Daily Times

WIDOWS & DAUGHTERS: GENDER, KINSHIP & POWER IN SOUTH ASIA BY ANNA SUVOROVA — this book outlines the so-called ‘contemporary Asian matriarchate’ focusing on six women who have held the office of prime minister in South Asia. The pioneers were Sirimavo Bandaranaike of Sri Lanka and Indira Gandhi, who headed the Government of India. They were followed by Benazir Bhutto, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Sheikh Hasina Wajed and Begum Khaleda Zia, holders of the same position in Bangladesh, and Chandrika Kumaratunga, the Sri Lankan President. This book tries to unravel the question of how these six women have managed to take power and how they have been able to exploit to their benefit the traditions of sexuality, motherhood, and kinship in South Asia.

IN SEARCH OF BUTTERFLIES EDITED & TRANSLATED BY SYED SAEED NAQVI — this book comprises seventeen contemporary short stories, translated into English from Urdu. These stories exemplify the wide range of current literary tendencies and trends. They thereby introduce postmodern Urdu fiction and its authors to readers who may be unfamiliar with the language or the work of some of the authors included in this collection. The selection of stories is varied and well-paced, and will prove an enjoyable reading experience. The short stories in this compilation include work by such renowned authors as Intezar Hussain, Khalida Hussain, and Zaheda Hina, as well as by fresher, less widely known writers.

A THOUSAND CUPS OF TEA: AMONG TEA LOVERS IN PAKISTAN & ELSEWHERE IN THE MUSLIM WORLD BY JÜRGEN WASIM FREMBGEN — this travelogue is a journey through the production, preparation, and consumption of tea from North Africa to South Asia. With deep insights into the diverse habits, customs, preferences, and traditions surrounding this practice, the author delves into painting a cross-cultural panorama of a simple activity through detailed vignettes and historical anecdotes based on personal observations and thorough ethnographic research. Woven amongst a combination of both culinary and cultural literature, this simple, accessible knowledge allows the reader to explore the brewing herbs not only as a mixture of hot refreshment, but also as a social custom.

ROSHNIYOUN KA SHEHAR: NOVELETTE BY IBN-E-SAEED — set in post-World War II London, this novel chronicles a young man’s journey of self-discovery. It is a discourse on the meaning of post colonialism, the newly acquired freedom of a young country and its consequences, and how the lives of those who had migrated to England were altered by their decision to move and take up residence in England.

MODERN URDU SHORT STORIES FROM PAKISTAN TRANSLATED BY AMINA AZFAR — this anthology brings together English translations of twenty-six Urdu short stories by renowned Pakistani writers. Stories included in the anthology were written between 1947 and the present time. Authors range from the celebrated Saadat Hasan Manto and Intizar Husain to Dr Shershah Syed and Zafar Mehmood. Not all of these stories are necessarily the most famous works of their authors, and most of them have not been translated into English before. However, their exquisite depiction of diverse experiences and social realities justifies calling them unforgettable gems of Urdu short story writing.