रावीपार

by Gulzar, Vijay Padalkar & Mohan Velhal (Translator)

This is a collection of short stories by the internationally famous, Guljar, who is not only an author but is a poet and director too. The stories written by him are very exclusive. Each is a cultured pearl with its own shine and lustre. He uses words miserly, but each word is full of meanings presenting the situations likewise. His style not only elaborates an incident but it also goes beyond it and describes the psychological state of mind at the time. Each of his stories has the capacity to seek international recognition. He presents the perfect picture of the story with its background and the dialogues touch the core of our heart आंतरराष्ट्रीय कीर्तीचे कवी, लेखक, दिग्दर्शक गुल़जार यांचा हा पहिलाच लघुकथा-संग्रह. या चतुरस्र लेखकाच्या अभिजात सर्जनशक्तीचा हा निळ्या मखमलीवर ठेवलेल्या पाणमोत्यासारखा विलक्षण मनोज्ञ असा आविष्कार आहे.
त्यांच्या मिताक्षरी शैलीतल्या निवेदनात घटनांश, प्रत्यक्ष घटना आणि मनोवस्था यांप्रमाणे बदल घडत राहतो. अभिजात प्रतिभेच्या बळावर गुल़जार वैश्विक पातळीवर जाऊ शकतील, अशी कथासूत्रं गुंफतात, आपल्या दृष्टीसमोर घडणा-या दैनंदिन घटनांची विलक्षण वास्तव पाश्र्वभूमी उभी करतात आणि संवादपूर्ण शैलीने वाचकांच्या थेट काळजाला हात घालतात.

Genres: Short Stories, Indian Literature, Fiction, Literature, India

195 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Gorab · Rating 4 out of 5]

★★★½☆

A collection of 27 stories - variety of mosaic themes written in a simple prose. Variety ranges from partition, communism, relationships, Mughal era, Rome, nomadic age, kings and princes, slums, jungle book… icing on the cake being the biographical stories. Found this collection overall better than Half a Rupee stories, in spite of having a few weak dull stories.

Favorites:
Bantwara - Biographical - 1984-85, Series of letters written to Gulzar from a man in Amritsar, claiming Gulzar is the brother he lost during partition.
BimalDa - Biographical - experiences while writing Bimal Roy's film "Amrit ki khoj" during his last days.
Seema - Unable to forget her ex husband Sudhir (theatre dialogue writer!), story of Seema who now lives with TK, Sudhir's best friend. (This story reminded of Dibakar Banerjee's segment in anthology Lust Stories, with the lead character named Sudhir!)
Dhuan - Communal fight on whether the deceased Choudhary should be buried or cremated. "The living were cremated and the dead, buried."
Michelangelo - Set in Rome. Story of Michelangelo searching for a perfect face for his painting.
Lekin - Devraj visiting railway station daily, anticipating arrival of his son.

Others ranging from good to pretty decent:
Sunset Blvd - An ageing film actress, Charu, is anticipating Mishraji who wants to write a book on her. Setting reminds of hollywood classic by the same name.
Dalia - The harijan beauty who got entangled in the web of haveli by Chhote Maharaj.
Fasal - Zamindar Harnam Singh vs poor villagers (Loku's family) - rebellion - "I am a part of the same fasal that has yielded you!"
Kiski Kahani - A short story writer Annu (biographical?) writes the story of characters close to him - Bhiku and Ghasita mochi ki kahani.
Raavi Paar - Partition time. Darshan Singh's kahani of carrying a dead child through a train journey crossing river Raavi.
Hisab Kitab - Babu Dina Nath (acute businessman) doesn't accepts any dowry for his son's marriage, and is in favor of allowing the girl to work after marriage.
Nazum - Mughal era. Ghalib's servant Kalloo indulges in star talk with his friend Munir..
Haath Peele Kar Do - Malati is madly in love with van driver Ramnath. "Ladki badi ho gayi hai. Ab iske haath peele kar do."
Addha - Story of a dwarf, with his huge heart compensating for his height.
Dus Paise Aur Daadi - A young boy, Chakku, runs away from home, angry on his Daadi for a matter of 10 paise.
Jeena Yaha - Story of crippled but mentally strong prince Samir.
Mard - Kappu is getting tormented by his parents, Rama and Baxi, divorced due to extra marital affairs of both.
Guddo - Teenager Guddo infatuated by Dilip Kumar, gets a chance through her Mamaji, to watch Dilip Kumar shooting for a film.
Satranga - A vagrant jobless guy, Khairu, irritating people around him while coloring their work items randomly in the village.
Kagaz ki Topi - Protagonist meeting his childhood friend and crush, Munni, after 20 years in Mumbai. She's married and circumstances bring them closer again.
Jamun ka Ped - Communal distress during partition, as witnessed by a Jamun tree.

Least\Non enjoyable:
Habu ki Aag - Nomadic tribe discovers fire and treats it as a wild animal.
Junglenama - Animal's point of view and planning a strategy to stop humans advancing towards forest.
Khauf - Story set between communal riots, scary train journey.
Chauras Raat - High on poetic prose, reminiscing on lost love described by alliteration with a night.
Zindagi aur Maut - Major Manvendra's tryst with death.

Overall:
Recommended over Half a Rupee stories. For people who love Gulzar and variety in short stories.

[Priya · Rating 5 out of 5]

इस किताब को जिस सहज तरीके से लिखा गया है , वह वाकई मेरे मन को छू गयी ! कुछ कहानियों में ऐसा लगा जैसे यूँही बचपन फिर से शुरू हो गया ! 'दस पैसे और दादी ' कहानी मेरी सबसे प्रिय कहानी है ! यूँ दादी से बेहेस करना छोटी छोटी बातों पर ,अब तोह कोई ख़्वाब लगता है! सीमा की हरकतों को पढ़कर एक पुरानी सहेली की याद आ गयी ! और शेर सिंह से तोह बचपन का जंगल बुक का वह संडे एपिसोड याद दिल दिया ! थैंक यू गुलज़ार साहिब इस गुफ्तगू के लिए ! रावी पार मुझे उन गहराईयों तक ले गयी, जो मेरी कल्पना की सीमा में ना थी ! बस एक ही बात का अफ़सोस की हर दूसरी पंक्ति पे शब्दकोष का सहारा लेना पड़ा!

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read a good number of books about Partition and similar stories, and when I heard about Raavi Paar, I was looking forward to read it as I know that Gulzar has seen the partition and has suffered from it.

I have a special place in my book shelf which is dedicated to Gulzar's poems, however I have always called him Gulzar and not Gulzar Sahaab.

All I can tell you is, that, after reading Raavi Paar ( the short story which is part of this book ) just that one story which is had been given a Manto ending, Gulzar became Gulzar Sahaab for me. It took 3 pages or 10 mins for me to add Sahaab to Gulzar. I have appreciated and liked his songs and poems, however this book takes Gulzar Sahaab to a different level altogether.

It's a Must Read ! You may not even find a copy of this book online. But please read the original. Its written in simple words and its every easy to understand. Don't buy the translation if you can read the original version.

Respect for Gulzar Sahaab !

[Abhishek Mishra · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good book can grip you. But a great book can trap you, change the air and weather around you, and leave you satisfied, yet oddly lusting for more.

Raavi Paar is a great book. The master of verse - Gulzar Sahab - proves that his prose is no less poetic and dream-like. Each story in this collection is immensely simple and unassuming. But by the time you end reading it, it has already crawled inside your head, heart and won't leave it for months. As I journeyed from the tales of colonial India, of partition, of paranormal, and of daily occurrences that we don't otherwise notice, I felt like I lived inside each of those stories for that moment. I took a part of their life like they took a part of mine.

After devouring Raavi Paar, it is highly likely that you'll lament at the loss of those unhurried, un-evolved times that are now behind us and will never never come back. Thankfully, storytellers like Gulzar sahab can make us travel back in time.

[Amrendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

गुलजार की कहानियों का उर्दू से हिंदी में अनुदित यह प्रथम संग्रह है। असल जीवन व घटनाओं से प्रभावित 27 कहानियां यहां हैं।

गुलजार संवेदनशील लेखक हैं। उनकी कलम इश्क पर भी लिखती है, बचपन पर भी। जंगल-जानवरों का भी नक्शा है, राज-रानियों की भी कथा है और अपाहिजों-बौनों की दुनिया की तस्वीर भी है। कुछ दोस्तों के संस्मरण भी हैं (बिमलदा), कुछ भूतों के किस्से, कुछ दादी की कहानियां। छूटे इश्क की चौरस रात भी है और किस्मत से हारती जिंदगी और मौत भी।

हर लम्हे को वो शब्दों के आईने में समेत लेते हैं। यह कहानियां दिल की गहराइयों को छू जाती हैं। यही गुलजार हैं।

[Deepak Pathak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short stories in Devnaagri-Urdu, all with a soul. Gulzar's stories are like poetry. The characters seem to be very familiar, very own, and you feel their emotion as you listen along as they tell their stories.

[Debalina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gulzar sirf likhte nahi, balki apna Dil nikal kar use nichor kar kagaz pe rakh dete hain...

[Satabdi Bhattacharya · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good collection of awesome tales penned by Gulzar. "Ravipaar" is a very nice and shocking story. It's as impactful as the short stories penned by O henry or Manto.

[Shafali Jaiswal · Rating 4 out of 5]

इंसानी कहानियां इतनी डरावनी हो सकती है? इंसानी कहानियां ही डरावनी हो सकती है, भूतों - पिशाचों का क्या डर!

शुरुआती चालिस पन्नों को पढने मे मैंने चार दिन लगा दिये. हर दूसरी लाइन, दूसरे लफ्ज़ पर अटक जाती थी. उर्दु के ऐसे अल्फ़ाज़ जो न कभी पढे थे न कभी सूने थे. लेकिन जिस अंदाज़ मे गुलज़ार साहब ने लिखा है खूबसूरत ही सूनाई देते है, अर्थ समझे या ना समझे. लड़खड़ाते अटकते ही सही मुझे किताब का rhythm मिल गया. गुलजा़र साहब की लिखावट है ही ऐसी.

ज़िंदा, मुर्दा, ईन्सान, जानवर - सबके जज़्बात मानों करीब से महसूस किये हैं गुलजा़र ने. बुढापे के साथ आता अकेलापन हो, दंगों की दहशत, मजबूर लडकी की बेबसी हो, पहले प्यार का दर्द, या हो partition के दरमियान रावी पार करने का ख़ौफ़ - आप हर एहसास से गुज़रते हो. कलेजा पसीज जाता है उनके एक से एक रूह कांप देते अफ़साने पढ कर. दिल को दहला दें ये सिर्फ गुलजा़र के कलम से मुमकिन है.

गुलजा़र अपनी कहानियों के किरदारो को इतने अपनेपन, इतनी इन्सानियत से लिखते हैं के उन काल्पनिक किरदारों के बारे मे कुछ ही पन्नों में आत्मियता पैदा हो जाती है. कुछ किस्से उन्होंने खुद की ज़िंदगी से चूनकर इस किताब में पिरोये है. बिमलदा के साथ बिताए उनके आखिरी क्षण और तक़सीम (partition) के दौरान India आए एक परिवार से उनका इत्तेफाकन बना अनूठा रिश्ता - इनका इतना अभिव्यंजक वर्णन पढ कर मेरी आँखें नम हो गई.

कई अफसानों का अंत अपने ही तरीक़े का ख़ौफ़नाक है. इन कहानियों के मायने समझने में बडी देर लगी. अब कईयों का क्या ही हश्र, क्या ही अर्थ निकाले चूंकि गुलजा़र ने readers पर उन अफसानों का moral छोड़ दिया है. समाज के बनाए रिती रिवाज और नियम मे जकड़े किरदार, उनसे जुंझते और उन्हीं में गूँथ कर गुम होते किरदार, इन्ही रिती रिवाज़ो का विरोध करने में असफल हुये और आखिर उन्हीं में जकड़कर उन्हे अपना लिया इसका बेहतरीन उदाहरण "धुआँ", "हाथ पीले कर दो", "हिसाब किताब" जैसी कहानियां दर्शाती है. इन्सानियत को भेद दें ऐसे वाकया जो आपकी सूझबूझ के परे है. लेकिन reality से परे नहीं. गुलजा़र की कहानियां भले ही बसीं है दशकों पहले - कुछ 1940s मे, कुछ 80s मे, Michelangelo से प्रेरित किस्से से लेकर धार्मिक मतभेद के फसानो तक - लेकिन इन सबमें जूडी मुलभुत बात आज भी वही है. हालात आज भी वही है, और बदतर है. जैसे गुलजा़र ने इस किताब में उल्लेख किया है, "आज कल वैसे ही मुल्क की फ़िज़ा ख़राब हो रही थी, हिन्दू कुछ ज़्यादा ही हिन्दू हो गए थे, मुसलमान कुछ ज़्यादा मुसलमान!!"

गुलजा़र के किरदार और किरदारों ने उठाए कदम आपको challenge करते है, सोचने पर मजबूर करते है. नर्म मिजाज गुलजा़र जो media मे दिखाई देते है ज़िन्दगी के दर्दनाक पहलू से ईतने वाकिफ होंगे ये उनके अफसाने ही बयां करते है. उनके किरदार आपको किसी अखबार के खबर की, वास्तविक जीवन की घटना की, या रोजमर्रा मे टकराये कोई भूले बिसरे व्यक्ति की याद ज़रूर दिलायेंगे. शायद राजस्थान की डलिया की विवशता के रूप में, यासीन के संदेह के रूप में, "धुआँ" के चौधरी और उनके इर्द-गिर्द के दरिंदों के रूप में, या चक्कू की छिन गई मासूमियत के रुप मे.

[Sagar Upadhyay · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Masterpiece

This book contains a number of short stories. The general theme of the stories are somewhat sad and gloomy in nature.
But this book deserves a 5 star for the endings that Gulzar sir has given to the stories. Most of the stories shock you in its last para.

The stories are pretty short but they reverberate in your memory much after they have ended. The emotions of people are highlighted in a brilliant way.

If you like simple, short stories with emotional content (non romantic) then you should read this book.

[Vinay · Rating 4 out of 5]

These stories are good. Some of them are brilliant like Seema Raavi paar and jangalnaama. When I started this book I was not getting much interest. As went ahead reading this I became comfortable with it, and started liking it.
The writing style is very simple but it leaves a huge impression on you.

[Deep · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply makes you ruminate seamlessly

The book is full of different emotions wrestling with eachother or sometimes mingling together... Continuous thought provoking and philosophically enriching experience...

[Vini · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read for anyone and everyone.

The simplicity of the narration and the length of the stories is a powerful combination. Each story makes you feel like a part of you will never be the same again.

[Alok · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful read

Gulzaar Sahab and his short stories can comfortably be summed up in two words only:
1. Simplicity, and
2. Magic

[praveen pandey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goosebumps

Irony, mostly. Pieces from life, like all of Gulzar's work. Worth a read. Some stories worth reading many times. Definitely recommended.

[Zeeshan · Rating 5 out of 5]

गुलज़ार एक जादूगर है !

[Prashant Pillai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant short stories

[Amit H Goda]

All stories are belonged to differnt subjects. Superlike

[Samrat Sen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exquisite!! Exactly what one expects from Gulzar saab!

[dunkdaft · Rating 5 out of 5]

Often mystic often shocking and often goosebumps inducing. The English translations are no match when you read originals of this magician- storyteller.

[Richa Sharma Dhamorikar · Rating 4 out of 5]

These short stories by Gulzar are as beautiful as everything else he writes. Such a fine balance of Hindi and Urdu. An absolute treat.