IT is often said that literature has a universal language and its appeal cannot be constrained within geographical boundaries. It is this phenomenon that gave shape to Surkh Phoolon ki Sabz Khushboo, a quasi-anthology highlighting a cross-section of Urdu and Japanese literature compiled by Khurram Sohail. The title of the book is symbolic. The colours red and green represent the colours on the flags of Japan and Pakistan respectively, thus providing the reader’s imagination an amalgamation of Japanese and Pakistani literature.

One is surprised to discover that these two nations can be so interested in each other’s language and literature. Even among academics, we hardly come across people in Pakistan who can be considered experts on the Japanese language and literature. Yet this book introduces us to several luminaries of Japan and Pakistan who have dedicated their lives to the study and understanding of the other country’s language, literature, history and culture.

The book begins with a poetic article by Professor R. Gamo about Sakura flowers. The article compares the traits of the flower with the characteristics of Japanese soldiers of old times — their loyalty, bravery and willingness to sacrifice their lives for the nation. Reading between the lines, we can see the glorification of the old Samurai ways and the pride the Japanese have in their military heroes in much the same way Pakistanis feel about their past.

Surkh Phoolon ki Sabz Khushboo covers an exhausting range of topics. The themes of the articles meander through artistic grandeur, aesthetic marvel, cultural impact and architectural beauty of an old temple to the moral lessons and social symbols of Japanese folklore. Various articles also discuss the history of the Urdu language in Japan, its teaching and issues in its development.

There is also a whole section on Japanese poets and fiction writers and a discussion on the merits and demerits of their works. Another section contains Urdu translations of leading short stories from Japanese literature and yet another contains excerpts from Pakistani literature, including the writings of Qurratulain Hyder, Fatima Surayia Bajiya, and Kamila Shamsie, that have references to Japanese society. The book also outlines the history of fine arts in Japan and its impact on their society. The last section of the book contains 20 columns by several Pakistani journalists published in various newspapers that somehow discuss Japan.

Languages play a crucial role in the development of ties between nations. If we look at the years immediately after the formation of Pakistan, we see that one of the main factors responsible for Pakistan allying itself with the US and UK internationally was the fact that their language, English, was spoken by the educated elite of our country, which is still the case. Pakistanis and Japanese know very little about each other’s history, culture and literature. The main reason behind this lack of awareness is a lack of knowledge of each other’s languages. Meaningful diplomatic and useful commercial relations can also not develop in this scenario.

If there is an institution in Japan that is trying to bridge this gap, it is the department of Urdu studies at the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies. The former head of this department, Professor Takeshi Suzuki, points out that Japanese universities faced many problems during the 1960s in keeping the teaching of Urdu alive. Neither were they adequately helped by the government of Pakistan nor were they encouraged by private publishers in Pakistan through good quality books and teaching material. In spite of this, they did not abandon studying and teaching Urdu and have produced scholars who have played the role of cultural ambassadors for Pakistan in Japanese society. Professor Takeshi is one such expert. Talking about the issues they had to face in selecting Urdu textbooks for Japanese students, he expresses concern over the rampant mistakes in Urdu textbooks published in Pakistan and says that such a scenario would be unthinkable in Japan. This provides an important insight into the seriousness with which nations take the syllabi and textbooks designed for educating their children.

As opposed to Japanese, more students in Pakistani universities study the Chinese language. Moreover, Pakistanis are exposed to friendly references to China and famous travelogues such as Ibn-i-Insha’s Chaltay ho to Cheen ko Chaliye.

The book also discusses the influence of Japanese literature on Urdu literature, especially the Urdu translations of one of the most popular genres of Japanese poetry — haiku — and the experiments of Urdu poets to create and adopt this form in Urdu with indigenous and contemporary themes. Dr Zafar Iqbal discusses the Japanese tradition of creating literary pieces firmly embedded in the social and cultural aspects of Japanese life rather than promoting philosophical theories as the ancients Greeks used to do.

Japanese culture avoids intellectual speculation and instead focuses on emotions and concrete thoughts. Human emotions in Japan found their expression in visual arts like painting and sculpture. The role philosophy played in Europe was played by literature in Japan. Professor Raees Alvi discusses the magical combination of subjective perceptions and objective reality in Japanese poetry. He also ponders upon the question of whether literature can be translated or not. His conclusion is that not only can it be translated but that it should be. It is a constructive and cognitive undertaking and results in higher awareness at a collective level.

By compiling this volume on the celebration of 60 years of Pak-Japan diplomatic relations, Sohail has not only rendered a great service to literature but also mounted a commendable effort to bring the people from the two countries together. The book contains articles dating from 1936 to the present day. There is only one thing that might not satisfy the curiosity of the readers: the sources of original publication of some of the articles are not mentioned. Other than that, the compiler and the publisher deserve appreciation for making such a rare project possible.

Surkh Phoolon ki Sabz Khushboo

(ANTHOLOGY)

By Khurram Sohail

Sang-e-Meel Publications, Lahore

ISBN 969-35-2586-8

398pp.