Short stories
আয়না
Not translated into English
Abul Mansur Ahmed · 1935
Synopsis
Seven satirical stories. “Hujur Kebla” targets a false saint who abuses those around him in the name of religion; “Go-Devta ka Desh”, centred on Suren Babu, shows the merchants of religion keeping untouchability alive between Hindus and Muslims; “Nayeb-e-Nabi”, “Leader-e-Qaum”, “Mujahedin” and “Dharmarajya” follow, and the collection closes with “Bidrohi Sangha”, in which the members of a society of rebels vow to respect neither law nor prohibition.
Context
The seven stories had appeared one by one in the review Saogat, edited by Muhammad Nasiruddin, between 1922 and 1929; they were collected in a volume in 1935, their author's first book, which he dedicated to Abul Kalam Shamsuddin. Kazi Nazrul Islam signed the preface, “Aynar Frame”: ordinary mirrors, he writes, show only the outside, whereas his friend's mirror shows the true face of those who wear masks, in the temple, in the mosque and on the platform.
Who it is for
Seven short stories, in a language mixed with Persian and Arabic words; it is worth knowing the role of the pirs and fakirs in the Bengali countryside.
Prizes and reception
Regarded as the most remarkable satirical collection by its author, who is ranked among the first satirists of the Bengali language.