short story ‘Waqt Nahi Thamta, Thame Ga?’ (Time doesn’t stop. Would it?) is story of a grandpa who does not live to see his 100th birthday as he dies on the birthday morning. This story draws attention to the fact that grandpa had to find refuge in his cousin’s house as his own children left for abroad leaving him high and dry. His cousin’s children treated him like their real grandfather all their lives. The details of making a 100 pound three layer cake followed by playing of a cricket match are interesting as grandpa was remembered for his centuries playing cricket when he was young. This section contains another five short stories.

Selected pop stories by Maqsood Ilahi Shaikh comprise the contents of the third section of the book under review. The Pop Story ‘Zaman Badla Zaban Badli’ is based on generation gap, A couple gets a place to stay at a friend’s flat near Islamabad. They enjoy the luxury of the place. A child looks after their errands. Shakir forgets his glasses in ‘Ghusal Khana’ and asks the child to fetch it for him. The child returns empty handed. When asked as to whether he went to ‘Ghusal Khana’ or not, he shot back that they called it Bath Room.

The last Pop Story titled ‘Thikana’ is a satire on British funeral system. Three friends Milkha Singh, Jeetu Raam and Sufi Ismail were of different religion. The former two used to deposit monthly installments for their funeral. Soofi was not in favour and always desired to return to his native land for burial. When he makes up his mind, he dies of heart attack the moment the flight took off. As per law of the land his body was brought back for burial where his family had to spend hundreds of pounds for his burial. To this reviewer’s perception Pop stories are anecdotes, satire on the social system, problems of relationship etc. Many topics are covered with brevity.

The fourth section of the book comprises essays on varied topics. Maqsood Ilahi Shaikh shares his memory of greeting Queen Elizabeth and Duke of Edinburgh in Buckingham Palace during her 60 years of Elizabeth as Queen of England in June 2012. He remembers the sweetness and soft touch of her hand shake.

In the next section two interviews of Shaikh Saheb by Kamran Ghani and Abdul Hye are reproduced. The largest section of the book however is various essays by different writers on the personality and interest of Maqsood Ilali Shaikh. For example Mansha Yaad concentrates on the first collection title ‘Mun Darpan”s first story in which emotions and strange feelings have been captured. Neither this emotion is of love nor hate, neither acceptance nor rejection. Two appreciation letters of Ismat Chughtai form an interesting content of letters to Maqsood Ilahi Shaikh making this book all the more interesting.

The writer is the recipient of the prestigious Pride of Performance award. He can be reached at doc_amjad@hotmail.com