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Andalus Main Ajnabi / اندلس میں اجنبی

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مستنصر حسین تارڑ کا سفرنامہ ہسپانیہ۔
اندلس کے ناسٹلجیا سے چھلکتا اور چھلکاتا ہوا۔

Hardcover

First published September 1, 1976

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About the author

Mustansar Hussain Tarar

97 books467 followers
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.

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5 stars
261 (50%)
4 stars
152 (29%)
3 stars
70 (13%)
2 stars
19 (3%)
1 star
17 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
Profile Image for Seher Alvi.
26 reviews29 followers
May 4, 2016
This was the very first interaction with the travelogues of one of the distinguished writer Mustansar Hussain Tarar and I would say without any doubts it was Exceptional !! Highly recommended to everyone who can read and adore Urdu :))
Profile Image for Salman Khalid.
106 reviews86 followers
September 26, 2017
بقول تارڑ صاحب ایک انجان ڈور انہیں اُندلس کی جانب کھینچتی تھی اور وہ اس ڈور کے ساتھ بندھے کھنچے چلے جاتے تھے۔ ۔ ۔ خود بھی اُندلس کے سحر میں ڈوبے۔ ۔ ۔ پڑھنے والوں کو بھی ڈبویا۔
یہ کتاب میری پسندیدہ ترین میں سے ایک ہے جسے میں نے اب چوتھی مرتبہ پڑھا ہے اور ہر دفعہ کی طرح اس مرتبہ بھی اس کتاب نے اپنے سحر میں جکڑا۔ ۔ ۔ جیسے بہت سی پسندیدہ چیزوں کی وجہ بتانا مشکل ہوتا ہے، میرے لئے بھی اس کتاب کو اتنا پسند کرنے کی وجہ طے کرنا آسان نہیں۔
کہنے کو تو یہ ’’ایک اور سفرنامہ‘‘ ہی ہے مگر کھوئے ہوئے اُندلس کو لے کر شدتِ جذبات سے چھلکتے تارڑ صاحب نے اس سفرنامے کو روایتی انداز و آداب سے نکال کر شاہراہِ رومان کا وہ سفر بنا دیا ہے جس پر چلنے والا ہر مسافر منزلِ ناسٹلجیا پر پہنچتا ہے۔
ناسٹلجیا جو اندلسِ قدیم ہے۔ ۔ ۔ جامع قرطبہ کا ہجومِ نخیل ہے۔ ۔ ۔ غرناطہ کا پُر فسوں قصر ہے۔ ۔ ۔
چار ماہ کی طویل سیاحت سے تارڑ صاحب نے اُندلس کو پوری طرح اپنے اندر اتارا اور پھر ایسے دل کش انداز میں ’رپورٹ‘ کیا ہے کہ پڑھنے والے کا دل سب چھوڑ چھاڑ کر اُندلس کی خاک چھاننے کو کرنے لگتا ہے۔
مگر کتاب میں محض ماضی کا ہی گریہ نہیں، حال کی زندہ روایات کا بھی تذکرہ ہے۔ ۔ ۔ بُل فائٹنگ، نوجوان ہسپانوی لڑکے لڑکیوں کا سرِ شام سڑک پر پاسیو مارچ، فلیمینکو جپسیوں کا زامبرا ناچ۔ دورانِ سفر ملنے والے اور ’والیوں‘ کا ذکر تو خیر تارڑ ٹریڈ مارک ہوا، مشاہدات کے ساتھ ساتھ اُندلس کے عرب ماضی کی تاریخ بھی بہت جامع انداز میں پروئی گئی ہے جو کہ مجھ ایسے ہسٹری بَف کے لئے ایک بڑی وجہء پسندیدگی تو ہے ہی مگر تاریخ گریزاں قاریوں کو بھی گراں نہیں گزرے گی۔
کتاب میں مختلف شعراء و ادباء کے افکار کو بھی خاصا برتا گیا ہے۔ ۔ ۔ آغاز ہی سروانتس کے شہرہ آفاق ناول ’’ڈان کےخوتے‘‘ کے حوالے سے ہوتا ہے۔ مسلمان اُندلسی شعراء کی شاعری بھی موضوع کی مناسبت سے بھلی لگتی ہے۔ ۔ ۔ سرخ انار ایسا غرناطہ جہاں حُسن رچ گیا ہے۔ ۔ ۔ غالب رنگ البتہ واشنگٹن اروِنگ اور اس کی مشہور کتاب ’’الحمرا کی کہانیاں‘‘ کا ہے۔ ۔ ۔ تحریک رومانٹسسزم کے بارے میں زیادہ تو نہیں جانتا مگر تارڑ صاحب اس کتاب میں ادب کے اس انداز سے بہت متاثر محسوس ہوتے ہیں۔ رومانوی انداز اور تشبیہات و استعارات کا اتنا استعمال کرتے ہیں کہ پڑھنے والا کبھی تو سوچ کے قلابے ملانے پر حیران رہ جاتا ہے۔
اگرچہ اس کتاب پر بھی تمام روایتی اعتراضات پورے اترتے ہیں جیسے تارڑ صاحب کی خود پسندی و شیخی بگھارنا، حقیقت سے دور افسانہ نگاری کا گمان، صنفِ نازک کا عشقِ تارڑ میں بے حال ہوجانا وغیرہ وغیرہ مگر اس کتاب کے لئے ان سب سے صرفِ نظر صرف اس لئے کہ ایک مُور کے لئے اُندلس کا سحر ان تمام اعتراضات پر حاوی ہے اور ذکر اُندلس کا ہو تو نظر صرف حُسن پر، ناسٹلجیا پر۔ باقی سب سچ تو ہے مگر ہیچ ہے۔ ۔ ۔
تمام سنیور و سنیوریتاؤں کو ہائلی ریکمنڈڈ۔
Profile Image for Jibran.
226 reviews767 followers
March 23, 2016
My first ever travelogue that I read in my early teens and have re-read since then a few times. This along with other of Mustansar's travelogues kindled in me a love for travel and adventure. I have had good opportunity since then to follow in the footsteps of my inspiration. A lovable, likeable writer, his writings are studded with humour, adventure and a love for the road.

In this travelogue contemporary Spain or Al-Andalus of the 1970s comes to life with reference to its historical importance. It is clear that Mustansar has a special affection for the country and for the lost heritage of the eclectic civilisation that came into being, uniquely, only in medieval Spain.
Profile Image for Asad Awan.
12 reviews
June 16, 2017
A good travelogue, with insight on historical significance of cities like Cordoba and Madrid in context of Islamic occupation of Spain. Doesn't fail to give deep notions of Spanish culture and its festivals. One star dropped because of not-so-funny jokes of Mustansir, which mimics like it's been written by Ibn-e-insha but NO.
Profile Image for Zaki.
77 reviews62 followers
September 10, 2018
بعض لوگ اس بات پر بے حد برہم نظر آتے ہیں کہ اندلس میں تعمیر کردہ ان مساجد کو کیوں مسمار کر دیا گیا یا انہیں کلیساؤں میں کیوں بدل دیا گیا۔ میرے خیال میں یہ ایک لازمی تاریخی عمل ہے۔ اگر عقیدہ رکھنے والے کسی سرزمین سے ہجرت کر جائیں یا مٹا دیئے جائیں تو اس عقیدے کے معبد محض عام عمارتوں میں بدل جاتے ہیں اور پھر اس کا انحصار مقامی لوگوں کی حس انصاف پر ہوتا ہے کہ وہ ان عمارتوں کو اپنے عقیدے کے معبدوں میں بدل دیں اور ان کا تقدس برقرار رکھیں جیسا کہ اکثر اندلس میں ہوا یا پھر ان میں ڈھورڈنگر باندھ دیں اور منقش دروبام پر اپکے تھوپ دیں، جیسا کہ ہمارے ہاں ہوا۔
2 reviews3 followers
October 21, 2015
Certainly 5 stars are less for any piece of work by Tarar Sahab.. bt "undlas me ajnabi" is such a masterpiece that words fail to express the joy, and triumph u feel after reading it...
Tarar takes you to the"undlas"of the"moors", and the way he explains it's attraction, is unexplainable.... "qasre Alhambra k surkh meenar", and the glory of it, in Tarar's words leaves you spellbound... and all u crave is to go there... Gharnada and it's history, Ashbelia and qastalia , even the raw and savage "Bullfight", leaves unfading marks on one's memory... There's something in this book, May b the lost glory of the Muslims, that speaks of itself, the magic which took Tarar there... as he himself said" yaha tak k Paris ki apahaj Pascal k bandhan b Mjy rok nhe paye"!!!!
simply awesome... A must read..
Profile Image for Mujahid Khan.
111 reviews19 followers
January 3, 2017
مستنصر حسین تارڑ کا یہ سپین کا سفرنامہ اپنے آپ میں ایک جہاں بسائے ہوئے ہیں۔ مسلمانوں کی عظمت رفتہ کو یاد دلاتا ہوا اندلس کا یہ سفر ایک انتہائی حسین پیرائے میں بیان کیا گیا ہے۔ تارڑ صاحب کا ایک لازوال شاہکار۔
Profile Image for Badar Rashid.
4 reviews
June 3, 2014
Well. Even though author always tailored stories of his Voyage in this book around women, still there was a lot about Spain to learn from this book. Happy reading..:D
Profile Image for Zulqaif .
44 reviews13 followers
January 20, 2019
This book is a travelogue of Undulas ( Spain and a few parts of Europe). After reading Pyaar Ka Pehla Shehr, one should go hunting this one. Tarar Shahab travels through each and every city of Spain in this one giving an insight to the muslim history in the whole Europe. This book makes the reader walk through the streets of Madrid, galleries of Qurtaba Mosque. It takes the reader on a jeep ride through the endless mountains of spain with no population. And then the book, at the end, ends with a chapter called "Undulas Mein Ajnabi".
This book over all is a great one. I had been eyeing it for quite sometime and wanted to read it. Now, I am really relieved. It made my thirst for traveling Europe more intense. Tarar Sahab did a great job in picturing everything through words. At first, I was annoyed by the details of Muslim History but gradually I became used to it and learned a lot abouy our history that I never knew. According to this book, Spain is not a Utopia like people describe it. It is not that beautiful. It is just perfect and there is a difference between beauty and perfection. I used to think about Spain with a whole different perspective but aftef reading this book, I think about it at a whole different level of imagination. Spain is not as beautiful as deep it is.
The writing style of Tarar Sahab is completely different in this one. It is way slower than his other books and it was one of the things I loved in this book. I always prefer slow books over fast paced books. We meet a lot of people in this book and it feels so good to know that all those people exist or existed in real world. They probably don't even know that they exist in a book. The book is a thrilling ride and would take a lot of ups and down throughout the story. I highly, highly recommend this book to you guys if you are into Tarar's books. I hope you enjoy reading it.
113 reviews11 followers
May 18, 2019
A portrait of nostalgia done so well that by the end of the book the reader reminisces as if those memories were their own. Tarar has woven a great tale of travel adventure, cultural experiences and historical perspectives. While a few embellishments appear fictional, he does outlines the art of travelling the way it should be.
Travel - while you can!
Profile Image for ArsalaAn KaAhn.
5 reviews
September 11, 2024
It was good but i didn’t give me the same excitement as i did with Pyar ka pehla shehr and that was the reason i read it, some parts were real good but i think it was a bit stretched and some really difficult words were used. In the last paragraphs i just rushed it so i can finish because it was becoming boring
The story is 8/10
Writing 6/10
Profile Image for Ali Yasir.
99 reviews21 followers
February 7, 2018
Mustansar Hussain is one of my favorite writers who has taken the writing of Safar-Naama to a new height. This book is very much interesting in which he compares Muslim and now liberal Spain. Some of it's scenes are quite touching.
3 reviews
November 27, 2018
Great book and wonderfully explaining the events of SPAIN. Get your free copy from Here
17 reviews
April 26, 2020
If you want to know about history of Muslim rules in Spain must read this book
8 reviews
June 21, 2020
A Great book indeed by one of the finest writers. A deep historical analysis of decline of Moorish rule in Spain along with his keen aesthetic sense made this book more profound and eloquent.
9 reviews1 follower
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August 28, 2020
I read this book as a teen more than 20 years ago and I loved it.
And I love mr. Tarar for having written it. I hope that very soon his work is translated in English but also in other languages.
1 review
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August 15, 2021
i want ton read online fond to read mustansar hussain tarar sahab
2 reviews
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July 11, 2022
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Profile Image for Ayesha.
13 reviews
October 4, 2024
پانچ ستاروں سے بھی اُوپر 💚💯
Profile Image for Fakhar Zaman.
6 reviews
July 12, 2015
Mustansar Hussain Tarar takes you on an adventurous journey across Spain.
He narrates his travel and you feel like you are looking at Mustansar from top and are along with him throughout.
He narrated his feelings and observations with well researched history of the cities he traveled. It is not just a journey of the present Spain but that of 1000 years ago as well. It narrates the glory Spain had seen during the Muslim rule.

His narrative style is catchy and absorbs the reader. His interaction with people especially the girls never let your imagination wander out of this epic book.
It is not just a serious travelogue but it also is full of decent literary humor which you never see coming but you stay amazed afterwards.
A must read.
Profile Image for Мак Хан.
28 reviews28 followers
January 21, 2015
bought this book in 2013 in islamabad literary festival and on this book i take autographs from Amajad Islam Amjad,Intizar Hussain,and actress Laila Zubairi.
Profile Image for Fatima Naqvi.
46 reviews20 followers
February 15, 2015
first experience ov reading a travelogue - a good book :) *enjoyed!*
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews

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