{"id":6492,"date":"2017-08-28T01:45:42","date_gmt":"2017-08-28T01:45:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/hindi\/?p=6492"},"modified":"2017-10-24T23:21:18","modified_gmt":"2017-10-24T23:21:18","slug":"upendranath-ashk-rebel-misfit-iconoclast-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/hindi\/upendranath-ashk-rebel-misfit-iconoclast-part-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Upendranath Ashk: Rebel, Misfit, Iconoclast (Part 1)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Speaking of egotistical and notoriously temperamental writers (ahem…Sahir Ludhianvi), perhaps no name is as infamous as that of Upendranath Ashk (\u0909\u092a\u0947\u0928\u094d\u0926\u094d\u0930\u0928\u093e\u0925 \u0905\u0936\u094d\u0915)…that is, for those who know his name at all. The reason he is little known perhaps has a great deal to do with the fact that he is almost never assigned in Hindi classrooms, either to native Hindi speakers or those learning Hindi as a second language. In fact, it was not until graduate school that I came to learn of this controversial writer. But, once I began reading his works, I came to love his style, despite the overwhelmingly negative press surrounding his “unique” personality.<\/p>\n

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Image by Ryan on Flickr; the Golden Temple, in Amritsar, Punjab, one of the most famous monuments in Punjab.<\/p><\/div>\n

Born Upendranath Sharma to a Brahmin family in 1910 Jalandhar, Punjab, Ashk, like many of his contemporaries and predecessors (in fact, the famous author Munshi Premchand was his mentor of sorts), began his writing career composing in Urdu. Prior to a formal career, he first began writing by composing Punjabi couplets when he was about 11. In 1926, he officially began writing in Urdu with the guidance of the Jalandhari poet Muhammad Ali “Azar.” Later, when he was in college, he published his first collection of short stories in 1930, called Nau Ratan\/\u0928\u094c \u0930\u0924\u0928<\/em> (Nine Jewels<\/em>). It was also in college that he adopted the pen name “Ashk” (\u0905\u0936\u094d\u0915, which means “teardrop” in Urdu) to honor a childhood friend whose untimely demise colored the rest of his life. It was common at this time for poets, especially those writing in Urdu, to adopt a “pen name,” or “takhallus” (\u062a\u062e\u0644\u0635\/\u0924\u0916\u093c\u0932\u094d\u0932\u0941\u0938) as it is called in Urdu.<\/p>\n

Inspired by Premchand and the knowledge that Hindi was becoming a more popular medium for literature, Ashk switched to writing in Hindi in 1932. At that time, attempting to make inroads into the field of Hindi literature was like trying to enter an exclusive club of self-righteous snobs. The combination of Ashk’s “Punjabi-ness,” his pugnacious personality and his lack of “nativeness” to the Hindi scene (his mother tongues were Punjabi and Urdu), resulted in Ashk feeling like an outsider for almost all of his career. While some of this pariah status was undoubtedly due to Ashk’s paranoia and his disagreeable and idiosyncratic nature, Ashk had hit the nail on the head, so to speak, in terms of feeling like an outsider in a “Hindi club” populated almost solely by native speakers of Hindi from Uttar Pradesh and surrounding areas. Clearly, some of them considered themselves superior to Punjabi “fledglings” to the field, such as Ashk, who wrote biting satire on the present state of affairs in Nehruvian India (1947-1964).<\/p>\n

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Image by Ptwo on Flickr; a view of the Ganga (Ganges) from Allahabad, India, which used to be the hub of the Hindi literary scene.<\/p><\/div>\n

In the following short story, with an English translation provided as well, Ashk pokes fun at the “new class of tourist” that has arisen with the faltering prosperity of the Nehruvian era; these people are cheap and petty to an extreme degree, but they now have the means to travel to “exotic locales” within India, such as Kashmir, to the annoyance of the locals and the chagrin of the protagonist, who is a middle class artist.<\/p>\n

“The Daal Eaters” (\u0926\u093e\u0932\u093f\u092f\u0947), published 1955<\/p>\n

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Image by Partha S. Sahana on Flickr; Kashmir, India. Once a popular tourist destination for Indians and foreigners, now the site of military and political conflict between India and Pakistan.<\/p><\/div>\n

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\u092a\u0939\u0932\u0917\u093e\u0901\u0935 (name of a town) \u0915\u0940 \u0938\u0941\u092c\u0939 \u092a\u093f\u091b\u0932\u0947 \u0926\u093f\u0928 \u0938\u0947 \u0915\u0941\u091b \u0905\u094c\u0930 \u0938\u0941\u0928\u094d\u0926\u0930 \u0905\u094c\u0930 \u0906\u0915\u0930\u094d\u0937\u0915 (attractive) \u091b\u0935\u093f (visage, image) \u0932\u093f\u090f \u0939\u0941\u090f \u0909\u0926\u092f \u0939\u0941\u0908 (to rise, ascend) \u0925\u0940 \u0964<\/span> \u0938\u093e\u092e\u0928\u0947 \u0915\u0947 \u092a\u0939\u093e\u0921\u093c (mountain) \u0915\u0940 \u0939\u093f\u092e–<\/span>\u092e\u0923\u094d\u0921\u093f\u0924 (snow-covered) \u091a\u094b\u091f\u093f\u092f\u094b\u0902 (peaks) \u092a\u0930 \u0938\u092b\u093c\u0947\u0926 \u092c\u093e\u0926\u0932 \u0932\u0939\u0930\u093e \u0930\u0939\u0947 \u0925\u0947 (rippling, swaying, waving)\u00a0\u0964<\/span> \u092d\u093f\u0928\u0938\u093e\u0930\u0947 \u092e\u0947\u0902 (dawn) \u092a\u0924\u094d\u0925\u0930\u094b\u0902 (rocks) \u0938\u0947 \u091f\u0915\u0930\u093e\u0915\u0930 (colliding) \u092b\u0947\u0928\u094b\u091a\u094d\u091b\u0935\u093e\u0938 (exhalations of froth) \u091b\u094b\u0921\u093c\u0924\u093e \u0939\u0941\u0906 \u0932\u093f\u0926\u094d\u0926\u0930 (name of a river) \u0905\u094c\u0930 \u0909\u0938\u0915 \u0915\u093f\u0928\u093e\u0930\u0947–<\/span>\u0915\u093f\u0928\u093e\u0930\u0947 \u092c\u0938\u0947 \u0905\u0928\u0917\u093f\u0928\u0924 (countless) \u091b\u094b\u091f\u0947–<\/span>\u092c\u0921\u093c\u0947 \u0916\u093c\u092e\u094b\u0902 (bend) \u0915\u0940 \u0926\u0941\u0928\u093f\u092f\u093e \u092c\u0921\u093c\u0940 \u0939\u0940 \u092d\u0932\u0940 \u0932\u0917 \u0930\u0939\u0940 \u0925\u0940 \u0964<\/span> \u091b\u0921\u093c\u0940 (walking stick) \u0909\u0920\u093e\u0915\u0930 \u092e\u0948\u0902 \u0932\u093f\u0926\u094d\u0926\u0930 \u0915\u0940 \u0938\u0948\u0930 (trip, walk) \u0915\u094b \u091a\u0932 \u0926\u093f\u092f\u093e\u00a0\u0964<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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That morning in Pehelgav had risen with a more lovely visage than the day before. White clouds rippled on the snow-crowned peaks of the mountain before me. At dawn, colliding with the rocks and releasing sighs of froth, the Liddar and the world of countless large and small bends settled along its banks looked very pleasing. I picked up my walking stick and left for a stroll along the river.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\u0939\u094b\u091f\u0932 \u0938\u0947 \u091a\u0928\u094d\u0926 (a few) \u0939\u0940 \u0915\u093c\u0926\u092e (steps) \u0926\u0942\u0930 \u0917\u092f\u093e \u0939\u0942\u0901\u0917\u093e \u0915\u093f \u0915\u093f\u0938\u0940 \u0928\u0947 \u092a\u0940\u091b\u0947 \u0938\u0947 \u092e\u0947\u0930\u0947 \u0915\u0928\u094d\u0927\u0947 (shoulder) \u092a\u0930 \u0939\u093e\u0925 \u0930\u0916\u093e \u0964<\/span> \u092e\u0948\u0902 \u091a\u094c\u0902\u0915\u0915\u0930 (to be startled) \u092e\u0941\u0921\u093c\u093e, <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>\u0905\u0930\u0947, <\/span>\u091a\u094b\u092a\u0921\u093c\u093e \u0938\u093e\u0939\u092c! <\/span>\u0915\u092c \u0906\u092f\u0947 ?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>\u0939\u092e \u0924\u094b \u0938\u093e\u0924 \u0926\u093f\u0928 \u0938\u0947 \u0906\u092f\u0947 \u0939\u0941\u090f \u0939\u0948\u0902, <\/span>\u0906\u0930\u094d\u091f\u093f\u0938\u094d\u091f \u0938\u093e\u0939\u092c (Artist Sahab=the protagonist’s title\/name), <\/span>\u0906\u092a \u0915\u092c \u0906\u092f\u0947 ?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>\u092e\u0948\u0902 \u0924\u094b \u092a\u0930\u0938\u094b\u0902 (day before yesterday) \u0906\u092f\u093e \u0939\u0942\u0901, <\/span>\u092c\u0939\u0941\u0924 \u0925\u0915 \u0917\u092f\u093e (tired) \u0925\u093e, <\/span>\u0907\u0938\u0932\u093f\u092f\u0947 \u0915\u0932 \u0906\u0930\u093e\u092e (relax) \u0915\u0930\u0924\u093e \u0930\u0939\u093e \u0964<\/span> \u0906\u091c \u0938\u094b\u091a\u093e, <\/span>\u091c\u093c\u0930\u093e \u0928\u093f\u0915\u091f \u0938\u0947 (nearby) \u0932\u093f\u0926\u094d\u0926\u0930 \u0915\u0947 \u0926\u0930\u094d\u0936\u0928 \u0915\u0930\u0924\u0947 (to pay obeisances\/respects to, lit. to worship) \u0906\u092f\u0947\u0902 \u0964<\/span>\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>\u0915\u094d\u092f\u093e \u092c\u093e\u0924 \u0939\u0948 \u0932\u093f\u0926\u094d\u0926\u0930 \u0915\u0940!\u201d <\/span>\u091a\u094b\u092a\u0921\u093c\u093e \u0938\u093e\u0939\u092c \u0928\u0947 \u0938\u093e\u092e\u0928\u0947 \u092a\u0924\u094d\u0925\u0930\u094b\u0902 \u092a\u0930 \u0936\u094b\u0930 \u092e\u091a\u093e\u0924\u0947 (making noise), <\/span>\u091d\u093e\u0917 \u0909\u0921\u093c\u093e\u0924\u0947 (letting fly foam), <\/span>\u0905\u092a\u0928\u0947 \u092a\u093e\u0928\u0940 \u0915\u0947 \u091c\u093c\u0939\u0930\u092e\u094b\u0939\u0930\u093e (lit. bezoar stone, which is an antidote to poison; usually dark brown in color) \u0930\u0902\u0917 \u0915\u094b \u092b\u0947\u0928\u094b\u091a\u094d\u091b\u0935\u093e\u0938\u094b\u0902 \u0938\u0947 \u0939\u0932\u094d\u0915\u0947 \u0939\u094c\u0932\u0926\u093f\u0932\u0940 (cowardly, easily frightened) \u0930\u0902\u0917 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u092c\u0926\u0932\u0924\u0947 \u0939\u0941\u090f \u0932\u093f\u0926\u094d\u0926\u0930 \u0915\u094b \u0926\u0947\u0916\u0915\u0930 \u0915\u0939\u093e, \u201c <\/span>\u092f\u0939 \u0928 \u0939\u094b \u0924\u094b \u092a\u0939\u0932\u0917\u093e\u0901\u0935 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0915\u094d\u092f\u093e \u0930\u0916\u093e \u0939\u0948! <\/span>\u0939\u092e \u0924\u094b \u092d\u093e\u0908 \u0932\u093f\u0926\u094d\u0926\u0930 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0928\u0939\u093e\u0924\u0947 (bathe) \u0939\u0948\u0902, <\/span>\u092f\u0939\u0940\u0902 \u0915\u092a\u0921\u093c\u0947 \u0927\u094b\u0924\u0947 (wash clothing) \u0939\u0948\u0902, <\/span>\u092f\u0939\u0940\u0902 \u0926\u094b\u092a\u0939\u0930 \u0917\u0941\u091c\u093c\u093e\u0930\u0924\u0947 (spend the afternoon) \u0939\u0948\u0902 \u0964<\/span>\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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I must have been only a few steps from the hotel when someone touched me on the shoulder. Startled, I turned around,<\/strong>
\n \u201cOh, Chopra Sahab (sir)! When did you get here?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been a week since we got here, Artist Sahab. How about you?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI got here the day before yesterday. I was very tired, so I just relaxed yesterday. Today I thought why not pay my obeisances to the Liddar.\u201d\u00a0<\/strong>
\n \u201cWhat a splendid river (the Liddar)!\u201d He looked out at the Liddar as it made a din on the rocks and sent foam flying up, the color of its water seeming to change in fright from a dark brown to a pallid hue with its sighs of froth. Then, he said, \u201cIf this wasn\u2019t here then what would be left in Pehelgav! We bathe in the Liddar, bhai (brother), we wash our clothes in it and we even spend the afternoon here.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>\u0915\u092c \u0924\u0915 \u0930\u0939\u0928\u0947 \u0915\u093e \u0907\u0930\u093e\u0926\u093e (intention) \u0939\u0948?”<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>\u0905\u0930\u0947 \u0906\u0930\u094d\u091f\u093f\u0938\u094d\u091f \u0938\u093e\u0939\u092c, <\/span>\u0906\u092f\u0947 \u0924\u094b \u0939\u092e \u0926\u094b–<\/span>\u0924\u0940\u0928 \u0926\u093f\u0928 \u0930\u0939\u0928\u0947 \u0915\u0947 \u0916\u093c\u092f\u093e\u0932 (idea, thought) \u0939\u0940 \u0938\u0947 \u0925\u0947, <\/span>\u092a\u0930 \u092f\u0947 \u092d\u093e\u0908 \u0938\u093e\u0939\u092c \u091c\u093e\u0928\u0947 \u0939\u0940 \u0928\u0939\u0940\u0902 \u0926\u0947\u0924\u0947\u0964\u201d \u2026<\/span>\u0905\u094c\u0930 \u0938\u0939\u0938\u093e (suddenly) \u092a\u0932\u091f\u0915\u0930 (turning) \u0909\u0928\u094d\u0939\u094b\u0902\u0928\u0947 \u0905\u092a\u0928\u0947 \u0938\u093e\u0925 \u0935\u093e\u0932\u0947 \u0906\u0926\u092e\u0940 \u0915\u094b \u092e\u0947\u0930\u093e \u092a\u0930\u093f\u091a\u092f (introduction) \u0926\u093f\u092f\u093e\u2014\u201c<\/span>\u0906\u092a \u0907\u0928\u094d\u0939\u0947\u0902 \u0928\u0939\u0940\u0902 \u091c\u093e\u0928\u0924\u0947 ?\u201d <\/span>\u0935\u0947 \u092e\u0947\u0930\u0940 \u0905\u094b\u0930 \u0938\u0902\u0915\u0947\u0924 \u0915\u0930\u0924\u0947 (to gesture, indicate) \u0939\u0941\u090f \u092c\u094b\u0932\u0947, \u201c<\/span>\u0926\u093f\u0932\u094d\u0932\u0940 (Delhi) \u0915\u0947 \u092c\u0921\u093c\u0947 \u092a\u094d\u0930\u0938\u093f\u0926\u094d\u0927 (famous) \u0906\u0930\u094d\u091f\u093f\u0938\u094d\u091f \u0939\u0948\u0902, <\/span>\u0907\u0928\u0915\u0940 \u0924\u0938\u094d\u0935\u0940\u0930\u0947\u0902 \u0924\u094b \u0930\u093e\u0937\u094d\u091f\u094d\u0930\u092a\u0924\u093f–<\/span>\u092d\u0935\u0928 (Presidential palace) \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0939\u094b\u0928\u0940 \u091a\u093e\u0939\u093f\u090f, <\/span>\u0932\u0947\u0915\u093f\u0928 \u0907\u0928\u094d\u0939\u0947\u0902 \u0907\u0938\u0915\u0940 \u091a\u093f\u0928\u094d\u0924\u093e (worry, care) \u0939\u0940 \u0928\u0939\u0940\u0902, <\/span>\u092c\u0938 \u092c\u0928\u093e\u0924\u0947 \u0939\u0948\u0902 \u0905\u094c\u0930 \u0926\u094b\u0938\u094d\u0924\u094b\u0902 \u0915\u094b \u092c\u093e\u0901\u091f \u0926\u0947\u0924\u0947 (distribute, share) \u0939\u0948\u0902 \u0964<\/span> \u0932\u0947\u0915\u093f\u0928 \u0938\u092e\u091d \u0932\u0940\u091c\u093f\u090f, <\/span>\u091c\u093f\u0928\u0915\u0947 \u092a\u093e\u0938 \u0907\u0928\u0915\u0940 \u090f\u0915–<\/span>\u090f\u0915 \u0924\u0938\u094d\u0935\u0940\u0930 \u0939\u0948, <\/span>\u0939\u091c\u093c\u093e\u0930\u094b\u0902 (thousands) \u0930\u0941\u092a\u092f\u094b\u0902 \u0915\u0940 \u0926\u094c\u0932\u0924 (wealth) \u0909\u0928\u0915\u0947 \u092a\u093e\u0938 \u0939\u0948 \u0964<\/span>\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cTill when do you plan to stay?\u201d<\/strong>
\n \u201cOh Artist Sahab, we came with the intention of staying only two or three days, but this gentleman just won\u2019t let us leave.\u201d And, turning suddenly, he introduced me to the man who was with him\u2014\u201cYou don\u2019t know him?\u201d Gesturing toward me, he said, \u201cHe\u2019s a very famous artist in Delhi; his pictures should be in the presidential palace, but he doesn\u2019t care about this (selling them) at all. He just makes them and shares them with his friends. But, mind you, anyone who owns one of his pictures, owns thousands of rupees of wealth.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u0909\u0928 \u201c<\/span>\u092d\u093e\u0908 \u0938\u093e\u0939\u092c\u201d <\/span>\u0928\u0947 \u0928\u092e\u0938\u094d\u0915\u093e\u0930 (greet) \u0915\u093f\u092f\u093e \u0964<\/span> \u0935\u093f\u0935\u0936 (helpless) \u092e\u0948\u0902\u0928\u0947 \u092d\u0940 \u0916\u0940\u0938\u0947\u0902 \u0928\u093f\u092a\u094b\u0930 \u0926\u0940\u0902 (grimace, or bear one’s teeth)\u00a0\u0964<\/span> \u092b\u093f\u0930 \u092e\u0941\u091d\u0947 \u0909\u0928\u0915\u093e \u092a\u0930\u093f\u091a\u092f \u0926\u0947\u0924\u0947 \u0939\u0941\u090f \u091a\u094b\u092a\u0921\u093c\u093e \u0938\u093e\u0939\u092c \u092c\u094b\u0932\u0947, \u201c<\/span>\u0905\u094c\u0930 \u092f\u0947 \u0939\u0948\u0902 \u0939\u092e\u093e\u0930\u0947 \u092d\u093e\u0908 \u0938\u093e\u0939\u092c, <\/span>\u092f\u0939\u093e\u0901 \u0935\u093f\u091c\u093c\u093f\u091f\u0930\u094d\u091c\u093c \u092c\u094d\u092f\u0942\u0930\u094b (Visitor’s Bureau) \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0915\u093e\u092e \u0915\u0930\u0924\u0947 \u0939\u0948\u0902, <\/span>\u092c\u0921\u093c\u0947 \u0938\u091c\u094d\u091c\u0928 \u092a\u0941\u0930\u0941\u0937 (gentlemanly man) \u0939\u0948\u0902 \u0964<\/span> \u0907\u0928\u094d\u0939\u0940\u0902 \u0915\u0947 \u0918\u0930 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0939\u092e \u091f\u093f\u0915\u0947 \u0939\u0941\u090f (staying) \u0939\u0948\u0902 \u0964<\/span> \u0939\u092e\u0947\u0902 \u092e\u093e\u0932\u0942\u092e \u0939\u0940 \u0928\u0939\u0940\u0902 \u0939\u0941\u0906 \u0915\u093f \u0939\u092e \u092a\u0930\u093e\u092f\u0947 (another’s, a stranger’s) \u0918\u0930 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0939\u0948\u0902\u0964\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

\u092e\u0948\u0902\u0928\u0947 \u0909\u0928\u094d\u0939\u0947\u0902 \u0928\u092e\u0938\u094d\u0915\u093e\u0930 \u0915\u093f\u092f\u093e \u0964<\/span> \u0905\u092c\u0915\u0947 (now) \u0909\u0928\u094d\u0939\u094b\u0902\u0928\u0947 \u0916\u0940\u0938\u0947\u0902 \u0928\u093f\u092a\u094b\u0930 \u0926\u0940\u0902 \u0964<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>\u0906\u092a \u0915\u0939\u093e\u0901 \u0920\u0939\u0930\u0947 \u0939\u0948\u0902 (staying)?\u201d <\/span>\u0915\u093c\u0926\u092e \u092c\u0922\u093c\u093e\u0924\u0947 \u0939\u0941\u090f (walking forward) \u091a\u094b\u092a\u0921\u093c\u093e \u0938\u093e\u0939\u092c \u0928\u0947 \u092e\u0941\u091d\u0938\u0947 \u092a\u0942\u091b\u093e \u0964<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>\u092e\u0948\u0902 \u0907\u0938\u0940 \u0939\u094b\u091f\u0932 \u0915\u0947 \u0924\u0940\u0928 \u0928\u092e\u094d\u092c\u0930 \u0915\u0947 \u0915\u092e\u0930\u0947 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0939\u0942\u0901\u0964\u201d <\/span>\u092e\u0948\u0902\u0928\u0947 \u092e\u0941\u0921\u093c\u0915\u0930 \u0938\u093e\u092e\u0928\u0947 \u0939\u094b\u091f\u0932 \u0915\u0940 \u0905\u094b\u0930 \u0907\u0936\u093e\u0930\u093e \u0915\u0930\u0924\u0947 (gesturing toward) \u0939\u0941\u090f \u0915\u0939\u093e \u0964<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>\u0906\u092a \u091f\u0947\u0923\u094d\u091f (tent) \u0915\u094d\u092f\u094b\u0902 \u0928\u0939\u0940\u0902 \u0932\u0917\u093e \u0932\u0947\u0924\u0947?\u201d <\/span>\u092d\u093e\u0908 \u0938\u093e\u0939\u092c \u092c\u094b\u0932\u0947 \u0964<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>\u092e\u0948\u0902 \u0915\u0941\u091b \u0939\u0940 \u0926\u093f\u0928 \u0915\u0947 \u0932\u093f\u090f \u0906\u092f\u093e \u0939\u0942\u0901, <\/span>\u0928\u094c\u0915\u0930 (servant) \u0938\u093e\u0925 \u0928\u0939\u0940\u0902 \u0932\u093e\u092f\u093e, <\/span>\u0907\u0938\u0932\u093f\u090f \u0939\u094b\u091f\u0932 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u091f\u093f\u0915 \u0917\u092f\u093e \u0939\u0942\u0901\u0964\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>\u0905\u091a\u094d\u091b\u093e \u091a\u094b\u092a\u0921\u093c\u093e \u0938\u093e\u0939\u092c, <\/span>\u0906\u092a\u0915\u094b \u0924\u094b \u0938\u093e\u0925\u0940 (companion) \u092e\u093f\u0932 \u0917\u092f\u0947 \u0964<\/span>\u201d <\/span>\u092d\u093e\u0908 \u0938\u093e\u0939\u092c \u0928\u0947 \u091a\u094b\u092a\u0921\u093c\u093e \u0915\u0947 \u0915\u0928\u094d\u0927\u0947 \u0915\u094b \u0925\u092a\u0925\u092a\u093e\u0924\u0947 \u0939\u0941\u090f (pat or tap)) \u0915\u0939\u093e, \u201c<\/span>\u092e\u0948\u0902 \u091a\u0932\u0942\u0901, <\/span>\u092e\u0941\u091d\u0947 \u0924\u0948\u092f\u093e\u0930 \u0939\u094b\u0915\u0930 (get ready) \u0926\u092b\u093c\u094d\u0924\u0930 (office) \u092a\u0939\u0941\u0901\u091a\u0928\u093e \u0939\u0948, <\/span>\u0906\u092a \u0907\u0928\u0915\u0947 \u0938\u093e\u0925 \u0932\u093f\u0926\u094d\u0926\u0930 \u0915\u0940 \u0938\u0948\u0930 \u0915\u0930 \u0906\u0907\u090f !\u201d <\/span>\u0905\u094c\u0930 \u092b\u093f\u0930 \u092e\u0941\u091d\u0938\u0947 \u092c\u094b\u0932\u0947, \u201c<\/span>\u0906\u092a\u0938\u0947 \u092e\u093f\u0932\u0915\u0930 \u092e\u0941\u091d\u0947 \u092c\u0921\u093c\u0940 \u0916\u0941\u0936\u0940 \u0939\u0941\u0908 \u0964<\/span> \u092e\u0941\u091d\u0947 \u092d\u0940 \u0915\u0941\u091b \u092c\u094d\u0930\u0936–<\/span>\u0905\u0936 \u091a\u0932\u093e\u0928\u0947 \u0915\u093e \u0936\u094c\u0915 (hobby) \u0939\u0948 \u0964<\/span> \u092e\u0948\u0902 \u0905\u092a\u0928\u0940 \u0926\u094b–<\/span>\u091a\u093e\u0930 \u0924\u0938\u094d\u0935\u0940\u0930\u0947\u0902 \u0906\u092a\u0915\u094b \u0926\u093f\u0916\u093e\u0928\u093e \u091a\u093e\u0939\u0924\u093e \u0939\u0942\u0901, <\/span>\u092f\u0926\u093f \u0938\u092e\u092f \u0926\u0947\u0902 \u0924\u094b\u2026\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>\u091c\u093c\u0930\u0942\u0930 \u0932\u093e\u0907\u090f \u0964<\/span>\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

\u0905\u094c\u0930 \u0935\u0947 \u0939\u093e\u0925 \u091c\u094b\u0921\u093c\u0915\u0930 \u091a\u0932\u0947 \u0917\u090f \u0964\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n

That \u201cgentleman\u201d greeted me. Helpless, I grimaced at him. Then, Chopra Sahab said as he introduced him to me, \u201cAnd this is our dear friend; he works in the Visitor\u2019s Bureau here. He\u2019s a great gentleman. We\u2019ve put up in his house. It doesn\u2019t even seem like we\u2019re in someone else\u2019s house.\u201d I greeted him. Now it was his turn to grimace at me. \u201cWhere are you staying?\u201d Chopra Sahab asked me as we continued walking.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n

\u201cI\u2019m in Room #3 of this hotel.\u201d I said, turning and gesturing to the hotel opposite.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy don\u2019t you set up a tent?\u201d The gentleman said.<\/strong>
\n \u201cI\u2019ve only come here for a few days and didn\u2019t bring my servant, that\u2019s why I\u2019ve put up in a hotel.\u201d<\/strong>
\n \u201cWell, Chopra Sahab, you\u2019ve found a companion.\u201d The gentleman said as he thumped Chopra on the shoulder, \u201cI\u2019ll be off; I have to get ready and go to the office. Please take a stroll along the Liddar with him!\u201d And then he continued to me, \u201cIt was a pleasure meeting you. I also like to push around a brush from time to time. I\u2019d like to show you two or three of my pictures, if you have time…\u201d<\/strong>
\n \u201cOf course, please bring them by.\u201d<\/strong>
\n And, joining his hands in farewell, he left.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Stay tuned for Part 2 of this story, coming next week!\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

Speaking of egotistical and notoriously temperamental writers (ahem…Sahir Ludhianvi), perhaps no name is as infamous as that of Upendranath Ashk (\u0909\u092a\u0947\u0928\u094d\u0926\u094d\u0930\u0928\u093e\u0925 \u0905\u0936\u094d\u0915)…that is, for those who know his name at all. The reason he is little known perhaps has a great deal to do with the fact that he is almost never assigned in Hindi…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":140,"featured_media":6691,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[3792,1],"tags":[475646,475645,9410,475520,238697,192435,475647,475644,475631],"class_list":["post-6492","post","type-post","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hindi-language","category-uncategorized","tag-daal-eaters","tag-daaliye","tag-hindi-literature","tag-hindi-words-and-phrases","tag-learning-hindi","tag-punjab","tag-social-realism","tag-upendranath-ashk","tag-urdu-literature"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/hindi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6492","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/hindi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/hindi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/hindi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/140"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/hindi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6492"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/hindi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6492\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6692,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/hindi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6492\/revisions\/6692"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/hindi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6691"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/hindi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6492"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/hindi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6492"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/hindi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6492"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}