Syahhashiye Aur Anya Kahaniyan [Syllabus and Other Stories] cover art

Syahhashiye Aur Anya Kahaniyan [Syllabus and Other Stories]

 Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 Months Free + £10 Audible voucher

£5.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly.
Get this deal
Offer ends on 5 July 2026 at 11:59 BST.
More purchase options

Syahhashiye Aur Anya Kahaniyan [Syllabus and Other Stories]

By: Saadat Hasan Manto
Narrated by: Errol Rodrigues
Get this deal

£5.99/mo after 3 months. Offer ends on 5 July 2026 at 11:59 BST. Cancel monthly.

Buy Now for £12.61

Buy Now for £12.61

‘If you find my stories obscene or filthy, then the society you are living in is obscene and dirty,’ once said Manto. While Manto was time and again accused of obscenity, his stories addressed several social issues. With his astute understanding of the complexity of human nature and his ability to write griping stories, Manto was considered one of the most powerful voices of his time. This collection brings together some of Manto's finest stories including 'Chor', 'Mausam ki Shararat' and 'Paseena'.

©2016 Rajpal & Sons (P)2018 Audible, Inc. Anthologies & Short Stories Short Stories
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
All stars
Most relevant
Manto is one of the great short-story writers of the 20th century, and this book provides a glimpse into his genius. This book is a treat for all Hindi and Urdu lovers. It has been narrated flawlessly by Errol Rodrigues with correct Urdu pronunciations. The story on 'mausam ki shararat' (tricks of the weather) where he beautifully describes observing his sweetheart in the rain and how the vicissitude of the weather has affected his mood on that day is poignant. The story on 'hare sandal' (green sandals) is a classic, where a husband and wife are contemplating divorce. The story on 'paseena' (sweat) is an excellent representation of marital life, with a twist at the end. The story on 'artist log' (artists) captures the economic reality for many artists in a thought-provoking way. The story on 'beemar' (sick) where a sick woman is desperate to meet Manto is another engrossing one which takes an unexpected turn in the end.

Manto knows how to draw you into the arena of a story, and then how to keep you there, wanting for more. He always gives you just enough, nothing more - to leave you to contemplate further, fill in the blanks and slowly realise the power of the story. Each story feels like a monumental achievement when you take the journey with Manto. I have read short stories by P.G. Wodehouse, Jeffrey Archer, Franz Kafka, Murakami and others, and have no hesitation in placing Manto among the greats. If anything, Manto's writing has a more humanistic quality to it and his unflinching quality of calling a spade a spade can sometimes vex the faint-hearted. He weaves magic with his words, but since his backdrop is often the inescapable reality of his times (partition of India and Pakistan, violence and poverty), there is an emotional depth that is hard to detach from.

Manto deserves to be read more widely

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.