Book Review #113 : Patna Blues

Book :- Patna Blues

Author :- Abdullah Khan

Publisher :- Juggernaut

First thing first. I would like to express my utmost gratitude to Mr. Abdullah Khan for entrusting me with the review for his debut book ‘Patna Blues’.

"Patna Blues" revolves around three main characters; Arif, a Muslim boy from the lower-middle-class family who dreams of becoming an official of the IAS and changing the fortune of his family. Zakir, Arif's younger brother and an aspiring actor who eventually becomes a victim of the fascist side of India. The love of his life, Sumitra, a mature married Hindu woman. Arif and Sumitra, two amateur poets, share their love and passion for Urdu poetry. Urdu Shayaris are the fragrance of this story which will certainly make you fall in love with them.

The book is hard cover and the cover looks very good with a picture of a young boy who plants a lots of questions and curiosity in the reader's mind.

The book illuminates the post-Babri life of Indian Muslims too. The way the author has explained the life of a Muslim boy or a Muslim family in the Hindu majority India is the highlight of the book.

The book is a heart-wrenching tale from dream to destiny with a gripping storyline and admirable characters. It explores the various taboos existing in our society and highlights the hostility towards Muslims. The characters are relatable inspired from those who we have met at some point in our lives. My most loved character is that of Arif, a boy who despite of several hurdles doesn’t lose hope. His relationship with his family and friends is warm and pleasant.

The book is a gripping read which doesn’t allow you to take a break from it. At one point, it seems that Arif is a reflection of the author himself. The distinct portrayal of emotions make this novel an interesting yet realistic read.

Patna Blues does full justice to its title. As we accompany Arif Khan, the protagonist, along his life’s path, mostly strewn with speed breakers, pothole’s and occasionally down gravel filled paths as he trips and falls, again and again, we can’t help but root for him to do better: to pass the all important IAS exam this time, somehow be with the woman of his dreams, help his Abba with the financial burden that wears his lower middle class police officer father down, find his beloved younger brother Zakir who the police have picked up one dark night and then have denied picking up.

There are a lot of scenes and incidents that take place and are left unexplained as to why it happened or what exactly happened. I humbly demand him a sequel. The author writes lucid language that is relatable and understandable. The narration is a combination of crispiness, ornamentation and a bit of a drag at places.

I recommend this book to one and all. Especially to those who wants to try out new storylines, that are different from the unusual boy-meet-girl tale. It is a heartrending tale that would eventually pull the reader to the very depth of the narration. The ending is touching, a feast to the readers’ soul and perhaps the best part of the book.

Rating - 4.5/5

Faasley

Faasle bahut hain,

Par itna maan lijiye,

Aap khayalon me itne karib hain ki faaslon ka ehsaas hi nahin hota.

Aaina hoon main,

Mere samne aakar to dekho,

Khud nazar aaoge,

Tere harr lafz ko ibaadat banakar sambhala hai,

Dagmaga jaoge mera dard utha kar to dekho,

Yun to aasaan nazar aata hai,

Kitna mushkil hai meri raaha se jaakar to dekho.

Ajnabee toh yun hue,

Lagta hai baant ke samandar ko do dariya kiye,

Kabhi haalat se, kabhi zamane se bebas ho gaye,

Aate jaate najane kitne pal tere naam kiye,

Jhatak kar haath jab bhi chale door tujhse,

Zindagi ne tujh mein ulajhne k bahane hazaar diye.

Kayi zakhm dil ke seeye gaye,

Kayi mushkilon me jeeye,

Magar hote apne barbaad wajood ki khabar na le sake..

Faaslon ka asli ehsaas toh tab hua,

Jab maine kaha 'theek hun' aur aapne maan liya..

Darmiyan humare fasslon ko kuch aur bhi baaki rehne do,

Ek baar fir kabhi, yun hi achanak milne ki aarzo toh baaki rehne do..

Kal mile hum agar kahin,

Toh kuch ho kehne tumhare pass aur kuch sunne humare paas,

Gile shikvon ki ho agar baarish, toh bheeg sake hum sath sath,

Muh fer kar na nikal jayein, ajnabeeyon jaise,

Kuch lamho ki hi sahi,

Mulakaton se toh na katrayein..

Aaj Bhi Yaad Hai, Tere Naam Ki Tarah

Aaj bhi yaad hai, tere naam ki tarah,

Kya tujhe yaad aati hai meri,

Dekh kar chaand ki taraf?

Aey khuda, mere pyaar ko gehraai toh di,

Par umr lambi dena kyun bhool gaya?

Shukraguzaar toh hai hum, uss yaar ke,

Jisne waqt bitane humare sath, waqt toh nikala,

Warna kya reh jaata aaj yaad karne layak?

Duniya bhar ke ghamon se mehfooz the uski aankhon mein,

Beghar jaise ho gaye lagta hai ab.

Qayamat hai yeh tarq-e-arzoo bhi,

Warna na-ummedi aur thakaan itni na thi zindagi se kabhi.

Sang saathi sa hai wo, wo hai saaya,

Yu hi toh nahi hai pyaar beshumaar.

Koi toh baat hogi,

Aaj bhi yaad hai, naam tera, aayat ki tarah.

Kuch rishte lafzon se nahi toot te,

Pyaar ko kab angoothiyon aur kaagzon ka sahara laga?

Yeh dil ka rishta toh rooh se bandhta hai,

Jadoo harr kisi ke sath mehsoos nahi hota.

Jashn koi raas naa aaye,

Ladte hai roz,

Aur haath mein talvaar bhi nahi!

Yaadon se joojna aasaan bhi toh nahi,

Doobe hai iss kadar,

Kinaare pe aana hi bhool gaye ho maano.

Kyun rahe pyaar hamesha zyada,

Tere liye, kisi bhi aur jazbaat se?

Kaash kadam do chaar chal paate,

Phere tere mann ke..

Mere hisse aayi teri parchayiaan,

Kitne vaade poore karne baaki hai ab,

Iss pyar ko toh kayi zindagiyan lagengi fanah hone ko..

Lahu ke saath behte tere pyaar ko,

Karein kaise alag ragon se apni?

Yun toh insaan harr roz kuch khota hai,

Kisi ke sath se badhkar anmol cheez kya hai lekin?

Yaad unhe kiya jaata hai,

Jinhe bhool gaye ho,

Yun hi toh nahi,

Hichkiyaan aati hongi unhe saara saara din.

Karte hai baatein unse aasmaan ko dekh,

Shayad yahi pahuncha de mera pyaar uss tak,

Shayad yeh hawa hi selha de,

Uske baalon ko meri ungliyon ki taraf se,

Shayad yeh baarish hi bhiga de,

Mere bepanah pyaar se usse.

For The Love Of Urdu ~ #1

I am really fond of Urdu language and that kind of justifies my liking for Pakistani dramas.

I think Urdu really deserves a lot more love and acceptance. It is one language that lends itself to so many genres and art forms and should be brought to the public consciousness in a better way. This language lends so much depth to the words we want to convey and thereby it adds a lot to our existence.

I find people speaking Urdu, so much more adorable and attractive than those who don't! This language is too exotic, according to me.

When a fellow blogger friend suggested to watch, 'Dil-E-Muztar', I immediately went on to YouTube and there, it all started. Today, I finished watching the entire drama. And I must say, after watching Pakistani dramas, I ALWAYS learn a lot about life. They are so realistic! I have watched 5-6 of them, and each has taught me very important lessons of life.

And for the love of Urdu, I had to share this dialogue from 'Dil-E-Muztar'. (See the imagery) It has deep meanings hidden and I love the way it explains a lot about life.

Each one of us is broken, in one way or the other; yet every morning we get up and live our day. Each passing day, makes us stronger and some things never leave us, yet, we just learn how to gracefully hide them behind our smiling faces. And that is what I learnt about life - It never stops for anyone, it goes on.

Few shayari lines, I love from the title track of this show: (of course, I had to see the translation to get its complete meaning!)

"Dil-e-muztar ko samjhaya bahut hai,

Magar is dil ne tadpaya bahut hai,

Qayamat hai yeh tark-e-arzoo bhi,

Mujhe aksar wo yaad aaya bahut hai,

Magar is dil ne tadpaya bahut hai,

Dil-e-muztar ko samjhaya bahut hai,

Tabassum bhi , Haya bhi , Berukhi bhi,

Ye andaze sitam, bhaya bahut hai,

Rahi hasti ke is jalte safar main,

Tumhari yaad ka saya bahut hai,

Dil-e-muztar ko samjhaya bahut hai,

Magar is dil ne tadpaya bahut hai..."

Farq Sirf Itna Sa Tha

Urdu is, one of the most absorbing and meaningful language, I feel. The aadaab and tehzeeb in the language is too charming to not know the meaning of the words of this language. It is so magnetic. Urdu is the main driving force why I am attracted to Pakistani dramas.

DISCLAMER: What I post below, is not written by me. But I wanted to save it somewhere and I am using my blog for it. It is simply amazing.

For me, the people speaking even a little of Urdu between their talks, automatically become so much more attractive! Urdu is quite a beautiful and graceful language.

Kya khayaal hai?

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The difference between a Wedding and a Funeral beautifully captured in this piece ~

Nikaah Aur Janaaza

Teri doli uthi,
Meri mayyat uthi,

Phool tujh par bhi barse,

Phool mujh par bhi barse,

Farq Sirf Itna Sa Tha,

Tu sajj gayi,

Mujhe sajaya gaya.

Tu bhi ghar ko chali,

Main bi ghar ko chala,

Farq Sirf Itna Sa Tha,

Tu uth ke gayi,

Mujhe uthaya gaya.

Mehfil wahan bhi thi,

Log yahan bhi the,

Farq Sirf Itna Sa Tha,

Unka hasna wahan,

Inka rona yahan.

Qazi udhar bhi tha,

Moulvi idhar bhi tha,

Do bol tere padhe,

Do bol mere padhe,

Tera nikaah padha,

Mera janaaza padha,

Farq Sirf Itna Sa Tha,

Tujhe apnaya gaya,

Mujhe dafnaaya gaya.