he Aleph Review has gradually secured a place for itself as an important literary journal in Pakistan. Having published its sixth volume earlier this year, the anthology has created a substantial reader base as well as a reputation to bring forth fine writing coming out of South Asia in general but Pakistan in particular. To be able to read fiction and nonfiction coming out of a country is to be able to get a free ticket for a deep diving session into the minds of its people. This year the anthology reserves its place as a special treat. The theme is humour. It indeed is a delight to be able to read work seeped in subtle, dark, reserved and at times completely out-there humour by some new voices and some veterans.

The fiction section of the anthology provides a well-curated and thoughtful collection of a diverse group of writers giving humorous and fresh perspectives on topics terribly relevant to Pakistanis. One of the short stories, The Perfect Match by Osman Haneef, is about a woman looking for a suitable match in Lahore. She ends up seeing a matchmaker in the Walled City where the outright hilarious exchange between the two highlights the deep-rooted hypocrisy in our system when it comes to finding a wife. The end of this short story, however, hits one in the face like a rock. It then stays with you for a while. On a similar topic, Taha Kekar’s A Drop of Milk explores the age-old partnership of proposals and a cup of tea in South Asia, which is an enjoyable read covering themes like marriage, subservience, complicated parent-child relationships, unfulfilled love – all tied together carefully with a bow of hilarity.

Another short story that really spoke to me was Nau Nuqaat by Sarah Shamim. It is a cli-fi short story that shows Karachi after a climate revolution that takes place post-Covid. The readers see a world full of environmentally friendly appliances, homes, grocery stores and characters keen on staying green – all through the eyes of a young girl who disdains everything about it. Shamim comes through as a fresh voice covering an imperative topic. Wajahat Malik’s Gul Zaman Charsee, a short story about a man and his relationship with hashish, electric currents and sex with a leftist touch to it, is an immensely pleasurable read.

The fiction section of the anthology covers a wide range of topics from marriage to drug abuse and religious hypocrisy to animal rights and more. One such short story explores the mysterious murder that reveals the killer to be driven by abuse of animal rights. Animal Care, by Rana Saadullah Khan, is a suspenseful and heartwarming story that keeps the reader hooked on every word.

Vol 6 is divided into categories including Archive, Fiction, Interviews, Essays, Travel, Poetry and Graphic Stories. While the travel section somewhat disappoints, others do not. One of the essays, Outnumbered by Shazaf Fatima Haider, author of A Firefly in the Dark and How it Happened, is a downright hilarious piece on the troubles and joys of parenthood. The slapstick comedy gives a no-nonsense perspective on what it takes to raise tiny humans – showing the true, dirty work while the reader reaches for a tissue to wipe the tears of laughter. On a completely different note, Saba Karim’s Humour Meets Horror and It’s Far From Funny, talk about the intersection of humour and horror as a vehicle for survivors to speak up about the shock, trauma and grief associated with sexual harassment. Karim effectively makes a case about the flaw in our system when it comes to the “script” survivors are expected to follow when they decide to speak out and the change of power dynamics that can take place if the same is done using comic relief. “When individuals make the brave, painful yet critical decision to walk the razor-thin line between rip-roaring pantomime and macabre tragedy, they actively choose a fresh reclamation script – no longer as we know it.” The essay which is meticulously written is a terribly important read in this day and age when the survivor script really is a bigger issue than it’s thought to be.

Another interesting topic covered in the collection is political cartooning and caricaturists in Pakistan. Aasim Akhtar’s piece, Vai Ell- Beloved Infidel, is about a cartoonist named Yusuf Lodi who worked for the Peshawar Times and The Frontier Guardian in the 1960s and ’70s, respectively. While this piece sheds light on the history of and the troubles associated with political cartooning in this country through one cartoonist, Saadia Gardezi’s essay Laughing Tears explains the craft in detail: what a political cartoon should convey and the importance of the craft in society and the current day censorship around it.

The Aleph Review Vol 6 brings together writers and artists of all kinds of genres under one umbrella. For any country, the voice of its artists being heard is one of the most crucial elements that can lead to change and progress – exactly what this anthology aims to achieve. While it does that, it also manages to be a treat for the eyes and the mind.

The Aleph Review Vol 6

Edited by Mehvash Amin

Publisher: Broken Leg Publications, 2022

Pages: 220

Price: Rs 1,800

The reviewer is a writer and journalist based in Lahore. She has studied at Mount Holyoke College and Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism