Ismat Chughtai bola popredná spisovateľka v urdčine, známa svojim nezdolným duchom a silnou feministickou ideológiou. Jej tvorba, ktorá skúmala ženskú sexualitu, stredostavovskú uhladenosť a vyvíjajúce sa konflikty v modernom moslimskom svete, predstavuje revolučnú feministickú politiku a estetiku v urdčine literatúre 20. storočia. Svojím otvoreným a kontroverzným štýlom písania sa stala vášnivým hlasom pre neslýchaných a inšpiráciou pre mladšiu generáciu autorov, čitateľov a intelektuálov.
Fearless in its exploration of female sexuality, this work delves into themes that remain underrepresented in literature. The author’s provocative style challenges societal norms and ignites discussions about women's experiences and desires. With acute observations and bold storytelling, it offers a fresh perspective that resonates with contemporary readers, making it a significant contribution to discussions about gender and sexuality.
A Life in Words, the first complete translation of her celebrated memoir Kaghazi hai Pairahan, provides an authentic and delightful account of several crucial years of Ismat’s life. Presented along with the vivid and high-energy descriptions of her childhood years are the conflicted experiences of growing up in a large Muslim family during the early decades of the twentieth century. We get an intimate view of a writer’s fierce struggle to find her own voice and depict with passion and precision the visible and subtle tyrannies of contemporary society. A Life in Words is a searingly honest and compellingly readable memoir of the life of one of the most significant Urdu writers of all time. Source: http://www.flipkart.com/life-words-06...
Recognized as a significant work by a leading Indian female author, this book draws comparisons to influential writers such as de Beauvoir, the Brontë sisters, and Camus. It explores profound themes of identity, gender, and existentialism, showcasing the unique voice and perspective of its creator. The narrative delves into the complexities of women's experiences, making it a vital contribution to both Indian literature and feminist discourse.
In 1944 Ismat Chughtai successfully defended herself before the Imperial Crown Court against a charge of obscenity for her short story Lihaaf - The Quilt. The narrator of this story, a precocious nine-year old child, is sent to visit an aunt. This aunt, ignored by a husband whose only interest seems to lie in entertaining slim-waisted young boys, suffers from a relentless bodily itch, an itch, her niece discovers, no doctor can cure and only her maidservant can relieve. Frank and often wickedly comic, Chughtai's stories were the imaginative core of her life's work, drawn from memories of the sprawling Muslim household of her childhood. With her mastery of the spoken language, economy of form, and her fine eye for the details of the intricate and hidden world of women's experience, Chughtai captured the evolving conflicts of Muslim India. Her exploration of the myriad and subtle tyrannies of middle-class gentility, and, equally, of those unexpected moments of sexual liberation and spirit, is unrivalled in contemporary Urdu literature.
The book explores the groundbreaking contributions of a female author to Urdu literature, particularly in addressing themes of female sexuality that were previously considered taboo. By delving into these uncharted territories, she transformed the landscape of Urdu fiction, challenging societal norms and expanding the narrative possibilities within the genre. The work highlights her significant impact on both literature and cultural discourse, marking a pivotal shift in how women's experiences are represented in Urdu writing.
