Book Review: Do you suppose it’s the East Wind? Stories from Pakistan: edited and translated by Muhammad Umar Memon

Snapshots of life in Pakistan can be seen throughout this book, in this collection of thirteen short stories, written by popular Pakistani writers in the book, “Do you suppose it’s the East Wind?” which was initially written in Urdu. It was edited and translated into English by Muhammad Umar Memon. The writing is parallel to the emotions held by Muslims during the time before and after Partition. Poignant stories, by Pakistani writers; Abdullah Hussein, Altaf Fatima, Ghulam Abbas, Jameela Hashmi, Abul Fazl Siddiqi, Ikramullah, Fahmida Riaz, Hasan Manzar, Asad Muhammad Khan, Ashfaq Ahmad, Javed Shahin and Tasadduq Sohail have been told having themes of familial affection, life in Muslim society, pre and post Partition of India. Pain is shown due to separation of Muslim friends from Hindu friends, and their accustomed life they led before the Partition.

In the short story, The Tree by Tasadduq Sohail, the author involves his sense of solitude by accompanying his loneliness with that of a tree. The tree is brought to life in the story and it actually teaches us a lesson. I like how the tree, outrageously blurts out to the author explaining how grateful the man should be, for he is given the gift of speaking. The story forms a bond of friendship between these two; the author and the tree. In turn the author learns to value the little things in life. The extent of the bond between the talking tree and the man is amazing. This type of a friendship was so “imaginary” but it moved me as a reader to see how small things in life can affect you.

Another story in the book, Sunlight by Abdullah Hussein beautifully captures the relationship held between a father and his son. Trailing a series of humorous questions asked by the son, we understand their unique relationship.

 The book captures or rather does not separate the Islamic religion and lifestyle led by Muslims during that period of Partition, when most of these stories were originally written.

The Lure of Music by Ghulam Abbas brings out the importance of music to life. Music seems to fill up the empty moments in life. It entertains a poor man, a blind man or rich man. It may be in the form of an instrument- the sarod, the harmonium, or a tune sung; but music creates harmonious melodies. Life can be picked up at the mosque, on the street, in school but the tunes and melodies adjoining them all; are music can be seen in this story. 

The story, “Do you suppose it’s the East Wind?”- The title of the book, by Altaf Fatima brings out the importance of how unpredictable life can be when long lost memories suddenly arise.  Life is unpredictable and, and people are never able to choose their own pathways to life. Desires cannot be controlled and explained and it thus brings us back to the question, “Do you suppose it’s the East Wind that blows?”

Further on, the rest of the stories, For Freedom’s Sake, The Lure of Music, Banished, Ghulab Khas, Regret, Pink Pigeons-Was it they who won?, The Drizzle, Ma’i Dada, If Truth Be Told;  go on to explain various relationships among the Muslims during that time. Occasional use of Urdu can be found throughout the book, maintaining its originality from the Urdu script. Snapshots of the freedom struggle- riots between Muslims and Hindus, the Jallianwala Bagh incident bring us back to the times when independence was merely a dream.