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New York Ke Sau Rang / نیویارک کے سورنگ
New York Kay So Rang by Mustansar Hussain Tarar
- GenresTravel
638 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
5 people are currently reading
73 people want to read
About the author
Mustansar Hussain Tarar
97 books465 followersMustansar 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 17, 2020
(Literally,the title means,A hundred colours of New York).The author is the most prolific travel writer in Urdu.
Another hefty book,like most of his other works.638 pages,just for a travelogue on New York,and Orlando Florida ! But I was interested to read this to see how many own impressions of New York compared with his.
Tarar's books contain far too many of his own views on various subjects,and a certain amount of preachiness. But he has a good sense of humour,and his books frequently make me laugh so much that it hurts.On other occasions,he bores me,too.
In this travelogue,he goes to Central Park,Times Square,Rockefeller Centre,Harlem, the Metropolitan Musuem of Art,Museum of Modern Art and the Museum of Natural History.
Musuems are not of much interest to me.However,he spends way too much time in the museums and describes the art works and artists in great detail. He is pretty well informed,but the background detail is overdone.
He does the obligatory rounds of Greenwich village,Chinatown,the Statue of Liberty and the United Nations building.
As Tarar sees a plane in the New York sky,he feels a lot of unease,being reminded of 9/11 and how the world,and Pakistan,changed after that.
Those were exactly my own impressions as my plane was about to land in New York,a few years after 9/11.
Pakistanis didn't have an easy time in the US in the aftermath of 9/11 and it made me smile when he writes that his name Tarar,is so similar to Terror,and he could become a suspicious person,just because of that.
Tarar looks at the World Trade Centre site and feels for the victims.But he is also reminded of all the other victims of America's wars,since 9/11. I wanted to go to the WTC site as well,but time was short.
After New York,he takes a trip to Orlando,Florida and experiences its unpredictable coastal weather.
The book is typical Tarar,very lengthy and rambling. I had to skim a great deal. But what made it worthwhile,were those moments of humour,which had me doubled over with laughter.And Tarar is a self described,leering,dirty old man.Such moments of self deprecating humour are so much fun.
And as for New York itself,it is a city I had always wanted to visit.But when I got there,I didn't become too fond of it.
Another hefty book,like most of his other works.638 pages,just for a travelogue on New York,and Orlando Florida ! But I was interested to read this to see how many own impressions of New York compared with his.
Tarar's books contain far too many of his own views on various subjects,and a certain amount of preachiness. But he has a good sense of humour,and his books frequently make me laugh so much that it hurts.On other occasions,he bores me,too.
In this travelogue,he goes to Central Park,Times Square,Rockefeller Centre,Harlem, the Metropolitan Musuem of Art,Museum of Modern Art and the Museum of Natural History.
Musuems are not of much interest to me.However,he spends way too much time in the museums and describes the art works and artists in great detail. He is pretty well informed,but the background detail is overdone.
He does the obligatory rounds of Greenwich village,Chinatown,the Statue of Liberty and the United Nations building.
As Tarar sees a plane in the New York sky,he feels a lot of unease,being reminded of 9/11 and how the world,and Pakistan,changed after that.
Those were exactly my own impressions as my plane was about to land in New York,a few years after 9/11.
Pakistanis didn't have an easy time in the US in the aftermath of 9/11 and it made me smile when he writes that his name Tarar,is so similar to Terror,and he could become a suspicious person,just because of that.
Tarar looks at the World Trade Centre site and feels for the victims.But he is also reminded of all the other victims of America's wars,since 9/11. I wanted to go to the WTC site as well,but time was short.
After New York,he takes a trip to Orlando,Florida and experiences its unpredictable coastal weather.
The book is typical Tarar,very lengthy and rambling. I had to skim a great deal. But what made it worthwhile,were those moments of humour,which had me doubled over with laughter.And Tarar is a self described,leering,dirty old man.Such moments of self deprecating humour are so much fun.
And as for New York itself,it is a city I had always wanted to visit.But when I got there,I didn't become too fond of it.
July 25, 2022
Read it a long while back and really enjoyed reading it.
July 26, 2020
Sir your books are very expensive....please make them cheaper.....
April 2, 2022
Very interesting account for New York is one of those places everyone would like to visit but few have have the chance to. Particularly interesting when Tarrar describes his experiences visiting Art Galleries and museums of New York particularly the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA). Perhaps this one of the best selling and critically acclaimed fiction writers of Pakistan because of his excellent exposure to international modern art and literature.
Another interesting bit is about visiting Greenwich Village which is the hub of writers and artists. Other notable places to visit were the statute of liberty and the 9/11 wreckage site. Of course he was actually visiting his son who was doing a Masters from Columbia University and living in New York with his wife. Subsequently he visited his daughter in Florida and describes that place which is less cosmopolitan but at the same time things are more slow paced there as compared to New York.
What makes this book particularly enjoyable is that Tarrar has watched many memorable American movies and listened to songs which he quotes at relevant places and makes one think of rewatching/ registering to them. And particularly his penchant for blacks when everybody around him tells them that they are crooks, it's this idealism which is hallmark of great humanists, which is what all great writers and artists are.
Another interesting bit is about visiting Greenwich Village which is the hub of writers and artists. Other notable places to visit were the statute of liberty and the 9/11 wreckage site. Of course he was actually visiting his son who was doing a Masters from Columbia University and living in New York with his wife. Subsequently he visited his daughter in Florida and describes that place which is less cosmopolitan but at the same time things are more slow paced there as compared to New York.
What makes this book particularly enjoyable is that Tarrar has watched many memorable American movies and listened to songs which he quotes at relevant places and makes one think of rewatching/ registering to them. And particularly his penchant for blacks when everybody around him tells them that they are crooks, it's this idealism which is hallmark of great humanists, which is what all great writers and artists are.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews