Sunehri Ullu Ka Shehar / سنہر ی الو کا شہر

by Mustansar Hussain Tarar

Sunehri Ullu Ka Shehr by Mustansar Hussain Tarar

Genres: Travel

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Mustansar Hussain Tarar (Urdu: مستنصر حسين تارڑ) is a Pakistani author, actor, the first Morning Show presenter and a pioneer trekker - in his own words: a vagabond.

Having made a name for himself by taking the mantle in Pakistan's mountaineering community, Mustansar Hussain is widely recognized as one of the most well known personalities in Pakistan. Though the origin of his fame is usually considered to be his established and decorated career as a writer, Tarar can also be recognized as the foremost endorser for tourism projects in Northern Areas of Pakistan, having exorbitantly increased the array of tourist exposure to the areas by becoming both a mountaineer and an adventure author who uses these locations as backdrops for his storylines.

Mustansar Hussain's literary proficiency as an author often overshadows the fact that he has been an active mountaineer for a very extensive period of time. Having embarked upon several painstaking and challenging tasks such as the ascension of K-2 and the surpassing of the treacherous "Chitti Buoi" Glacier among others. More significantly, both of Mustansar Hussain's professions often intertwine and relate, since he uses his experiences on his expeditions as travelogues. Though some of his publications have met lukewarm reactions due to supposed exaggeration, he reflects on this predicament with the notion that "words or even pictures cannot successfully express the beauty and splendour of nature in it's true spirit."

Tarar's first book Nikley Teri Talash Main, a travelogue of Europe, was published in 1971. He has so far over forty titles to his credit which include many genres of literature; travelogues, novels, short stories and collection of his newspaper columns and television dramas. He has been one of the best-seller fiction writer of Pakistan.

Mustansar was born in 'Jokalian' a small town in Punjab, Pakistan in March 1939. He spent his early childhood in the village and moved to culturally rich Lahore, witnessed the independence of Pakistan in 1947 and the events that took place at Lahore. His father Rehmat Khan Tarar opened a small seed store there. Mr Tarar got his schooling from Rang Mehal Mission High School and Muslim Model High School, Lahore. He then got admission in Government College Lahore , a college that owns the credit to polish several intellectuals of Pakistan. In 1950's, he went to London for higher studies. In 1957 he attended the World Youth Festival in Moscow and wrote a book named 'Fakhta' (Dove) on that experience. In 1971 his first travelogue Nikley Teri Talaash Main was published. It led to new trend in Urdu literature. He also became a television actor and from 1988 was for many years a host of PTV's live morning transmission Subuh Bakhair (Good Morning). His unconventional and down to earth style of comparing earned him great popularity. He called himself the 'Cha Cha Jee' of all Pakistani children and soon became known by this title.

Awards:
Presidential award of Pride of Performance.
Prime Minister's award for the Best Novelist for "Rakh".
Life time achievement award of Almi Farogh-e-Urdu Adab, Doha (Qatar).
Gold Medal bestowed by Moscow State University for literary achievements.

Reviews

[W · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Title : City of the golden owl).

This is Tarar's travelogue of Delhi,and Agra in India. He is accompanied by Ahmed Faraz,the famous Pakistani poet. In Delhi,he meets Mahatami Gandhi's grandson,a sulky character,who finally obliges him with an autograph.

But he doesn't really explore the historical sites of old Delhi,and that leaves a gaping hole in the travelogue.

He is more interested in a visit to the Taj Mahal,in Agra. It is a lively account,though ironically,a verbose person like Tarar confesses,that he is at a loss for words,to describe the Taj Mahal's beauty.

He then goes to the tomb of Akbar the Great,and Fatehpur Sikri,a brand new city built by Akbar,which was used very briefly,and then abandoned.

I enjoyed the humour in this travelogue,several times,I found myself chuckling.

But,as is usual with Tarar,those funny bits took a fair bit of digging out. In between,there were pages and pages of his own views on various subjects,to skim through.Also,there are plenty of reflections on the troubled Indo Pak history.

It also includes an account the unease felt by a Pakistani traveller in India that he is being watched and followed,and anything unexpected could happen.I suppose it would also be true for an Indian traveller in Pakistan.

While departing India,he encounters the Pakistan hockey team at the airport.They were beside themselves with delight at having won a minor tournament in India.Quite a comedown from the days when Pakistan's hockey team used to be the best in the world,as a matter of routine.

I enjoyed it overall.It was relatively short for a Tarar book (just over 200 pages). But I felt,that it should have been shorter still.

[Muhammad Afzaal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tarar's trickery with words leave one spellbound every single time.This is his travelogue about India and while reading it,all you want is to pack your bag and visit all these place.Also his encounters with Ahmad Faraz,Intizar Hussain,Naseer Uddin Shah etc make it even more interesting.Thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

[Omama. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tarrar's voyage to India and it's historical cities mainly Delhi, the legendary Mughal City of Mir and Ghalib, the hub of many ruling dynasties; Agra where the Taj Mahal is, whose beauty transcends time, the author is unable to express in words; Fatehpur Sikiri, the red city of Akbar the great, and Rajasthan.

[Rabia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tarar sb is magician of words when he start writing a travelogue he play with the words and emotions of the reader. Reader wanted to pack bags and ready leave to see the place. Only due to magical words of Tarar sb.
This is his travelogue of India not whole India but few places of India. Particularly Delhi, Aagra, Fatehpur Sikri , Rajhistan. He visited India first time in February 1965 before the war but his experience was not that good due to lack of knowledge about area. But 2nd visit was basically an invitation for a conference of poets and writers.
He described India center which is situated in Lodhi Garden, basically Lodhi Garden is graves of Lodhis. "it contains, Mohammed Shah's Tomb, Tomb of Sikandar Lodi, Shisha Gumbad and Bara Gumbad, who ruled parts of northern India and Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of modern-day Pakistan, from 1451 to 1526."
Later he talked about Qutab Minar which is also in India and "Qutb Minar is a 73-metre tall tapering tower of five storeys," The construction of the Qutub Minar was started by Qitub-ud-Din Aibak, but he only constructed the basement. Later rulers completed it but in previous years its storey have been fallen and closed for every one to go upper side. While in 1965 it was open for all.
Tarar very beautifully describe the spell of Qutub minar and clearly mentioned he have not seen any minaret who can compete this. I particularly open the pictures of qutub minar but clearly mentioned by him that no picture can justify the reality.
Next he has written about Taj Mahal which is wonder of the world and its beauty is magnificent. The hands made it in past have created a master piece there is not a single mistake which can be pointed out.
He stated that if a colourful bird fly in front of Taj Mahal, he'll lost colours, this is the beauty of Taj. Taj snatched yourself from you and color in itself. He shared his expirences near taj while he was there as an foreigner, and stated there were huge crowd inside Taj Mahal even one cannot find the graves. Or recite Fatiha. He said this is mesmerising and there is not joke to make a Black Mahal there which in plan of Shah Jahan, but he was sent to exile by his own son.
Thereafter he moved towards Fathe pur seekri but subsequently he came to know its in Rajhistan. And he didn't have visa other then Delhi and Agra. On the way they have seen Akbar's tomb which was out of crowd, silent and alone. The one who was empror of Sub-continent is laying here in silence with out any show off. Why? he has designed this tomb by himself. Which started from a tunnel n ended on a hall with no air and tge voice echoed for long time.
But when he reached at the city of Akbar Fatehpur Sikri he haired a guide on the guide's hue and cry but lately he came to know the is bluffing them from reality. There was a Mahal which was associated with Jodha bai wife of Akbar but govt. Incontestably mentioned there this Mahal have no link with her.
In front of that Mahal there is the tomb of Saleem Chisti which is a pain reliever place. But there were luck thread wall and people over there were selling threads.
He wrote beautifully about Sain Baba. He wrote about those emprors who want to destroy Lahore but we take them as heroes. He wrote about grave of Qutub ud din Aibak's tomp in lhr. He shared about the hospitality of India and a journalist Vinod who arrange each and every thing for him on his command.
The main question is why Owl? He hav3 wrote little about it once Vinod told him in Dehli an owl live which is in golden colo but unfortunately he was unable to see that owl. But assure its true.
And i love to see owls too, he ia serene animal and beautiful too, you may vary from me.

[haris · Rating 4 out of 5]

جب بھی کسی سے پوچھا کہ کونسا سفرنامہ پڑھا جائے تو تقریباً سب نے ہی مستنصر حسین تارڑ کے سفرنامے تجویز کیے. آخر اپنی روز بہ روز بڑھتی ٹی بی آر لسٹ کو نظرانداز کر کے میں نے دلی، آگرہ اور فتح پور کا تصوراتی سفر کرنے کا فیصلہ کر لیا. یہ کتاب اتنی دلچسپ تھی کہ ایک ہی نشست میں ختم کر ڈالی. بیچ بیچ میں مزاح بھی تھا جو قاری کو بور نہیں ہونے دیتا تھا. منظر نگاری شاندار تھی بلکہ کچھ جگہوں پر ضرورت سے زیادہ ہی ہو گئی. ایسا محسوس ہوتا تھا کہ مصنف کے ساتھ ساتھ سفر کر رہے ہیں. صرف یہ ہی نہیں بلکہ اور بھی بہت سی چیزوں کے متعلق جاننے کا موقع ملا. پڑھنے سے قبل ہمارا بھی دلی کے بارے میں وہی خیال تھا جو مصنف کا دلی جانے سے قبل تھا. فرق صرف اتنا ہے کہ ہمیں حقیقت جاننے کے لیے دلی جانے کا تردد نہیں کرنا پڑا. مصنف بہت صاف گو تھے اور اس چیز نے بہت متاثر کیا. البتہ کچھ جگہوں پر کچھ زیادہ ہی وقت گزار دیا. اگر کچھ اور مقامات کا بھی تذکرہ ہوتا تو مزا دوبالا ہو جاتا. اوورآل مجھے یہ کتاب کافی پسند آئی اور مصنف کے باقی سفرناموں کا مطالعہ کرنے کا بھی شوق پیدا ہوا.

[Jawad Khan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muj se baroz e hashr jab Khuda ne pucha k kia le k aaye ho!!
To jawab dun ga......Ameer Khusro!!

[Hasan Raaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best, writing skills shown by tarar sahab once again, he has mastered the art of letting the readers travel alongwith him through his classy style