Monday, April 2, 2007

'Urdu Ki Aakhiri Kitab'

‘Urdu Ki Aakhiri Kitab’ is a hilarious account of Ibn -e- Insha, an Indian poet / writer, born in Jalandhar District of Punjab and shifted to Pakistan after the partition in 1947.

Even choosing Pakistan as mother land, unlike his contemporary poet Iqbal, (who wrote famous ‘Saare Jahan Se Achcha……………..” and later, when crossed over to Pakistan, edited his poem to Saare Jahan Se Achcha, Pakistan Hamara”) Ibne Insha looks hurt with the concept of partition. His poem in this book reflects his questions:


Ibne Insha, wrote this book “Urdu ki Aakhiri Kitab” as reader in style of a school syllabus books of primary classes describing what is what. He has started the book with a prayer (funny of course) and has included all the subject being studied in a school, like, History of world, Mughals, Mathematics, Primary Science, Some educational stories, Animal Science, Bird Science, Things around us, and Nature in his own unique way.

Everything he wrote will make you laugh. Though the book was originally written in Urdu in 70’s (and I read its Hindi translation) but its is still a matter of interest (for those who know some history). Just like every reader book in school he has given questions to solve at the end of every chapter which are also very funny. Like in the chapter of ‘Sikander’ he asked a question, “Film Sikendar E Azam main kis kis ne kaam kiya tha? Us ka koi gana yaad ho to sunayo”.


While writing about history he wrote following for Akbar:



And this while describing Aurangzeb:


There are hundreds of hilarious stories he had written in this little book of 178 pages and so interesting that I read the whole book in a single sitting and then all over again with some what patience. Despite my strong will to put lot of them here I did as much as I could. Here are some 'important questions' he suggested for 'students'.

He also wrote many famous ghazals, "Insha ji Utho" is one of many favourite among ghazal lovers.

My rating for 'Urdu Ki Aakhiri Kitab' : A must read and collectable book !

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Intersting and funny..
Few lines i read i enjoyed.But knowing my hindi not so good, I prefere to listen while a dear friend reads it loud.
Enjoy reading ur blog..Praney

Praney ! said...

What would I do without your inspirations, Nony ??

Thanks a lot !

Unknown said...

Howlarious! Seems like a fantastic book. What a nice excerpts Pranaey! Cannot even dream to find it in Pune stores. I will fetch it once back to Lucknow! Thanks a lot!

Anonymous said...

Guess what I'm feeling....

:) :D :) :) :D :))

:) Juneli

Praney ! said...

Yeah Manish, get a copy, you would enjoy. And you are right its very diff to find such books in stores these days.



Juneli, is your feelings are about that book ?? :D

Anonymous said...

Of course about the book :)

Unknown said...

just too good
i will definitely read this

ABKhan said...

well why dont you correct the history first made....... Iqbal was died almost ten years before the partition........ how could he change "Saray jahan say acha" to pakistan, when he was not alive at the time of pakistan's creation???

Praney ! said...

Thanks for visiting and for your valued comments ABK, you are right about his death period, but Allama Iqbal had cleared his intentions about partition/Pakistan well before 1947. As you are so good in history, you must be aware that movement for seperate nation was started more then ten years before 1947.

Iqbal's close correspondence with Jinnah is speculated by some historians as having been responsible for Jinnah's embrace of the idea of Pakistan.[16] Iqbal elucidated to Jinnah his vision of a separate Muslim state in a letter sent on June 21, 1937:"A separate federation of Muslim Provinces, reformed on the lines I have suggested above, is the only course by which we can secure a peaceful India and save Muslims from the domination of Non-Muslims. Why should not the Muslims of North-West India and Bengal be considered as nations entitled to self-determination just as other nations in India and outside India are."

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Iqbal

Keep visiting dear and keep writing.

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रवि रतलामी said...

यह किताब अभी मेरे हाथ में आई है. हर पन्ने पर व्यंग्य बिखरा पड़ा है. इतिहास से सबक कोई नहीं लेता इस व्यंग्य किताब से साबित होता है.