Gondniwala Takia / گوندنی والا تکیہ

اردو اثاثہ

by Ghulam Abbas

Gondniwala Takiya is a novel about fluctuating moral values and the evolving social milieu in rural Punjab of the early 20th century. A Takiya, or corner, was a reclusive place for hermits and Sufis, where they could retire for meditation. But the people of village too used to gather at the corner, either to meet the Sufis or to discuss matters of everyday life among themselves. Today, as a result of changing values and commercialisation, hardly any such ‘corners’ are left anymore. Hence, the ‘corner’ has a symbolic value in this novel.

The work’s depiction of rural Punjab is outstanding. It is one of the earliest Urdu novels to portray rural Punjab realistically. Sultan, the main character, returns to his village after a long time and is shocked to see that the corner that was shaded by a fig tree is no more. Sufi Nageena, who used to rule there, is gone and the people who surrounded the Sufi are nowhere to be seen. Although Sultan is happy with the clear progress that the village has made over these years, the deep sense of being an alien in his own village grips his heart.

While it was Ghulam Abbas’s short stories, such as Aanandi and Katba, which brought him fame and established him as a master of the Urdu short story, his novel Gondniwala Takiya, was also widely acclaimed.

AUTHOR DESCRIPTION

Ghulam Abbas was born on 17 November 1909 at Amritsar, East Punjab. He received his early education in Lahore and was later admitted to Dayal Singh High School. He was very fond of writing and many of the literary magazines of Lahore began publishing his literary translations. He worked as assistant editor of Phool the popular magazine and Tehzeeb e Niswan from 1928 to 1937. During this period he wrote and translated many stories for children. In 1938, he moved to Delhi to become editor of the All India Radio’s magazine Awaz. After Partition, he moved to Karachi and started publishing Radio Pakistan’s magazine Aahang. He then moved to England and joined the BBC. In 1952 he returned to Karachi. The Government of Pakistan awarded him with the Sitara e Imtiaz in 1967. He died in Karachi in November 1982.

Genres: Fiction

90 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Ghulam Abbas (Urdu: غلام عباس ‎) was an Urdu short story writer. His influence has been both long and deep. In his short stories he often exposes shortcomings, weaknesses and hypocrisy in human beings. But his tone is never sarcastic or venomous.

He was a great admirer of the Russian short story tradition.

His love for poetry, specially Urdu poetry was abiding and profound, but he never ventured into it himself seriously.

Abbas’ fame is purely because of his literary genius, as he became popular without associating himself or depending on any of the literary movement or group.

His short stories Anandi and Overcoat earned him international fame. Jaaday ki Chandni and Kan ras are his famous books containing remarkable short stories.

He died in 1982 in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.

Reviews

[W · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ghulam Abbas is better known for his short stories,but his novel is pretty good too.
It is a tale of rural Punjab. A man returns to his village after years away,to find it changed beyond recognition.

The corner (takia) where a Sufi used to live,and where people used to gather is no longer there.
He thinks of the people he used to know,and wonders what became of them. As he had left,the fate of a beautiful village girl hung in the balance. Who had she been married off to ? Her poor father and her foster family had differrnt plans,and none was good for her.And the poor village boy,who selflessly loved her.

There is an unexpected twist in the tale,at the very end,which makes for a memorable ending. (Also published as Mohabbat Roti Hai).

[Sanober Zulfiqar · Rating 4 out of 5]

 کتاب ' گوندنی والا تکیہ' 90 صفحات پہ مشتمل ایک ناولٹ ہے۔ کہانی کے مرکزی کردار گاؤں کا گوندنی والا تکیہ اور سلطان ( اسی گاؤں کا مقیم ایک لڑکا ) ہیں اور انکے گرد کئی کردار اور کہانیاں چلتی ہیں۔ تکیہ گوندنی کے پھلدار درختوں سے گھرا رہتا تھا یہاں تک کے  وہاں مستان شاہ کا مزار تھا وہ بھی گوندنی کے پیڑوں سے سایہ دار رہتا تھا۔ اس کی دیکھ ریکھ نگینہ سائیں کرتا تھا۔ تکیہ فقیروں اور درویشوں کا مسکن بھی تھا اور شام کے وقت دن بھر کے تھکے گاؤں والے سکون کی تلاش میں وہاں گھڑی دو گھڑی آ کر بیٹھ جایا کرتے اور زندگی کی الجھنوں کو سلجھا کر رات سکھ کی نیند سوتے۔


 سلطان جسے اپنے والد کی وفات کے بعد گاؤں میں رہنے کی کوئی وجہ نہیں دکھتی تھی، ایک رات چپ چاپ ہمیشہ کیلئے گاؤں چھوڑ کر چلا جاتا ہے اور پھر عرصہ دراز گذرنے کے بعد جائیداد کی تقسیم پہ جب واپس آتا ہے تو گاؤں کا نقشہ ہی بدل چکا ہوتا ہے۔ سب مانوس لوگ گذر چکے ہوتے ہیں اور گاؤں کی سب سے بارونق جگہ، گوندنی والا تکیہ بدلتے وقتوں اور انسانی نفسیات کی خرابی کی وجہ سے مسمار کر کے سکول کی شکل اختیار کر چکا ہوتا ہے۔ 


 کہانی کے مصنف غلام عباس صاحب ہیں  جنھیں بیسویں صدی کے اچھے اور مؤثر مصنفین میں شمار کیا جاتا ہے۔ کتاب سادہ زبان میں لکھی گئی ہے مگر  پڑھتے وقت آپ کی نظر سے کئی خوبصورت الفاظ گزریں گے جو اجکل زیادہ استعمال نہیں کیے جاتے بالکل کلاسکس کی طرح۔  کردار بھی عام زندگی سے لیے گیے اور جو سب سے اچھی بات مجھے لگی وہ انکی معاشرے میں تیزی سے تبدیلی اور لوگوں کے نیتوں میں کھوٹ کو بغیر کسی تنقید اور طنز کیے بغیر بیان کیا ہے۔ عام کرداروں کی کہانیاں سادہ نثر میں پڑھنے کا دل چاہے تو غلام عباس صاحب کو ضرور پڑھیں۔

[Muhammad Soomro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ghulam Abbas is one of the many literary giants of Urdu literature, who deserve more recognition and readership then they are getting nowadays. The way he tells a story is remarkable. I found his writing similar to Manto( I'm not saying this in a bad sense). This novella is a prime example of the literary genius of Ghulam Abbas. It's a tale of a man who left his town at an early age only to return many years later to sell off his property. When he returns he finds everything changed. The plot seems really simple and common but the way Ghulam Abbas has written this novel is what makes this novel so great. The way he described rural Punjab, it's people, traditions , customs, and life in general so vividly, amazed me. Ghulam Abbas is one of those writers who don't just tell you a story, they make you see it. Must read.

[Introvert Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

بہت ہی خوبصورت انداز ہے مصنف کا۔۔۔۔۔سادہ مگر حسین الفاظ، بہت عمدہ منظر نگاری۔۔۔۔۔۔۔ اردو کی کتاب اتنے عرصے بعد پڑھی اور مجھے احساس ہوا، کیوں میں اردو کتب کی اتنی شائق ہوں۔۔۔۔

آپ کو اگر دیہات پسند ہے تو یہ کتاب بہت پسند آئے گی۔۔۔۔ایک بار ضرور پڑھیے گا اس کتاب کو

[Asma Qazi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the ending. I wasn't expecting this.