Rainbow translated and edited by Karamvir Singh
Nanak Singh Pustak Mala. Pages: 80. Price: Rs. 150/-
Singh tells us that the genre of mini stories in Punjabi came into being in 1972. It had to overcome opposition and criticism from purists before being recognized as a serious literary form. Today it has become quite popular because of its pithy narrative, one-stroke characterization and often enigmatic endings not to mention crisp prose. In this volume there are some excellent stories like the eight lines long Border wherein a Pakistani farmer, entranced by the rendering of Heer on the Indian side, crosses the border and gets arrested. Similarly, Man takes a sardonic look at the craze for male child. Arcuated Knife depicts how communalism has affected our psyche. Optimist highlights a chronic loser’s positive attitude in a touching manner. Prize satirizes the police mindset.
It is really amazing how much can be conveyed in a few well-chosen words. The selection of stories is excellent, but the quality of translation is uneven.
The Tribune
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