Translation of Manto, Qasmi

Lahore

“Thoughtful Musings” and “More Manto” books, translated from Urdu to English by Mujahid Eishai, with the collaboration of Sang-e-Meel Publications, was launched at Punjabi Institute of Cultural and Languages (PILAC) in Lahore on Saturday.  

The outreach and impact of Saadat Hasan Manto and Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi’s work could have been much more on the international literary scene if there works had been translated into English. These views were expressed by Amjad Islam Amjad and Dr Nahid Qasmi, Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi’s daughter, and Mujahid Eishai. Eishai said: "My objective of translating Urdu literature of Pakistan into the English language has somewhat changed. I have a strong feeling the world had ignored the Pakistani writers because of limited readership. That is why I decided to translate the books of Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi and Saadat Husan Manto. It was difficult to translate the books of the literary giants."  Amjad Islam Amjad lauded Mujahid for a good job. "The writers, who earned a name on the horizon of literature, did not write in English. Their books were translated into English and the world awarded and honoured them," he added.  Nahid Qasmi said: "A writer is a treasure of society while a translator is a benefactor. Mujahid has transferred the knowledge and beauty of fiction to next generation by translation of the famous writers. Mujahid has maintained the freshness of the English language in translating the books."