प्रतिनिधि कहानियाँ

by Mannu Bhandari

Representative stories of Mannu Bhandari

143 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Mannu Bhandari was born on April 3, 1931, in Bhanpura, Madhya Pradesh, India. She attended school in Ajmer and later she graduated from Calcutta University in 1949, followed by an M.A. degree in Hindi from the Banaras Hindu University in 1953.
She is wife of famous Hindi writer Rajendra Yadav, with whom she co-wrote the book, Ek Inch Muskaan (A Little Smile).

In post independent Hindi literature many new women writers emerged
and attracted the attention of readers and critics but after initial shining some
of them did not make writing of their successful career. Many women writers
have entered the arena of literary writing. Several highly talented writers have
enriched Hindi literature with their creative writings. To name a few Usha
Priyamvada, Malti Joshi, Dipti Khandelwal, Mridila Garg, Mannu Bhandari,
Shubha Verma are some of the most accomplished contemporary Hindi
women writers. Their writing reflect how modernism, contemporary social
situations and currents and cross currents at life have molded their writing and
subject matter as well as impact on them. Moreover these women writers
have written about Indian women, their pains, conflicts, predicaments against
the background of contemporary India. They have focused their attention not
only on the outer situation and conflict but also on inner turmoil of modern
women. In this reference writer like Mannu Bhandari deserves special
attention. Her contribution to the world of fiction dates to the 6os. She has
written in and experimented with varieties of genres of literature like the short
story novel, political novel, literature for children, drama, screen play, and
dialogues for film etc. Mannu Bhandari has also chaired the directorship of
Premchand Srujanpith in Vikram University, Ujjian. In 2008 Mannu Bhandari
was given for her autobiography Ek Kahani Yah Bhi the prestigious Vyas
Sanmaan for year 2008, which is instituted by the K.K. Birala Foundation and
given every year for outstanding literary work in Hindi authored by Indian citizens.

Reviews

[Dr. Santosh Kumari Tripta · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic book by my ideal writer.

[Parth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have really been a huge Mannu Bhandari fan and this is her 3rd book that I have read.The speciality in Bhandariji's books is that they are not repitive in their style of storytelling.This book compiles 11 stories,mainly concerning female psychology,poverty,extra martial affairs and each story is a delight to read with a great and touching end.
I will suggest this book to every hindi literature lovers.And even though I liked Mein Haar Gaayi better than this,still there are some stories equally powerful."Saaja" really moved me to tears.If you want to try an anthology with something different in every story yet having something common in them,something mysterious-then you must go for this book.

[Adwitiya Dube · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sharp entry point into Mannu Bhandari’s world—quiet, precise, and deeply human.

This book brings together her most defining stories—rooted in everyday life but driven by quiet emotional conflict.
Relationships are explored without drama, but with unsettling clarity—marriage, love, family, and identity all seen through subtle psychological tension.

What stands out is her restraint: nothing is loud, everything is precise, and the emotions land without effort.

[Sapna Sahota]

good

[Sagar · Rating 5 out of 5]

यह पहला मौका था, जब मैंने मन्नू जी को अपनी कोर्स की किताबों से इतर कही पढ़ा है । और यह अनुभव इतना सुखद रहा कि इस कहानी संग्रह से लगाव सा हो गया । मैंने सोचा भी था कि शुरूआत उनके किसी उपन्यास से नही, कहानियों से ही करूँगा । और यह किताब मेरे हाथ लगी । इस किताब में कुल ग्यारह कहानियाँ हैं । सभी उत्कृष्ट । अधिकतर नारी के मनोविज्ञान और संवेदनाओं को बड़ी शिद्दत और सफलता से दर्शाती हुई । काल्पनिक बुनियाद पर नही, बल्कि यथार्थ की पक्की जमीं पर । मन्नू जी की कहानियों का यह संग्रह उनके समय को दर्शाता एक समर्थ आईना ही है, जिसमें आप रूढ़ियों के लिए एक अलग स्थान पाएंगे और आधुनिकता के लिए अलग । उनकी कहानियाँ जहाँ रूढ़ियों को दर्शाते हुए भी उनका बहिष्कार करने पर ही ज़ोर देती हैं, वहीं सभी घटनाक्रमों को एक सूत्र में बाँधकर आधुनिकता के लिए एक अलग राह तय करती हैं । इस संग्रह की कहानियों की सबसे बड़ी खासियत यह है कि वे आपको बाँध देती हैं । आपने अगर एक को शुरू कर दिया है तो तय मानिए कि बिना ख़त्म किए आप उसे बीच में छोड़ नही पाएंगे । यहाँ तक कि उससे नजरें तक ना हटा पाएंगे । इन कहानियों की और भी बहुत सी खास बातें हैं, जिन्हें आप सिर्फ़ और सिर्फ़ पढ़ कर ही जान और समझ सकते हैं । अगर संक्षेप में कुछ कहना हो तो ‘सजा’ आपको रूला देगी, ‘दो कलाकार’ गर्वान्वित कर देगी, ‘चश्मे’ भावुक कर देगी और ‘यही सच है’ मुस्कराहट दे जाएगी । किताब बहुत ही अद्भुत है । बार बार पढ़ने योग्य है । अपने संग्रह में इसे पाकर मैं अत्यंत खुश हूँ और मन्नू जी की बाकी रचनाएँ पढ़ने को उत्सुक हूँ ।