Amar Jaleel is a living legend of Sindh and one of the rare writers in Pakistan with equal command over three languages; Sindhi, Urdu and English. Sindhi has offered him an elevated position in modern Sindhi literature. Since 1960 Jaleel has contributed several short stories, columns, a novel, art plays and television serials. Currently in his 70s and although retired, he continues his endless journey.

Jeejal Munhinje Mau (My Dear Mother) is one of the many books he has contributed to Sindhi literature in different genres of prose. The book is a compilation of 65 of the column stories he had written for the then popular Sindhi newspaper Hilal-i-Pakistan between 1972 and 1977.

Another book containing similar columns from the same period was first published in 1984 under the title Sindhu Munhinje Saah Me. So far that collection has been sold in more than five editions. His books still continue to be reproduced and find an audience in large numbers. Jaleel himself rightly points out that his audience includes more than five generations because as one generation gets older, another takes its place and reads his books like the previous one.

Most of the columns in Jeejal Munhinje Mau are letters addressed to his mother that communicate all the ills and
misdeeds of that time. Jaleel`s characters have been known to readers of Sindhi literature for decades and his most sought out quality is his characters` ability to depict the harshest realities and truths of the time.

The editor of the newspaper no doubt took a serious risk by publishing his columns without any censorship and without any break for five long years. The intensity of that risk deepens when one comes to know that the paper itself represented a political party in power at the time.

The 65 columns included in the book are stories told in a unique manner about the social, cultural, political and literary issues of Sindh. Jaleel is a self-proclaimed Sufi and no one disagrees with this claim. He does not believe in proving these claims either, because his writings themselves are full of messages carried by several Sufis of Sindh over centuries. Jaleel`s main focus is the search for truth which was inspired in him by Sachal Sarmast.

He has shown his mother to be a disciple of Sachal and says that he got the message of Sachal from his mother. No ruler has ever succeeded in intimidating Sachal`s search for truth and the ability to tell that truth.

Art has always provided him unique ways of telling that truth with a strong message for his readers. His simple characters have always adopted traditional wisdom and symbolism where he says everything without saying
anything. Sufis believe in saying a lot in a few words and same is the case with the author. Each of his columns in the book leaves the reader with an amazing and astonishing message or question. The stories he tries to tell not only portray history, but are also a depiction of the future.

Although these columns were written for a newspaper keeping in view specific socio-economic and political conditions of that time, but Jaleel himself says that they all seem to be stories of today with little or no difference.

Whether journalistic writings are considered literature is an on-going debate, but there is no doubt that columns written in the form of short stories are masterpieces themselves. The fact that unlike yesterday`s newspaper you can not throw away these columns makes them a distinct part of contemporary literature. `Literature exposes the realities of history when historians are not ready to expose them` writes the author in another book. That is true about this collection of columns. It is now up to historians to keep the facts correct.

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Manzoor Kohiar is known among contemporary short story writers of Sindh. After his first collection of short stories Sij Lahan Khaan Poi he has strong reasons to classify his latest collection under the title of Sufi stories. Firaq Ji Manzil is collection of more than 30 stories written in a way which critics agree is a Sufi way.

The book starts with a detailed preface by the author in defence of terming the book a collection of Sufi stories. It is an interesting history of Sufi short stories which is a readable account on various Sufi writings in prose.

Sindh is known as the land of Sufis; it has a centuries-old tradition of Sufi poetry and teachings. It has always been the message not the technique or classification of genres which makes the literature Sufi or not.

Sufis are mostly known to have adopted poetry as their medium, but there are thousands of writings in prose which has been used to spread the message of truth and spirituality.

The author has also focused more on what he wants to say instead of how he wants to say it. Yet he has not compromised the basic sprit and technique of the modern short story. Each story has a beginning, body and a
climax.

He has chosen accounts of the lives and teachings of Sufis like Mansoor Hilaj, Sufi Shah Inayat, Sachal Sarmast, Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai and others to build up the plots. Following the tradition of Sufis, Manzoor has also not ignored the socio-political realities of the time and has successfully included them in his narratives.

The story Jo Kheri So Khaye is an account of the life and struggles of Sufi Shah Inayat who was killed in a conspiracy by the rulers of that time because he first raised the slogan of socialism in Sindh and stood up against the
exploitation of the working class.

Another story titled Soori Ahe Seengar symbolises the events that led to the judicial killing of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, with the help of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai`s poetry. It is an interesting connection the writer has made because attributing Sufi poetry to the heroes of the time is a popular way of paying tributes to them.

`The book provides a valuable experience which is not only sound representation of Sufi thought but a great contribution to Sindhi literature` Balach Hussain rightly says about the book in his introductory note.

Jeejal Munhinji Mau
By Amar Jaleel
Kachho Publication Karachi
158 pp. Rs100
Firaq Ji Manzil
By Manzoor Kohiar
Kanwal Publication, Kambar
128pp. Rs100