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Sin: Stories
A nymphomaniac nawab and his fiercely clever footman.
The awakening of a servant-child's passion.
A divorce fuelled by envy, illicit love and suppression.
A noble set to transform the history of royal marriages.
Set in Hyderabad's old-world aristocratic society of the 1950s, this stellar collection of stories resurrects and explores the work of Wajida Tabassum, one of the most prominent names in Urdu literature, an iconoclast and non-conformist often referred to as the 'female Manto'. In her lifetime, Tabassum's fearless portrayal of the realities of the society she lived in met with severe criticism from the so-called custodians of culture of the time, and she was reviled to the point that mobs set out to torch her publishers' offices.
Sin showcases Tabassum's boldest short stories, alongside the story of her own life, translated for the first time into English, in which she captures, in riveting prose, the spectrum of depravity among Hyderabad's elite, middle-class compulsions in the mid-twentieth century, and blurred lines of decency and decorum.
Featuring lascivious nawabs, lustful begums, cunning servants, and unfulfilled marriages marked by peculiar rituals and customs, this volume will surprise, intrigue and entertain readers in equal measure.
The awakening of a servant-child's passion.
A divorce fuelled by envy, illicit love and suppression.
A noble set to transform the history of royal marriages.
Set in Hyderabad's old-world aristocratic society of the 1950s, this stellar collection of stories resurrects and explores the work of Wajida Tabassum, one of the most prominent names in Urdu literature, an iconoclast and non-conformist often referred to as the 'female Manto'. In her lifetime, Tabassum's fearless portrayal of the realities of the society she lived in met with severe criticism from the so-called custodians of culture of the time, and she was reviled to the point that mobs set out to torch her publishers' offices.
Sin showcases Tabassum's boldest short stories, alongside the story of her own life, translated for the first time into English, in which she captures, in riveting prose, the spectrum of depravity among Hyderabad's elite, middle-class compulsions in the mid-twentieth century, and blurred lines of decency and decorum.
Featuring lascivious nawabs, lustful begums, cunning servants, and unfulfilled marriages marked by peculiar rituals and customs, this volume will surprise, intrigue and entertain readers in equal measure.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published January 25, 2022
10 people are currently reading
135 people want to read
About the author
Wajida Tabassum
21 books8 followersWajida Tabassum (Urdu: واجدہ تبسّم, romanized Vājidah Tabassum)(16 March 1935 – 7 December 2011) was an Indian writer of fiction, verses and songs in the Urdu language. She wrote 27 books. Some of her stories have been made into movies and Indian television serials. Her controversial 1975 story titled "Utran" (translated as 'Cast-Offs' or 'Hand-Me Downs') was made into a popular soap opera on Indian television in 1988."Utran" was reprinted in English translation as part of an anthology of 20 short stories titled Such Devoted Sisters in 1994,and from there was made into a movie in 1996 under the title Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love, with a script by Mira Nair and Helena Kriel.
Wajida Tabassum was born in Amravati, Maharashtra in 1935. She graduated from Osmania University with a degree in Urdu language. After graduation her family moved from Amravati to Hyderabad where she started writing stories in Urdu in the Dakhini dialect from 1940 in the backdrop of the aristocratic social life of Hyderabad.She married her cousin Ashfaq Ahmad in 1960; he was employed with Indian Railways. After his retirement he published all her books. They settled in Bombay and had five children, four sons and one daughter.
Wajida Tabassum's stories started appearing in the monthly magazine Biswin Sadi ('twentieth century'). These stories were erotic in style as she brought out the life styles of the Hyderabadi nawabs, which was considered "luxurious and amorous". Her collection of stories was first published as Shahr-e Mamnuʻ ('Forbidden City') in 1960; it became very popular and received critical acclaim. Literary critic Mujtaba Husain observed that "she was the first story writer after Chughtai who can be called sahib-e-asloob, a writer with distinct style." He also lamented that she crossed the "limits of decorum (and decency)" in her stories. The story titled "Utran" (meaning 'discarded clothes'), which was made into a film and a Hindi TV serial, was a literary achievement for her. Her other stories titled Nath ka bojh (Burden of the nose-ring), Haur upar (A little higher) and Nath Utarwai (Removal of the nose-ring) were controversial, as there was more of an erotic element in these stories. During the 1960 and 1970s the erotic stories which she wrote were published in the magazine titled Shama, for which she received very handsome payments at that time. However, she withdrew from the writing scene as she suffered from arthritis and led a secluded life in her home in Mumbai, although her house was used for shooting of films. She died on 7 December 2011 in Mumbai.
Wajida Tabassum was born in Amravati, Maharashtra in 1935. She graduated from Osmania University with a degree in Urdu language. After graduation her family moved from Amravati to Hyderabad where she started writing stories in Urdu in the Dakhini dialect from 1940 in the backdrop of the aristocratic social life of Hyderabad.She married her cousin Ashfaq Ahmad in 1960; he was employed with Indian Railways. After his retirement he published all her books. They settled in Bombay and had five children, four sons and one daughter.
Wajida Tabassum's stories started appearing in the monthly magazine Biswin Sadi ('twentieth century'). These stories were erotic in style as she brought out the life styles of the Hyderabadi nawabs, which was considered "luxurious and amorous". Her collection of stories was first published as Shahr-e Mamnuʻ ('Forbidden City') in 1960; it became very popular and received critical acclaim. Literary critic Mujtaba Husain observed that "she was the first story writer after Chughtai who can be called sahib-e-asloob, a writer with distinct style." He also lamented that she crossed the "limits of decorum (and decency)" in her stories. The story titled "Utran" (meaning 'discarded clothes'), which was made into a film and a Hindi TV serial, was a literary achievement for her. Her other stories titled Nath ka bojh (Burden of the nose-ring), Haur upar (A little higher) and Nath Utarwai (Removal of the nose-ring) were controversial, as there was more of an erotic element in these stories. During the 1960 and 1970s the erotic stories which she wrote were published in the magazine titled Shama, for which she received very handsome payments at that time. However, she withdrew from the writing scene as she suffered from arthritis and led a secluded life in her home in Mumbai, although her house was used for shooting of films. She died on 7 December 2011 in Mumbai.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 1, 2022
Wajida Tabassum wrote at a time about women and their lives, when it was practically unheard of. That too of Muslim women and their lives – hidden behind veils or traditions – the lives that no one knew about or did but didn’t speak of it – she chronicled all of it in her short stories that bridge the gap between ignorance and truth.
Tabassum came from a family that had seen immense amount of wealth but by the time she turned nine, it was all squandered and both her parents were dead. Her maternal grandmother took care of her and her siblings, selling her jewellery to provide for their education and daily living. They had to go through immense hardships that she then wrote about in a short narrative titled “Meri Kahaani” (My Story).
Wajida started writing short stories at an early age. She wrote about the world she knew and did it with humour, bite, and the desperation of women in it who want a way out but do not get that exit. The book is about the spaces they inhabit and how men are all-pervasive, extremely territorial and want more and more – Tabassum covers four aspects of “sin” – lust, pride, greed, and envy. There are 18 stories in all – dissecting, humanizing, dehumanizing, rarely empowering, and mostly placing the woman at the center of dilemmas, confusion, weakness, and sacrifices.
There are also times when female agency kicks in very strong. For instance, the first story Chhinaal (Fallen Venus) is about a courtesan Gauhar Jaan and her marriage to one of her patrons, how she is treated in the family, and what happens when she decides to take some matters in her hand. There is sadness and a lingering feeling of helplessness, yet you know that Gauhar did what she wanted to, on her terms. Or even Talaq, Talaq, Talaq (Separation) where Mehru takes matters in her own hand when Nawab Sarkar forces her husband to divorce her.
Tabassum’s women are creatures of circumstance and the time they lived in. Her stories are set in Hyderabad, right after the partition, and some before. The exact timeline is not known but you get an idea as you go along reading them. Her women are full of desire, longing, craving, and also ambition – mostly these do not see the light of the day, but when they do you want to cheer out loud as a reader.
In Lungi Kurta (The Exchange), a wife gives a befitting response to a husband’s infidelity and wayward ways. Zakat (The Alms of Death) exposes the hypocrisy of nawabs (as do the other stories in the book), and how Ujala a young girl manages to do that.
Wajida Tabassum’s stories are steeped in honesty. They reflect the times she witnessed – the dynamics between the women and men across class, caste, and what society expects of them. Reema Abbasi’s translation does not make you want more as a reader. It is perfect, bringing to fore the worlds, the language (without footnotes or glossary, which is a huge relief), the nuances of living in a world full of custom and rituals, and above all doing most justice to the original.
Wajida Tabassum is a treat for readers who love the short-story form and want to experiment with new writers, thereby expanding their horizon and clearing biases, page after page.
Tabassum came from a family that had seen immense amount of wealth but by the time she turned nine, it was all squandered and both her parents were dead. Her maternal grandmother took care of her and her siblings, selling her jewellery to provide for their education and daily living. They had to go through immense hardships that she then wrote about in a short narrative titled “Meri Kahaani” (My Story).
Wajida started writing short stories at an early age. She wrote about the world she knew and did it with humour, bite, and the desperation of women in it who want a way out but do not get that exit. The book is about the spaces they inhabit and how men are all-pervasive, extremely territorial and want more and more – Tabassum covers four aspects of “sin” – lust, pride, greed, and envy. There are 18 stories in all – dissecting, humanizing, dehumanizing, rarely empowering, and mostly placing the woman at the center of dilemmas, confusion, weakness, and sacrifices.
There are also times when female agency kicks in very strong. For instance, the first story Chhinaal (Fallen Venus) is about a courtesan Gauhar Jaan and her marriage to one of her patrons, how she is treated in the family, and what happens when she decides to take some matters in her hand. There is sadness and a lingering feeling of helplessness, yet you know that Gauhar did what she wanted to, on her terms. Or even Talaq, Talaq, Talaq (Separation) where Mehru takes matters in her own hand when Nawab Sarkar forces her husband to divorce her.
Tabassum’s women are creatures of circumstance and the time they lived in. Her stories are set in Hyderabad, right after the partition, and some before. The exact timeline is not known but you get an idea as you go along reading them. Her women are full of desire, longing, craving, and also ambition – mostly these do not see the light of the day, but when they do you want to cheer out loud as a reader.
In Lungi Kurta (The Exchange), a wife gives a befitting response to a husband’s infidelity and wayward ways. Zakat (The Alms of Death) exposes the hypocrisy of nawabs (as do the other stories in the book), and how Ujala a young girl manages to do that.
Wajida Tabassum’s stories are steeped in honesty. They reflect the times she witnessed – the dynamics between the women and men across class, caste, and what society expects of them. Reema Abbasi’s translation does not make you want more as a reader. It is perfect, bringing to fore the worlds, the language (without footnotes or glossary, which is a huge relief), the nuances of living in a world full of custom and rituals, and above all doing most justice to the original.
Wajida Tabassum is a treat for readers who love the short-story form and want to experiment with new writers, thereby expanding their horizon and clearing biases, page after page.
August 15, 2022
"She learnt that when a husband didn't return to his marital bed, when weeks went by unlit by his passions, something else was burnt to dust - his wife, their home and marriage. But she had to be the graveyard of these revelations. How could she tell someone that her Nawab was consumed by other girls? Besides, Pasha Dulhan knew that men strayed when their wives didn't keep them captivated, or plenty wouldn't be fastened to ageing wives. She was her own curse and captive."
Sin's synopsis proclaims: "Featuring lascivious nawabs, lustful begums, cunning servants, and unfulfilled marriages marked by peculiar rituals and customs, this volume will surprise, intrigue and entertain readers in equal measure." It isn't ludicrous to call Tabassum a softer version of Anaïs Nin, though consent isn't always given in her stories making narrative turns murky, but one can clearly see how she attracted censure by being frank in exploring suppressed dreams and desires of women wielding limited power.
Reema Abbasi, the curator and translator of the book, writes: "Their journey out of environs that revel in women's submission and deprivation is the primary focus of stories that go against the grain with protagonists who claim and indulge in the primal. She's startlingly clear in what she portrays—all that is a sin to others is salvation to her women." Tabassum spent her life behind the purdah so she keenly feels what women in during her time go through. So here, they go toe to toe, partake in debauchery, and hit right back.
(I received a finished copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)
February 22, 2022
Sin: Stories by Wajida Tabassum Translated by Reema Abbasi 📚
Sin: Stories was a rich, literary work of art. The words were sinfully delicious and delivered with finesse. Sin has been translated from Urdu to English by Reema Abbasi and I think she conveyed the essence of the stories perfectly. The author, Wajida Tabassum has written scandalous stories in a time where such writing was shunned by all.
She caused a stir in the literary world with her erotic stories which portrayed the reality of the world she lived in. She also wrote about her own life experiences that shaped the women she became which where were both inspiring and heart breaking to read. The book contains 4 parts which were Lust, Pride, Greed and Envy. There were a few short storied under each of the topics.
The stories were frank and open. The writing conveyed a sense of earnestness that is not always present in such stories. The stories were centered around elite and rich people who were filled with lust and greed. There was a few chapters in the middle of the book which conveyed the author's own story and that was my favourite part of the book. If you want a rich, old-timey, lusty read, go for it.
-Afreen
Sin: Stories was a rich, literary work of art. The words were sinfully delicious and delivered with finesse. Sin has been translated from Urdu to English by Reema Abbasi and I think she conveyed the essence of the stories perfectly. The author, Wajida Tabassum has written scandalous stories in a time where such writing was shunned by all.
She caused a stir in the literary world with her erotic stories which portrayed the reality of the world she lived in. She also wrote about her own life experiences that shaped the women she became which where were both inspiring and heart breaking to read. The book contains 4 parts which were Lust, Pride, Greed and Envy. There were a few short storied under each of the topics.
The stories were frank and open. The writing conveyed a sense of earnestness that is not always present in such stories. The stories were centered around elite and rich people who were filled with lust and greed. There was a few chapters in the middle of the book which conveyed the author's own story and that was my favourite part of the book. If you want a rich, old-timey, lusty read, go for it.
-Afreen
March 21, 2022
Sin, a collection of 18 short stories and an essay/part memoir by Urdu writer Wajida Tabassum and translated by Reema Abbasi brings to readers the kind of writing that makes you realize just how much of a blessing translation can be and that we owe so much to translators who are passionate about bringing to us the works of writers that we would have missed out on. Tabassum's stories are about the many ways that sex is perceived and situated in a feudal society.
Set firmly within the domestic world of her characters, these stories are about how men by virtue of their gender and position in society look on sex as something in their power and whims and how certain women who have the means can also turn into the very men who turn to their powerles domestic staff for their debauchery and physical satisfaction; the way sex is often used as a medium of transaction between the haves and the have nots and how morality is thrown in, sometimes by way of societal judgements and at times, how it occupies the premise of the 'respectability' of a marriage. Sex is desire and lust, the first flush of intoxication and greed for the flesh but it is also a journey of discovery when there is consent in these stories which leave you thinking.
The women in the stories are victims but also women who know how to conquer the men who throw their weight around.The use of the original Urdu titles along with their English translation adds a beautiful shine to these stories. The author's essay on her life and her writing experiences 'Meri Kahani' (My Story) written when she was 24 yrs is hard-hitting with her intellectual maturity and a sharp keen eye. This is a must read.
Set firmly within the domestic world of her characters, these stories are about how men by virtue of their gender and position in society look on sex as something in their power and whims and how certain women who have the means can also turn into the very men who turn to their powerles domestic staff for their debauchery and physical satisfaction; the way sex is often used as a medium of transaction between the haves and the have nots and how morality is thrown in, sometimes by way of societal judgements and at times, how it occupies the premise of the 'respectability' of a marriage. Sex is desire and lust, the first flush of intoxication and greed for the flesh but it is also a journey of discovery when there is consent in these stories which leave you thinking.
The women in the stories are victims but also women who know how to conquer the men who throw their weight around.The use of the original Urdu titles along with their English translation adds a beautiful shine to these stories. The author's essay on her life and her writing experiences 'Meri Kahani' (My Story) written when she was 24 yrs is hard-hitting with her intellectual maturity and a sharp keen eye. This is a must read.
February 24, 2022
✍️"I must write regardless of perils. I want to tell my tale because you questioned my writing. My life doesn't shame me."
✍️Women, from starting always had to fight for the basic rights which men enjoy without even knowing
This book is an anthology of some famous writing of Wazida Tabassum divided into powerful stories such as lust, pride, greed, and envy.
✍️Wajida Tabassum was famous for her audacious and semi erotica's stories at the time when it was even impossible for women in India to leave home or do any task without the permission of men.
✍️Every inch of her work was reeking of boldness, pain, resentment, and craving for justice. Her compelling storytelling and attachment which every woman can find somewhere in her characters was the highlights of this book. She has written dauntlessly about the topics which were considered as social taboos and faced many objections by so-called rulers of society. This book made me feel tons of sentiments and read tales of such inclination and vigor which I have never witnessed before.
✍️Whoever designed its cover did a great job. It goes incredibly with the theme and content and is hard to not look at. Its terminology was susceptible and vocabulary was rich. Reema Abbasi worked profoundly upon the translation to make it an intriguing and engaging read for the readers of another language.
✍️All around consider this one as a highly recommended book by me and especially for the ones who love women fiction.
✍️Women, from starting always had to fight for the basic rights which men enjoy without even knowing
This book is an anthology of some famous writing of Wazida Tabassum divided into powerful stories such as lust, pride, greed, and envy.
✍️Wajida Tabassum was famous for her audacious and semi erotica's stories at the time when it was even impossible for women in India to leave home or do any task without the permission of men.
✍️Every inch of her work was reeking of boldness, pain, resentment, and craving for justice. Her compelling storytelling and attachment which every woman can find somewhere in her characters was the highlights of this book. She has written dauntlessly about the topics which were considered as social taboos and faced many objections by so-called rulers of society. This book made me feel tons of sentiments and read tales of such inclination and vigor which I have never witnessed before.
✍️Whoever designed its cover did a great job. It goes incredibly with the theme and content and is hard to not look at. Its terminology was susceptible and vocabulary was rich. Reema Abbasi worked profoundly upon the translation to make it an intriguing and engaging read for the readers of another language.
✍️All around consider this one as a highly recommended book by me and especially for the ones who love women fiction.
April 15, 2022
Reading opens your mind but sometimes it opens a world of the author to you.
Admittedly I was not aware of Wajida Tabassum and her works but while browsing books I chanced upon this book and I wanted to read it immediately.
This book gave me a poignant perspective of Wajida's world in very peculiar way. Part erotic, part irony and part realistic - this book made me understand more about the Muslim women and their world within the walls of their home.
Some people may tell me that I am being shameless in reading about sexual proclivities of men and how women deal with their own desires. Beyond religion, all over the world, I have noticed that women prevail beyond these and somehow get undone or made up (depending on how they succumb to it). Wajida's stories bring you closer to the women protagonists though the characterization may seem same or similar in amm stories. The era of Nawabs and their Begums is something that puts in an element of exotic India in the stories. The book cover portrays that quite well.
If you don't mind the realities of reading about the life in a hyper-masculine society, this book is a good read! Translated by Reema Abbasi and published by Hachette India , this hardcover book is a hard hitting book of stories that tell you more about the women than the men.
(The book has some typo errors in the end stories. This will have to be rectified by the editor)
Admittedly I was not aware of Wajida Tabassum and her works but while browsing books I chanced upon this book and I wanted to read it immediately.
This book gave me a poignant perspective of Wajida's world in very peculiar way. Part erotic, part irony and part realistic - this book made me understand more about the Muslim women and their world within the walls of their home.
Some people may tell me that I am being shameless in reading about sexual proclivities of men and how women deal with their own desires. Beyond religion, all over the world, I have noticed that women prevail beyond these and somehow get undone or made up (depending on how they succumb to it). Wajida's stories bring you closer to the women protagonists though the characterization may seem same or similar in amm stories. The era of Nawabs and their Begums is something that puts in an element of exotic India in the stories. The book cover portrays that quite well.
If you don't mind the realities of reading about the life in a hyper-masculine society, this book is a good read! Translated by Reema Abbasi and published by Hachette India , this hardcover book is a hard hitting book of stories that tell you more about the women than the men.
(The book has some typo errors in the end stories. This will have to be rectified by the editor)
April 7, 2025
Idk the point of this book. It's like darkness mixed with explicit content in the most uncomfortable way possible
Two stars for writing style
Zero for content
I feel like authors should understand that you dont need to make women provocative to appeal to the tastes of readers
Again idk what i was expecting in a book literally named Sin
Two stars for writing style
Zero for content
I feel like authors should understand that you dont need to make women provocative to appeal to the tastes of readers
Again idk what i was expecting in a book literally named Sin
May 16, 2022
The three star is because of the translation. As my urdu is not very strong I got lost in the plot for most stories. And for those stories that I did understand I found them to be cut short abruptly.
December 26, 2022
Some of the short stories were incredibly moving and repulsive. The others felt like I was caught in a web of mistranslated words. Part of me wishes there was more of the original Urdu written with parts dissected in English. Overall I did get the sense of how impactful this classic literature is.
Read
January 19, 2024A tad bit conflicted feelings on this one. Would love to come and reread it sometime in the future though.
June 1, 2025
A bold peep into the debauched lives of the erstwhile nawabs of Hyderabad and the women at the receiving end.
November 11, 2025
True to its name !!!
October 23, 2022
" In our literature, forwards have become customary. I feel they lean our readers in a certain direction, which is worrying. Why do we need a renowned name to endorse our work to the extent that critique is printed on the dust cover?"
Set in Hyderabad's old-world aristocratic society of the 1950s, this stellar collection of stories resurrects and explores the work of Wajida Tabassum, one of the most prominent names in Urdu literature, an iconoclast and nonconformist often referred to as the 'female Manto'. In her lifetime, Tabassum's fearless portrayal of the realities of the society she lived in met with severe criticism from the so-called custodians of culture of the time, and she was reviled to the point that mobs set out to torch her publishers' offices.
SIN is a collection of 18 short stories written by Wajida Tabassum and translated by Reema Abbasi spread over 4 subjects - Lust, Pride, Greed and Envy. The stories revolves around Muslim women in the era just after independence and some before independence set in Hyderabad, their lives that are hidden behind veils and traditions.
Wajida has talked about these women coming forward, claiming their voice, rights, desires and sometimes owning their life and its decisions. The book also includes Wajida's story named 'Meri Kahani ' - My Story, where she has talked about her life growing up, her writings, criticism and hatred she received for writing bold and ahead of her time characters and stories and her struggle to keep on writing. Each story feels well translated and captures the emotions and plot well. They leave you thinking about the characters and their stories. One might end up feeling various emotions for them.
I loved reading this book. If you want to read short stories or a good translated work, READ THIS BOOK.
Set in Hyderabad's old-world aristocratic society of the 1950s, this stellar collection of stories resurrects and explores the work of Wajida Tabassum, one of the most prominent names in Urdu literature, an iconoclast and nonconformist often referred to as the 'female Manto'. In her lifetime, Tabassum's fearless portrayal of the realities of the society she lived in met with severe criticism from the so-called custodians of culture of the time, and she was reviled to the point that mobs set out to torch her publishers' offices.
SIN is a collection of 18 short stories written by Wajida Tabassum and translated by Reema Abbasi spread over 4 subjects - Lust, Pride, Greed and Envy. The stories revolves around Muslim women in the era just after independence and some before independence set in Hyderabad, their lives that are hidden behind veils and traditions.
Wajida has talked about these women coming forward, claiming their voice, rights, desires and sometimes owning their life and its decisions. The book also includes Wajida's story named 'Meri Kahani ' - My Story, where she has talked about her life growing up, her writings, criticism and hatred she received for writing bold and ahead of her time characters and stories and her struggle to keep on writing. Each story feels well translated and captures the emotions and plot well. They leave you thinking about the characters and their stories. One might end up feeling various emotions for them.
I loved reading this book. If you want to read short stories or a good translated work, READ THIS BOOK.
November 1, 2022
A fantastic read.
The women in these stories are mostly in a state of helplessness and in almost all cases are able to hit back except the helpless girl in the story titled ' zameen'. The way the Nawab used her guile to satiate his hunger for women who resisted is something that can still be seen in newspaper articles. These are not merely stories but a mirror of the society that was and still is.
In the middle of the book, the author narrates her own story. That is not a rags-to-riches story but the story of a woman who bought the right to write. it is inspiring to say the least.
She not only handles the desires of both males and females with talent but the way she describes how a single instance of rebuke and shame can home over your life in very good. The shame felt for some moments can act as a mental block and can change how you act and how society perceives you.
Most of the characters are either filthy rich or poor. The rich prey on the poor (as always)and the poor have no other option than to submit. The stories showcase how low one has to ball to just have a plate of food.
The stories esp. the ones focused on women’s desires and needs hits home. The stories even though have the setting of Nawabi Hyderabad but the characters seem quite contemporary. The book is divided into the seven sins which are quite apt for these stories.
A must-read for lovers of short stories with deep meaning.
The women in these stories are mostly in a state of helplessness and in almost all cases are able to hit back except the helpless girl in the story titled ' zameen'. The way the Nawab used her guile to satiate his hunger for women who resisted is something that can still be seen in newspaper articles. These are not merely stories but a mirror of the society that was and still is.
In the middle of the book, the author narrates her own story. That is not a rags-to-riches story but the story of a woman who bought the right to write. it is inspiring to say the least.
She not only handles the desires of both males and females with talent but the way she describes how a single instance of rebuke and shame can home over your life in very good. The shame felt for some moments can act as a mental block and can change how you act and how society perceives you.
Most of the characters are either filthy rich or poor. The rich prey on the poor (as always)and the poor have no other option than to submit. The stories showcase how low one has to ball to just have a plate of food.
The stories esp. the ones focused on women’s desires and needs hits home. The stories even though have the setting of Nawabi Hyderabad but the characters seem quite contemporary. The book is divided into the seven sins which are quite apt for these stories.
A must-read for lovers of short stories with deep meaning.
June 4, 2024
These stories felt very repetitive. I wonder if the translation did them justice
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews