Saadat Hasan 'Manto' - the controversial writer who traversed the South Asian subcontinent, having lived and worked in India before moving to Pakistan post the partition remains an enigma, decades after his death.

"Manto writes rubbish. People say that Manto is obscene but if you start reading Manto, you cannot leave the story unfinished." These are words Manto used to describe himself. He scribbled it on a book, striking off the publisher’s opinion of him, which read: "Prominent and best writer of our times."

Who was Manto? What was he trying to tell his readers? After 111 years, the process of interpreting him continues…

'Fahash nigar', the Urdu words that literally translate to obscene writing, usually prefix Saadat Hasan Manto's name. As controversy by its very nature garners more eyeballs, even today a couple of his stories like 'Kali Shalwar’, Bu', ‘Upar, Neeche Aur Darmiyan’ and ‘Thanda Ghosht’ are popular over the others. Why?

“People have given a verdict after reading a few of Manto’s stories. While the writer has touched every part of society through his work which is relevant even today,” says Jameel Gulrays, an advertising professional, who has penned jingles for products like Maaza, Amul, LIC, and many more and is a promoter of the Urdu language and literature.

Does viewing his writing with horse blinds do justice to his body of work?

<h2>'People were unfair to Manto'​</h2>

Most who know Saadat Hasan Manto as an obscene writer will have rarely read his satirical pieces. Gulrays has been running a movement called ‘The Other Side of Manto’ in which he highlights work that he believes the masses have ignored. He says stories marred by controversies are read and the others have gone unnoticed.

While walking down the streets of Delhi, he says, he saw a book titled ‘Manto Ke Ashleel Afsaane’ and was amused by how a couple of the writer’s stories still hold a position similar to that of a villain in a movie.

Gulrays feels Manto was branded in a certain fashion that his reputation still remains tarnished even after death. “I was once invited to a school to deliver a lecture and I decided to narrate stories written by Manto. On learning about this, the principal was worried and checked with me if it was appropriate for students.”

That day, the octogenarian read one of his favourite stories - ‘Deewana Shayar’. Of course, it all went well, and no complaints came from the authorities or stakeholders involved.

<h2>‘Manto was never trying to be the hero’​</h2>

“Performing to his writing is intoxicating, it's a slow fade into the story,” says Sahil Vaid, a theatre actor, who has played prominent roles in Hindi movies. Having performed on 'Tetwal Ka Kutta' on stage in over 60 shows, the actor speaks of a deep emotion that the writer has woven into his stories.

And this particular one is an episode between the Indian and Pakistani soldiers, and how a dog, who was proclaimed a traitor for one army, later became a martyr to the other in the cross-border fire. "Manto was extremely pained by the India-Pakistan partition and that reflects in his writing after 1947. Be it 'Tetwal Ka Kutta', 'Toba Tek Singh' or 'Aakhri Salute’,” Vaid says.

‘In ‘Aakhri Salute’, Subedar Rab Nawaz and Subedar Ram Singh were childhood friends. After the Partition, they went on to become enemies as they were posted in different armies. And as fate had it, Nawaz accidentally pulls the trigger and Singh dies, but in his friend’s arms. While breathing his last, it's a Pakistani soldier who gives his final salute to an Indian soldier.

“There's a line in 'Toba Tek Singh' which roughly translates to how an asylum inmate tears up, while hugging his companions as he knew that the longing to see his friend again will never get over. If asylum inmates can feel compassion, why can't those in high places understand it?”

<h2>Failed in Urdu​</h2>

Manto is known for his work in Urdu. But in school, he failed the subject. Well, school is no benchmark or a stepping stone to success. But in any case, Manto did not fare&nbsp;well in the language, at least on the marksheet. "Probably, he did not know how to give exams, he may have written things beyond his teacher's expectation," Gulrays says.

<h2>Vices and regret​</h2>

Safia bore the brunt of being the writer’s wife and with that came a strong opinion that it is better not to write. The family had to silently ground themselves, yet be closer to reality even after his demise.

“My mother’s experience of life as a writer’s wife was far from pleasant,” wrote Manto's daughter Nuzhat Arshad, who was seven when her father passed away on January 18, 1955. In her piece ‘My Father, Saadat Hasan Manto’ published in a collective‘ wrote, she highlights how his generosity towards the poor left the family in a dire situation, struggling to make ends meet.

The writer’s drinking habit in his last days made him sell his stories for meagre five or 10 rupees. His daughter also mentions how a ‘Hindustani’ writer approached them to bring out a collection of Manto's unpublished work and then disappeared with the script. For all the work that was published after the writer’s death, her mother did not receive any royalty.

<h2>The judge reasoned his judgment... But after Manto's demise​</h2>

'I confess to my crime. Kindly announce your judgment without any delay.' In 1953, Manto was summoned to court for ‘Upar, Neeche Aur Darmiyan’. Meh.di Ali Siddiqui was to hear the case and give a verdict. Manto, who was ill at the time, confessed to the crime.

All this while the judge was asking him to take a seat. The judge pronounced the verdict with a penalty of Rs 25. "Even today," Manto said, "society itself is obscene. All I do is represent its essence. It is entirely understandable that people with ugly faces vent their anger at the mirror."

The writer had asked for a reason and the judge couldn’t convey that in time. After Manto’s death, he decided to pen it. "In the opinion of the law, this subject is not beneficial for society, despite it being factually correct. Law also recognises the fact that instead of appreciating the beauty and nuances of differences that creep into the sexual acts of people from different classes, the majority of people would distort it so such an extent that it would degenerate into mere sexual gratification…"

<h2>The last leg​</h2>

‘Noor Jahan-Suroor Jahan’ is a story penned by Manto after moving to Pakistan. “On reading this, a friend, Ibrahim Jalees, asked him why he wasn’t writing stories like Gopi Nath anymore," says Gulrays, while talking about the writer's last days.

Manto responded that people don’t want to read them anymore. Stories on movie stars sell more. “Manto had begun writing stories below his standards,” says Gulrays. In this day and age, the line that differentiates obscene content from acceptable is blurring, or maybe it is just high tolerance. At a time when some stories dragged Manto to court, today, we watch and read similar content with no qualms, on our phones. The magic of time, or irony, is certainly a reality.

*Quotes of Saadat Hasan Manto, Nuzhat Arshad, Mehdi Ali Siddiqui and Ibrahim Jalees are from the collective 'Manto Saheb: Friends and Enemies on the Great Maverick

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

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Saadat Hasan 'Manto' - the controversial writer who traversed the South Asian subcontinent, having lived and worked in India before moving to Pakistan post the partition remains an enigma, decades after his death.

Saadat Hasan 'Manto' - the controversial writer who traversed the South Asian subcontinent, having lived and worked in India before moving to Pakistan post the partition remains an enigma, decades after his death. "Manto writes rubbish. People say that Manto is obscene but if you start reading Manto, you cannot leave the story unfinished." These are words Manto used to describe himself. He scribbled it on a book, striking off the publisher’s opinion of him, which read: "Prominent and best writer of our times." Who was Manto? What was he trying to tell his readers? After 111 years, the process of interpreting him continues… 'Fahash nigar', the Urdu words that literally translate to obscene writing, usually prefix Saadat Hasan Manto's name. As controversy by its very nature garners more eyeballs, even today a couple of his stories like 'Kali Shalwar’, Bu', ‘Upar, Neeche Aur Darmiyan’ and ‘Thanda Ghosht’ are popular over the others. Why? “People have given a verdict after reading a few of Manto’s stories. While the writer has touched every part of society through his work which is relevant even today,” says Jameel Gulrays, an advertising professional, who has penned jingles for products like Maaza, Amul, LIC, and many more and is a promoter of the Urdu language and literature. Does viewing his writing with horse blinds do justice to his body of work? 'People were unfair to Manto' Most who know Saadat Hasan Manto as an obscene writer will have rarely read his satirical pieces. Gulrays has been running a movement called ‘The Other Side of Manto’ in which he highlights work that he believes the masses have ignored. He says stories marred by controversies are read and the others have gone unnoticed. While walking down the streets of Delhi, he says, he saw a book titled ‘Manto Ke Ashleel Afsaane’ and was amused by how a couple of the writer’s stories still hold a position similar to that of a villain in a movie. Gulrays feels Manto was branded in a certain fashion that his reputation still remains tarnished even after death. “I was once invited to a school to deliver a lecture and I decided to narrate stories written by Manto. On learning about this, the principal was worried and checked with me if it was appropriate for students.” That day, the octogenarian read one of his favourite stories - ‘Deewana Shayar’. Of course, it all went well, and no complaints came from the authorities or stakeholders involved. ‘Manto was never trying to be the hero’ “Performing to his writing is intoxicating, it's a slow fade into the story,” says Sahil Vaid, a theatre actor, who has played prominent roles in Hindi movies. Having performed on 'Tetwal Ka Kutta' on stage in over 60 shows, the actor speaks of a deep emotion that the writer has woven into his stories. And this particular one is an episode between the Indian and Pakistani soldiers, and how a dog, who was proclaimed a traitor for one army, later became a martyr to the other in the cross-border fire. "Manto was extremely pained by the India-Pakistan partition and that reflects in his writing after 1947. Be it 'Tetwal Ka Kutta', 'Toba Tek Singh' or 'Aakhri Salute’,” Vaid says. ‘In ‘Aakhri Salute’, Subedar Rab Nawaz and Subedar Ram Singh were childhood friends. After the Partition, they went on to become enemies as they were posted in different armies. And as fate had it, Nawaz accidentally pulls the trigger and Singh dies, but in his friend’s arms. While breathing his last, it's a Pakistani soldier who gives his final salute to an Indian soldier. “There's a line in 'Toba Tek Singh' which roughly translates to how an asylum inmate tears up, while hugging his companions as he knew that the longing to see his friend again will never get over. If asylum inmates can feel compassion, why can't those in high places understand it?” Failed in Urdu Manto is known for his work in Urdu. But in school, he failed the subject. Well, school is no benchmark or a stepping stone to success. But in any case, Manto did not fare well in the language, at least on the marksheet. "Probably, he did not know how to give exams, he may have written things beyond his teacher's expectation," Gulrays says. Vices and regret Safia bore the brunt of being the writer’s wife and with that came a strong opinion that it is better not to write. The family had to silently ground themselves, yet be closer to reality even after his demise. “My mother’s experience of life as a writer’s wife was far from pleasant,” wrote Manto's daughter Nuzhat Arshad, who was seven when her father passed away on January 18, 1955. In her piece ‘My Father, Saadat Hasan Manto’ published in a collective‘ wrote, she highlights how his generosity towards the poor left the family in a dire situation, struggling to make ends meet. The writer’s drinking habit in his last days made him sell his stories for meagre five or 10 rupees. His daughter also mentions how a ‘Hindustani’ writer approached them to bring out a collection of Manto's unpublished work and then disappeared with the script. For all the work that was published after the writer’s death, her mother did not receive any royalty. The judge reasoned his judgment... But after Manto's demise 'I confess to my crime. Kindly announce your judgment without any delay.' In 1953, Manto was summoned to court for ‘Upar, Neeche Aur Darmiyan’. Meh.di Ali Siddiqui was to hear the case and give a verdict. Manto, who was ill at the time, confessed to the crime. All this while the judge was asking him to take a seat. The judge pronounced the verdict with a penalty of Rs 25. "Even today," Manto said, "society itself is obscene. All I do is represent its essence. It is entirely understandable that people with ugly faces vent their anger at the mirror." The writer had asked for a reason and the judge couldn’t convey that in time. After Manto’s death, he decided to pen it. "In the opinion of the law, this subject is not beneficial for society, despite it being factually correct. Law also recognises the fact that instead of appreciating the beauty and nuances of differences that creep into the sexual acts of people from different classes, the majority of people would distort it so such an extent that it would degenerate into mere sexual gratification…" The last leg ‘Noor Jahan-Suroor Jahan’ is a story penned by Manto after moving to Pakistan. “On reading this, a friend, Ibrahim Jalees, asked him why he wasn’t writing stories like Gopi Nath anymore," says Gulrays, while talking about the writer's last days. Manto responded that people don’t want to read them anymore. Stories on movie stars sell more. “Manto had begun writing stories below his standards,” says Gulrays. In this day and age, the line that differentiates obscene content from acceptable is blurring, or maybe it is just high tolerance. At a time when some stories dragged Manto to court, today, we watch and read similar content with no qualms, on our phones. The magic of time, or irony, is certainly a reality. *Quotes of Saadat Hasan Manto, Nuzhat Arshad, Mehdi Ali Siddiqui and Ibrahim Jalees are from the collective 'Manto Saheb: Friends and Enemies on the Great Maverick (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Remembering Manto: Was he an obscene writer?

Russia on Saturday blamed Ukraine and the West for the car explosion which involved the pro-Kremlin writer Zakhar Prilepin.

A Russian nationalist and prominent pro-Kremlin writer Zakhar Prilepin was injured in a car “explosion” on Saturday and one person was killed, informed the interior ministry after multiple drone attacks took place recently as the fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces escalated.

"According to initial reports, one person was killed by the explosion, and the writer Zakhar Prilepin, who was in the car, was injured" in the Nizhny Novgorod region, which is at a distance of 400 kilometres (250 miles) from Moscow, the ministry stated.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-ukraine-war-moscow-accused-of-attacking-bakhmut-with-phosphorus-bombs-589677">Russia-Ukraine war: Moscow accused of attacking Bakhmut with phosphorus bombs</a>

The Russian Investigative Committee, which investigates serious crimes, said that Prilepin was "travelling with his family" when the blast took place.

Russia's TASS news agency separately quoted an official from emergency services who stated that the writer was wounded in the explosion but was conscious after the incident.

Reacting to the incident, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated on Telegram, "The fact has come true: Washington and NATO fed another international terrorist cell — the Kyiv regime."

She added that it was the "direct responsibility of the US and Britain", but gave no evidence which can support the accusation made by her. "We pray for Zakhar," she stated.

TASS agency reported that Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on the incident in the wake of no information from investigators.

WATCH | Russia's Wagner Group decides to withdraw from Bakhmut due to shortage of ammunition

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Russia started a terrorism probe into the car blast incident.&nbsp;

"The Investigative Committee of Russia has opened a criminal case into a terrorist act in connection with the explosion of Zakhar Prilepin's car," said the committee that investigates major crimes, after the interior ministry said that a man has been detained who "may be involved" in the explosion.

Prilepin is a writer and novelist who has always spoken in support of actions taken by Russia against Ukraine, at a time when the invasion of Moscow has entered the 15th month.&nbsp;

Prilepin is a prolific writer with&nbsp;nationalist views and has garnered more than 300,000 followers on Telegram as well as on his YouTube channel and his website.&nbsp;

The writer spoke in favour of Russian proxy forces which are present in Donbas in eastern Ukraine before the full-scale invasion started in February 2022 and led a military unit&nbsp;about which the writer boasted in his YouTube interview published in 2019 in which he said&nbsp;that his unit "killed people in big numbers".

"These people are dead, they are buried and… there are many of them. Not a single unit among the Donetsk battalions had such results. It was outrageous chaos what we did there... Not a single field commander had such results as I had," he stated.&nbsp;

Regional governor Gleb Nikitin stated, "Law enforcement officers are now investigating the circumstances and causes of the incident. Zakhar is OK."

Two famous pro-war Russian propagandists have lost their lives in bombings since Ukraine has been invaded by Russia in February last year.

Darya Dugina, who was a nationalist ideologue Aleksandr Dugin's daughter, was killed in a car bombing near Moscow in August when military blogger Vladlen Tatarsky died in a bomb attack in St Petersburg cafe last month. 
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Russia on Saturday blamed Ukraine and the West for the car explosion which involved the pro-Kremlin writer Zakhar Prilepin. A Russian nationalist and prominent pro-Kremlin writer Zakhar Prilepin was injured in a car “explosion” on Saturday and one person was killed, informed the interior ministry after multiple drone attacks took place recently as the fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces escalated.

Russia on Saturday blamed Ukraine and the West for the car explosion which involved the pro-Kremlin writer Zakhar Prilepin. A Russian nationalist and prominent pro-Kremlin writer Zakhar Prilepin was injured in a car “explosion” on Saturday and one person was killed, informed the interior ministry after multiple drone attacks took place recently as the fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces escalated. "According to initial reports, one person was killed by the explosion, and the writer Zakhar Prilepin, who was in the car, was injured" in the Nizhny Novgorod region, which is at a distance of 400 kilometres (250 miles) from Moscow, the ministry stated. ALSO READ | Russia-Ukraine war: Moscow accused of attacking Bakhmut with phosphorus bombs The Russian Investigative Committee, which investigates serious crimes, said that Prilepin was "travelling with his family" when the blast took place. Russia's TASS news agency separately quoted an official from emergency services who stated that the writer was wounded in the explosion but was conscious after the incident. Reacting to the incident, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated on Telegram, "The fact has come true: Washington and NATO fed another international terrorist cell — the Kyiv regime." She added that it was the "direct responsibility of the US and Britain", but gave no evidence which can support the accusation made by her. "We pray for Zakhar," she stated. TASS agency reported that Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on the incident in the wake of no information from investigators. WATCH | Russia's Wagner Group decides to withdraw from Bakhmut due to shortage of ammunition Russia started a terrorism probe into the car blast incident. "The Investigative Committee of Russia has opened a criminal case into a terrorist act in connection with the explosion of Zakhar Prilepin's car," said the committee that investigates major crimes, after the interior ministry said that a man has been detained who "may be involved" in the explosion. Prilepin is a writer and novelist who has always spoken in support of actions taken by Russia against Ukraine, at a time when the invasion of Moscow has entered the 15th month. Prilepin is a prolific writer with nationalist views and has garnered more than 300,000 followers on Telegram as well as on his YouTube channel and his website. The writer spoke in favour of Russian proxy forces which are present in Donbas in eastern Ukraine before the full-scale invasion started in February 2022 and led a military unit about which the writer boasted in his YouTube interview published in 2019 in which he said that his unit "killed people in big numbers". "These people are dead, they are buried and… there are many of them. Not a single unit among the Donetsk battalions had such results. It was outrageous chaos what we did there... Not a single field commander had such results as I had," he stated. Regional governor Gleb Nikitin stated, "Law enforcement officers are now investigating the circumstances and causes of the incident. Zakhar is OK." Two famous pro-war Russian propagandists have lost their lives in bombings since Ukraine has been invaded by Russia in February last year. Darya Dugina, who was a nationalist ideologue Aleksandr Dugin's daughter, was killed in a car bombing near Moscow in August when military blogger Vladlen Tatarsky died in a bomb attack in St Petersburg cafe last month. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Russia blames Ukraine, West for pro-Kremlin writer Zakhar Prilepin’s car bombing

Rabindranath Tagore, a poet, writer, playwright, composer, philosopher, social reformer and painter was born on May 7, 1861. He was the first non-European and the first lyricist to win Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913&nbsp;for his profoundly sensitive, fresh and lovely poetry&nbsp;Gitanjali.&nbsp;

Tagore began writing poems at the age of eight and published his own collection a decade later named ‘Bhanusimha.’ He’s also the man who composed national anthems for three countries:&nbsp;Jana Gana Mana for India, Amar Sonar Bangla for Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka Mata for Sri Lanka.

On Rabindranath Tagore's birth anniversary, here are some of the must-read books by the litterateur, and famous poems

Gitanjali

Gitanjali is an anthology of poems and it is Tagore’s most well-known and influential work. Originally, the book was published in 1910, but he republished it in 1912 as a collection of English-translated prose poems named ‘Gitanjali: Song Offerings'. Old Indian devotion songs provided Tagore’s model for the poems of&nbsp;Gitanjali. He also composed music for these lyrics. Love is the principal subject, although some poems detail the internal conflict between spiritual longings and earthly desires.&nbsp;

The collections helped him win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo">The Postmaster</div>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"> 
The Postmaster cemented Tagore as India’s greatest romantic, as the story beautifully examines the human condition in its varied forms, from the innocence of childhood to the contrast between a bustling city and a rustic village as well as love and loss and the natural and supernatural.&nbsp;If you are just starting with Tagore’s incredible literature, this is definitely the one you can pick!</div>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo">&nbsp;</div>

Gora

One of Tagore’s many excellent works, it depicts the social, political and religious society of Bengal during the colonial rule in the 1880s. He hoped that this book would transform the country’s social, political and religious scene. His analysis of that time is still applicable in today’s modern world, which makes it a must-read&nbsp;at least once in their lifetime.

Tagore was not only an excellent writer but also a brilliant poet whose thought-provoking proses revolved around freedom, courage and anti-colonialism.&nbsp;&nbsp;Here are some of the famous poems written by the Nobel Laureate.

1. ‘Where the Mind without Fear’- A magnificent poetry&nbsp;that speaks of the limitless potential of human knowledge, the valour of standing by the truth and the feeling of true freedom.&nbsp;

2.&nbsp;‘Let Me Not Forget,’- A&nbsp;beautiful work of poetry, depicts the wonderful emptiness a person has for missing the beloved.&nbsp;

3. 'Last Curtain'- It explores the vulnerability that one feels as one approaches death. The only real things one can take to the grave are his/her good acts.&nbsp;

4. 'Freedom'-&nbsp;The speaker of this powerful poem is informing his listeners or readers, the people of India, that he is going to fight for their freedom. It is the freedom that will allow them to break free from the oppression they have endured of various kinds.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Rabindranath Tagore, a poet, writer, playwright, composer, philosopher, social reformer and painter was born on May 7, 1861. He was the first non-European and the first lyricist to win Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913 for his profoundly sensitive, fresh and lovely poetry Gitanjali.

Rabindranath Tagore, a poet, writer, playwright, composer, philosopher, social reformer and painter was born on May 7, 1861. He was the first non-European and the first lyricist to win Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913 for his profoundly sensitive, fresh and lovely poetry Gitanjali. Tagore began writing poems at the age of eight and published his own collection a decade later named ‘Bhanusimha.’ He’s also the man who composed national anthems for three countries: Jana Gana Mana for India, Amar Sonar Bangla for Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka Mata for Sri Lanka. On Rabindranath Tagore's birth anniversary, here are some of the must-read books by the litterateur, and famous poems Gitanjali Gitanjali is an anthology of poems and it is Tagore’s most well-known and influential work. Originally, the book was published in 1910, but he republished it in 1912 as a collection of English-translated prose poems named ‘Gitanjali: Song Offerings'. Old Indian devotion songs provided Tagore’s model for the poems of Gitanjali. He also composed music for these lyrics. Love is the principal subject, although some poems detail the internal conflict between spiritual longings and earthly desires. The collections helped him win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913. The Postmaster The Postmaster cemented Tagore as India’s greatest romantic, as the story beautifully examines the human condition in its varied forms, from the innocence of childhood to the contrast between a bustling city and a rustic village as well as love and loss and the natural and supernatural. If you are just starting with Tagore’s incredible literature, this is definitely the one you can pick! Gora One of Tagore’s many excellent works, it depicts the social, political and religious society of Bengal during the colonial rule in the 1880s. He hoped that this book would transform the country’s social, political and religious scene. His analysis of that time is still applicable in today’s modern world, which makes it a must-read at least once in their lifetime. Tagore was not only an excellent writer but also a brilliant poet whose thought-provoking proses revolved around freedom, courage and anti-colonialism. Here are some of the famous poems written by the Nobel Laureate. 1. ‘Where the Mind without Fear’- A magnificent poetry that speaks of the limitless potential of human knowledge, the valour of standing by the truth and the feeling of true freedom. 2. ‘Let Me Not Forget,’- A beautiful work of poetry, depicts the wonderful emptiness a person has for missing the beloved. 3. 'Last Curtain'- It explores the vulnerability that one feels as one approaches death. The only real things one can take to the grave are his/her good acts. 4. 'Freedom'- The speaker of this powerful poem is informing his listeners or readers, the people of India, that he is going to fight for their freedom. It is the freedom that will allow them to break free from the oppression they have endured of various kinds.

Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti 2022: Here are the best known works of the 'Indian polymath'

After a graffiti appeared calling Kim Jong Un, a 'son of a b****', the North Korean officials are not leaving any stone unturned to find the person, who has written it. &nbsp;&nbsp;

To find the writer, the officials are demanding samples of handwriting from thousands of residents in Pyongyang. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/how-north-korea-graduated-from-russian-scud-b-to-hypersonic-missiles-442839" hreflang="en">How North Korea graduated from Russian Scud-B to hypersonic missiles</a>

On the walls of an apartment building in the Pyongchon district, a message, "Kim Jong Un, you son of a b****. The people are starving to death because of you”, had appeared on December 22, said news site Daily NK. &nbsp;

The local officials soon scrubbed it off the walls. Now, the police are looking to track down the perpetrator. &nbsp;

The officers are going from door to door in nearby homes and businesses to take handwriting samples and question locals about the movements on the day the message had appeared. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-launches-unidentified-projectile-into-the-sea-442293" hreflang="en">North Korea launches unidentified projectile into the sea</a>

This comes as the country is facing severe crisis due to a famine, which has become worse due to recent flooding and the closure of the northern border with China due to the pandemic. &nbsp;

At this time, the ruling Workers' Party of Korea is also holding high-level meetings in the capital. &nbsp;

The cops are also using the CCTV cameras installed throughout the city to find the culprit. &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

After a graffiti appeared calling Kim Jong Un, a 'son of a b****', the North Korean officials are not leaving any stone unturned to find the person, who has written it.

After a graffiti appeared calling Kim Jong Un, a 'son of a b****', the North Korean officials are not leaving any stone unturned to find the person, who has written it. To find the writer, the officials are demanding samples of handwriting from thousands of residents in Pyongyang. Also Read: How North Korea graduated from Russian Scud-B to hypersonic missiles On the walls of an apartment building in the Pyongchon district, a message, "Kim Jong Un, you son of a b****. The people are starving to death because of you”, had appeared on December 22, said news site Daily NK. The local officials soon scrubbed it off the walls. Now, the police are looking to track down the perpetrator. The officers are going from door to door in nearby homes and businesses to take handwriting samples and question locals about the movements on the day the message had appeared. Also Read: North Korea launches unidentified projectile into the sea This comes as the country is facing severe crisis due to a famine, which has become worse due to recent flooding and the closure of the northern border with China due to the pandemic. At this time, the ruling Workers' Party of Korea is also holding high-level meetings in the capital. The cops are also using the CCTV cameras installed throughout the city to find the culprit. (With inputs from agencies)

After graffiti abusing Kim Jong Un appears, North Korea checks handwritings to nab writer

England's High Court will begin hearing arguments on Wednesday from lawyers for four Russian billionaires including Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich and state-owned oil firm Rosneft about a book on President Vladimir Putin which they say defames them. 
 
In the 2020 book, British journalist Catherine Belton chronicles Putin's rise to power and how many of his associates from the former Soviet spy services rose to positions of wealth and influence after he won the top Kremlin job in 1999. 
 
Lawyers for the businessmen will tell the court that passages in the book "Putin's People: How the KGB Took Back Russia and then Took on the West", published by HarperCollins, are defamatory. Abramovich is suing both HarperCollins and Belton, according to case details filed with the courts and tribunals service. 
 
HarperCollins said it would "robustly defend this acclaimed and ground-breaking book and the right to report on matters of considerable public interest". 
 
Belton, a former Financial Times Moscow correspondent and now a Reuters special correspondent, declined to comment. Law firm Wiggin, which is representing HarperCollins and Belton, did not respond to a request for comment. 
 
"The book falsely alleges that our client has acted corruptly, and makes false claims about our client`s purchase, and the activities, of Chelsea Football Club. Such claims are totally unacceptable and are without foundation," Abramovich`s lawyers, Harbottle &amp; Lewis, said on March 22. 
 
Abramovich said in the same statement that "the false allegations in this book are having a damaging effect, not only on my personal reputation, but also in respect of the activities of Chelsea Football Club." 
 
A spokeswoman for Abramovich declined to comment further. Harbottle &amp; Lewis did not respond to a request for comment. 
 
Rosneft, Russia's largest oil producer, is also suing both HarperCollins and Belton for defamation. The firm, and its lawyers Carter-Ruck, did not did not respond to a request for comment. 
 
Businessman Mikhail Fridman is suing HarperCollins for defamation and on data protection grounds. His long-term business partner, Pyotr Aven, is suing on data protection grounds. 
 
A spokesman said both men regretted it had not been possible to resolve the matter before Wednesday`s hearing. 
 
"Ms Belton's book, which has been promoted as a 'definitive historical record', contains inaccurate and offensive statements about Mr Aven and Mr Fridman," the spokesman said.&nbsp;"It is important to them that the record is set straight." 
 
Businessman Shalva Chigirinsky is suing both HarperCollins and Belton for defamation. His lawyers, Taylor Wessing LLP, passed on to him a Reuters request for comment on the proceedings. He did not immediately respond.

England's High Court will begin hearing arguments on Wednesday from lawyers for four Russian billionaires including Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich and state-owned oil firm Rosneft about a book on President Vladimir Putin which they say defames them.

England's High Court will begin hearing arguments on Wednesday from lawyers for four Russian billionaires including Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich and state-owned oil firm Rosneft about a book on President Vladimir Putin which they say defames them. In the 2020 book, British journalist Catherine Belton chronicles Putin's rise to power and how many of his associates from the former Soviet spy services rose to positions of wealth and influence after he won the top Kremlin job in 1999. Lawyers for the businessmen will tell the court that passages in the book "Putin's People: How the KGB Took Back Russia and then Took on the West", published by HarperCollins, are defamatory. Abramovich is suing both HarperCollins and Belton, according to case details filed with the courts and tribunals service. HarperCollins said it would "robustly defend this acclaimed and ground-breaking book and the right to report on matters of considerable public interest". Belton, a former Financial Times Moscow correspondent and now a Reuters special correspondent, declined to comment. Law firm Wiggin, which is representing HarperCollins and Belton, did not respond to a request for comment. "The book falsely alleges that our client has acted corruptly, and makes false claims about our client`s purchase, and the activities, of Chelsea Football Club. Such claims are totally unacceptable and are without foundation," Abramovich`s lawyers, Harbottle & Lewis, said on March 22. Abramovich said in the same statement that "the false allegations in this book are having a damaging effect, not only on my personal reputation, but also in respect of the activities of Chelsea Football Club." A spokeswoman for Abramovich declined to comment further. Harbottle & Lewis did not respond to a request for comment. Rosneft, Russia's largest oil producer, is also suing both HarperCollins and Belton for defamation. The firm, and its lawyers Carter-Ruck, did not did not respond to a request for comment. Businessman Mikhail Fridman is suing HarperCollins for defamation and on data protection grounds. His long-term business partner, Pyotr Aven, is suing on data protection grounds. A spokesman said both men regretted it had not been possible to resolve the matter before Wednesday`s hearing. "Ms Belton's book, which has been promoted as a 'definitive historical record', contains inaccurate and offensive statements about Mr Aven and Mr Fridman," the spokesman said. "It is important to them that the record is set straight." Businessman Shalva Chigirinsky is suing both HarperCollins and Belton for defamation. His lawyers, Taylor Wessing LLP, passed on to him a Reuters request for comment on the proceedings. He did not immediately respond.

Russian billionaires vs British writer: Court battle begins over Putin book

Alia Bhatt recently shared an overwhelming message for Shaheen Bhatt on the release of her debut book 'I've Never Been (Un)happier'.

Alia, who went through the story that Shaheen has penned, was overwhelmed and shared a heartwarming message for her on Youtube.

In the video, she said, "When I come home after a long day at work or I am just sulking because of life, just one look at your older but still sparkling brown eyes just lights up my heart like you can`t imagine."

Alia also spoke on Shaheen's problem of depression and said, "When I read your very first book, a book that you have written with so much ease and honesty, while I struggle to write one letter to you. I feel awful. 
 
I feel terrible because despite living with you for 25 years, I have never really understood your silent moments of depression. I never recognized a snappy moment as something much bigger."

"Every time you refused to go out for dinner, I would think she rather sit at home and watch TV, be alone, not that you couldn`t bring yourself to get out of bed," she added.

Thanking her sister for educating her about depression, Alia also thanked sister Shaheen for sharing the problem of depression and said, "Today you have connected to me on a basic, human level. And you have taught me so much more about life."In the end, she also apologised for not being able to understand Shaheen and said, "I know you hate the fact that we all are saying sorry to you, but take the apology because even though we love you, I don`t think we understood what you were going through, to this extent." 
&nbsp;

<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QkdyhdOrV70" width="560"></iframe> 
 
Shaheen Bhatt had shared her debut book 'I've never been (un) happier' on 'World Mental Health Day' that deals with her battles with depression.

Alia Bhatt recently shared an overwhelming message for Shaheen Bhatt on the release of her debut book 'I've Never Been (Un)happier'. Alia, who went through the story that Shaheen has penned, was overwhelmed and shared a heartwarming message for her on Youtube.

Alia Bhatt recently shared an overwhelming message for Shaheen Bhatt on the release of her debut book 'I've Never Been (Un)happier'. Alia, who went through the story that Shaheen has penned, was overwhelmed and shared a heartwarming message for her on Youtube. In the video, she said, "When I come home after a long day at work or I am just sulking because of life, just one look at your older but still sparkling brown eyes just lights up my heart like you can`t imagine." Alia also spoke on Shaheen's problem of depression and said, "When I read your very first book, a book that you have written with so much ease and honesty, while I struggle to write one letter to you. I feel awful. I feel terrible because despite living with you for 25 years, I have never really understood your silent moments of depression. I never recognized a snappy moment as something much bigger." "Every time you refused to go out for dinner, I would think she rather sit at home and watch TV, be alone, not that you couldn`t bring yourself to get out of bed," she added. Thanking her sister for educating her about depression, Alia also thanked sister Shaheen for sharing the problem of depression and said, "Today you have connected to me on a basic, human level. And you have taught me so much more about life."In the end, she also apologised for not being able to understand Shaheen and said, "I know you hate the fact that we all are saying sorry to you, but take the apology because even though we love you, I don`t think we understood what you were going through, to this extent." Shaheen Bhatt had shared her debut book 'I've never been (un) happier' on 'World Mental Health Day' that deals with her battles with depression.

'I never really understood,' Alia says after sister Shaheen Bhatt's book on depression

&quot;When you are good at something, make that everything,&quot; said Roger Federer. And Rupi Kaur has done just that. She took to writing and has not looked back since. She picked up a piece of paper, the pen just let her thoughts flow and the rest is there for the world to see.

WION spoke to poet Rupi Kaur at length, exploring her creative as well as her <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/opinion-tough-life-of-immigrant-art-and-long-drive-in-the-making-of-poet-rupi-kaur-31609">personal life</a>. The two facets often merged, leaving us wondering how far the one shaped the other.

At first, it started as anonymous posts. Then in 2013, Kaur decided to take to a social media platform to portray her work. Then in November 2014, Kaur used a popular platform to get her first book published on her own. &quot;When I held the first copy of my book, I fell on the floor and tears rolled down. I mean no matter how many ever books I write, that feeling of holding your first book will always be special. I remember it like it was just yesterday. It was a very emotional moment for me,&quot; recalled Kaur with a smile on her face.

&quot;It was so amazing to hold the book in my hand. Those are my fondest memories, ever. That was the only time when I could hold my first book, get my first book printed it was really special. I had my friends, family and that mattered a lot,&quot; Kaur recollected.

To be an author of two best-sellers at the age of 25 is some achievement! And that despite the fact that she has ignored basic grammar rules in both her books in fact in all her poems!

There were a lot of detractors en route her way to the top but she kept at it. She continued to pursue her dreams. She used words to connect with people. There is something that is really unique about her style of writing. The only punctuation she uses in her poems is the period! None of her writing depicts capital letters. She has her own set of reasons for the same. &quot;I wanted to use the Gurmukhi style of writing in my poems. The Gurmukhi script does not have upper or lower cases. All letters are treated equally and I loved that bit about the Gurmukhi style of writing. Hence I inculcated that style of writing into my poems,&quot; Kaur said.

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Author Rupi Kaur believes in keeping her life colourful and bright! (Others)
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Art is not just painting. It&#39;s about dance, culture, sometimes food too -- the way it&#39;s presented, and yes music too. In fact, Claude Debussy put it aptly, &quot;Music is the silence between the notes.&quot; And when one pen down their thoughts or ideas some take to silence while some take to music. Kaur belongs to the latter. &nbsp;&quot;When I write something, I listen to a lot of Sufi songs more into Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and folk Punjabi music to soothe the senses and calm me down,&quot; Kaur said.

Don&rsquo;t tell me how educated you are, tell me how much you have travelled, says Quran. And Rupi Kaur has travelled far and wide to have a grasp of culture, food, art from around the world!

For someone who hops from one hotel to the other, from one city to another country and sometimes continents too it really is difficult to pick a favourite. But after a lot of persistence Kaur finally gave in and picked her favourites. &quot;I love India for the food and the essence of adventure. I love going to Italy for the architecture and walking along the streets of old cities, London for the fashion, California for the beaches and Punjab to be connected to my roots.&quot; Kaur said.

&nbsp;

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Rupi Kaur loves visiting Italy for her vaccations! (Others)
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&quot;I love to go to Italy for my vacation though. My favourite song is Survivor by Destiny&#39;s Child&quot; she laughed. 
Ummm! That&#39;s as far as one can get in terms of travel. But what about food? What does the two-time best-selling author really crave for? &quot;I love food. What the heck. It&#39;s really difficult to pick one. But when am on tour I can&#39;t wait to go home and have food cooked by my mother. My last meal would be the Kaali daal and raita, roti and aachar,&quot; said the Punjabi bred girl in Canada.

Kaur has a piece of advice for the upcoming authors. &quot;Be yourself. Be original and never give up. Things will look bleak but keep at it. If, I can make it so can you! Isn&#39;t that recipe for success, always. Every one who has made it to the top has one thing in common and that is their never give up attitude.&nbsp;

Like Sylvester Stallone put it in the movie Creed -- for which he won the BAFTA Award for the best actor in a supporting role, &quot;One step, one punch, one round at a time.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Rupi Kaur has travelled far and wide to have a grasp of culture, food, art from around the world.

"When you are good at something, make that everything," said Roger Federer. And Rupi Kaur has done just that. She took to writing and has not looked back since. She picked up a piece of paper, the pen just let her thoughts flow and the rest is there for the world to see. WION spoke to poet Rupi Kaur at length, exploring her creative as well as her personal life. The two facets often merged, leaving us wondering how far the one shaped the other. At first, it started as anonymous posts. Then in 2013, Kaur decided to take to a social media platform to portray her work. Then in November 2014, Kaur used a popular platform to get her first book published on her own. "When I held the first copy of my book, I fell on the floor and tears rolled down. I mean no matter how many ever books I write, that feeling of holding your first book will always be special. I remember it like it was just yesterday. It was a very emotional moment for me," recalled Kaur with a smile on her face. "It was so amazing to hold the book in my hand. Those are my fondest memories, ever. That was the only time when I could hold my first book, get my first book printed it was really special. I had my friends, family and that mattered a lot," Kaur recollected. To be an author of two best-sellers at the age of 25 is some achievement! And that despite the fact that she has ignored basic grammar rules in both her books in fact in all her poems! There were a lot of detractors en route her way to the top but she kept at it. She continued to pursue her dreams. She used words to connect with people. There is something that is really unique about her style of writing. The only punctuation she uses in her poems is the period! None of her writing depicts capital letters. She has her own set of reasons for the same. "I wanted to use the Gurmukhi style of writing in my poems. The Gurmukhi script does not have upper or lower cases. All letters are treated equally and I loved that bit about the Gurmukhi style of writing. Hence I inculcated that style of writing into my poems," Kaur said. Author Rupi Kaur believes in keeping her life colourful and bright! (Others) × Art is not just painting. It's about dance, culture, sometimes food too -- the way it's presented, and yes music too. In fact, Claude Debussy put it aptly, "Music is the silence between the notes." And when one pen down their thoughts or ideas some take to silence while some take to music. Kaur belongs to the latter. "When I write something, I listen to a lot of Sufi songs more into Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and folk Punjabi music to soothe the senses and calm me down," Kaur said. Don’t tell me how educated you are, tell me how much you have travelled, says Quran. And Rupi Kaur has travelled far and wide to have a grasp of culture, food, art from around the world! For someone who hops from one hotel to the other, from one city to another country and sometimes continents too it really is difficult to pick a favourite. But after a lot of persistence Kaur finally gave in and picked her favourites. "I love India for the food and the essence of adventure. I love going to Italy for the architecture and walking along the streets of old cities, London for the fashion, California for the beaches and Punjab to be connected to my roots." Kaur said. Rupi Kaur loves visiting Italy for her vaccations! (Others) × "I love to go to Italy for my vacation though. My favourite song is Survivor by Destiny's Child" she laughed. Ummm! That's as far as one can get in terms of travel. But what about food? What does the two-time best-selling author really crave for? "I love food. What the heck. It's really difficult to pick one. But when am on tour I can't wait to go home and have food cooked by my mother. My last meal would be the Kaali daal and raita, roti and aachar," said the Punjabi bred girl in Canada. Kaur has a piece of advice for the upcoming authors. "Be yourself. Be original and never give up. Things will look bleak but keep at it. If, I can make it so can you! Isn't that recipe for success, always. Every one who has made it to the top has one thing in common and that is their never give up attitude. Like Sylvester Stallone put it in the movie Creed -- for which he won the BAFTA Award for the best actor in a supporting role, "One step, one punch, one round at a time. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Poet Rupi Kaur follows no grammar yet her books sell like hot pancakes

This year&rsquo;s Man Booker Prize jury boasts of the presence of an extraordinary woman. Lila Azam Zanganeh, the forty-year-old Iranian-French writer, is delighted about the opportunity to select the best fiction for 2017. An erstwhile academic who felt &ldquo;miserable&rdquo; grading papers at Harvard, Azam Zanganeh is a worshipper of chaos. Her award-winning book, The Enchanter: Nabokov and Happiness exemplifies her resistance to handed-down structures and ideas. &ldquo;Something borrowed and something invented&rdquo; is how she describes her writing.

Of mothers and motherlands

I begin by asking Azam Zanganeh about her poetic sensibility through a somewhat leading question, using words and phrases like &ldquo;childhood&rdquo; and &ldquo;immigrant adult experience.&rdquo; She is too clever to miss it. &ldquo;Oh! It does come from my childhood.&rdquo;

What follows next, however, sets the theme of the interview on her terms.

&ldquo;It also comes from my relationship with my mother who loves words, poetry and beauty, and always tries to attract my attention to things of beauty and wonder. She thought that when you lost everything on the outside, the only thing that mattered was what you had within yourself: your culture. So, in a way, it comes from my Persian background. So much of the Persian culture is poetry. It&rsquo;s Rumi and Hafiz you grow up hearing. There&rsquo;s a beautiful line by Hafiz &#39;Look, among the ruins I see the light of God! Can you imagine what I see in what place?&#39; I think that informs everything else.&quot;

Azam Zanganeh was born and raised in France in a diplomatic family, which was soon to become political immigrants after the Islamic revolution in Iran. She studied literature and philosophy at &Eacute;cole Normale Sup&eacute;rieure, a premier institution dedicated to the training of professors, researchers and public administrators. She moved to the USA to become a teaching fellow at Harvard University, only to realise that academic life was not for her.

&nbsp;

Freedom to work

&ldquo;I struggled with the structure of the academic life. I like not having structures. I love inventing my own. I felt imprisoned,&rdquo; she says.

Does this yearning for freedom and making forays into a world that is opening up come from her background?

&ldquo;I was the first woman in my family to vote when I became a French citizen. I&rsquo;m also the first one to choose exactly what she wants to do. I&rsquo;m completely supported by my parents. This freedom is exciting and you want to do something with it. When I was a student in France, I worked for radio, interned for television and did a million things. One of my French friends once remarked, &lsquo;Oh, you are really obsessed with work&#39;. I was really upset with her. You, my friend, come from a background with generations of women who have had the possibility to work. Don&rsquo;t tell me, as an immigrant Iranian girl, that I&rsquo;m obsessed with work. Of course, I am. I have a great desire to work and to be engaged with the world. There&rsquo;s nothing better.&quot;

Is Azam Zanganeh trying to make up for the generations of Iranian, Middle Eastern women who never had a chance to work?

&ldquo;I&rsquo;m making amends without feeling resentful. I&rsquo;m aware of the generations behind me and they don&rsquo;t pour resentment into me. They pour great strength instead. I feel their collective yearning and it&rsquo;s that longing that I carry with me around the world. I think of my grandmother, Zahra, who is incredibly intelligent. My own mother, a brilliant diplomat, could not work after the Islamic revolution. We became political immigrants in France and her life became complicated.&quot;

At this point, I&rsquo;m curious about Azam Zanganeh&rsquo;s thoughts on dealing with various categories which she falls under: Woman, immigrant, Iranian.

&nbsp;

Resisting categories

&ldquo;Categories were once empowering but now they have become extremely problematic. I was in NYC on 9/11 and everybody wanted me to write a book about being Iranian in that age. I refused. It was nothing but reductive. Of course, I&rsquo;m Iranian! But I&rsquo;m also many other things, as we all are. I feel the same way about being a woman. I understand that it&rsquo;s a historical fight. We benefit so much from the women behind us 60 years ago. But I&rsquo;m now in a position where I&rsquo;m beginning to think that gender doesn&rsquo;t matter and we have to start thinking differently.&rdquo;

She starts talking about her upcoming work of fiction.

&ldquo;My new book is about a woman knight that crosses 1400 years. It&rsquo;s about her emergence as a woman and her understanding of what being a woman is. As I was thinking about the meaning of womanhood, I understood that the principle of androgyny is present in all spiritual traditions. We all carry the masculine and the feminine. And beyond that, we carry the force to transcend those dualities at any moment to become something completely unique. As writers, that&rsquo;s what we are looking for: The uniqueness of our voice and not the voice of a specific identity.&rdquo;

Are we, then, ready for a post-feminist world?

&quot;It&rsquo;s always a fight. We are always losing and re-negotiating. The feminist movement is so important. I would probably not be sitting here, neither would you! We wouldn&rsquo;t be having this conversation if it weren&rsquo;t for the feminist movement. At the same time, thinking about a post-feminist movement is important too. Maybe someday, we would be in a world where it wouldn&rsquo;t matter. It&rsquo;s worth imagining what that world would look like.&quot;

&nbsp;

Women and kindness

Azam Zanganeh slips in an interesting thought while talking about her favourite authors. &ldquo;I like the French Belgian writer Marguerite Yourcenar who wrote Memoirs of Hadrian. I adore her, she was hugely well-read and erudite. But she wasn&rsquo;t a very good human being; Not very kind. Kindness to me is extremely important, just as important as intelligence and anything else is. Kindness is at the heart of whatever politics I embody.&rdquo;

Kindness and fortitude are Azam Zanganeh&#39;s most defining character traits. Her association with initiatives like International Rescue Committee, Libraries Without Borders, Narrative 4, and The Lunchbox Fund exemplifies that.

When she finishes speaking, I begin to wonder if women have to be particularly kind. Is that a burden of their category- gender- they ought to carry? I carry this thought away with me. We reconnect over SMS after a couple of months. She remembers me but misspells my name. Most people do so. What sets her apart from them is that she sends an apology briefly afterwards. She cares. I recall how upon our first meeting she suggested that since we both were starving, lunch was a better idea than an interview. How she later waited for me to wrap up other interviews.&nbsp;

Lila Azam Zanganeh didn&rsquo;t have to.

(WION)

The Man Booker Prize jurist talks about understanding, but not being defined by, categories like 'immigrant', 'Iranian', and 'woman'

This year’s Man Booker Prize jury boasts of the presence of an extraordinary woman. Lila Azam Zanganeh, the forty-year-old Iranian-French writer, is delighted about the opportunity to select the best fiction for 2017. An erstwhile academic who felt “miserable” grading papers at Harvard, Azam Zanganeh is a worshipper of chaos. Her award-winning book, The Enchanter: Nabokov and Happiness exemplifies her resistance to handed-down structures and ideas. “Something borrowed and something invented” is how she describes her writing. Of mothers and motherlands I begin by asking Azam Zanganeh about her poetic sensibility through a somewhat leading question, using words and phrases like “childhood” and “immigrant adult experience.” She is too clever to miss it. “Oh! It does come from my childhood.” What follows next, however, sets the theme of the interview on her terms. “It also comes from my relationship with my mother who loves words, poetry and beauty, and always tries to attract my attention to things of beauty and wonder. She thought that when you lost everything on the outside, the only thing that mattered was what you had within yourself: your culture. So, in a way, it comes from my Persian background. So much of the Persian culture is poetry. It’s Rumi and Hafiz you grow up hearing. There’s a beautiful line by Hafiz 'Look, among the ruins I see the light of God! Can you imagine what I see in what place?' I think that informs everything else." Azam Zanganeh was born and raised in France in a diplomatic family, which was soon to become political immigrants after the Islamic revolution in Iran. She studied literature and philosophy at École Normale Supérieure, a premier institution dedicated to the training of professors, researchers and public administrators. She moved to the USA to become a teaching fellow at Harvard University, only to realise that academic life was not for her. Freedom to work “I struggled with the structure of the academic life. I like not having structures. I love inventing my own. I felt imprisoned,” she says. Does this yearning for freedom and making forays into a world that is opening up come from her background? “I was the first woman in my family to vote when I became a French citizen. I’m also the first one to choose exactly what she wants to do. I’m completely supported by my parents. This freedom is exciting and you want to do something with it. When I was a student in France, I worked for radio, interned for television and did a million things. One of my French friends once remarked, ‘Oh, you are really obsessed with work'. I was really upset with her. You, my friend, come from a background with generations of women who have had the possibility to work. Don’t tell me, as an immigrant Iranian girl, that I’m obsessed with work. Of course, I am. I have a great desire to work and to be engaged with the world. There’s nothing better." Is Azam Zanganeh trying to make up for the generations of Iranian, Middle Eastern women who never had a chance to work? “I’m making amends without feeling resentful. I’m aware of the generations behind me and they don’t pour resentment into me. They pour great strength instead. I feel their collective yearning and it’s that longing that I carry with me around the world. I think of my grandmother, Zahra, who is incredibly intelligent. My own mother, a brilliant diplomat, could not work after the Islamic revolution. We became political immigrants in France and her life became complicated." At this point, I’m curious about Azam Zanganeh’s thoughts on dealing with various categories which she falls under: Woman, immigrant, Iranian. Resisting categories “Categories were once empowering but now they have become extremely problematic. I was in NYC on 9/11 and everybody wanted me to write a book about being Iranian in that age. I refused. It was nothing but reductive. Of course, I’m Iranian! But I’m also many other things, as we all are. I feel the same way about being a woman. I understand that it’s a historical fight. We benefit so much from the women behind us 60 years ago. But I’m now in a position where I’m beginning to think that gender doesn’t matter and we have to start thinking differently.” She starts talking about her upcoming work of fiction. “My new book is about a woman knight that crosses 1400 years. It’s about her emergence as a woman and her understanding of what being a woman is. As I was thinking about the meaning of womanhood, I understood that the principle of androgyny is present in all spiritual traditions. We all carry the masculine and the feminine. And beyond that, we carry the force to transcend those dualities at any moment to become something completely unique. As writers, that’s what we are looking for: The uniqueness of our voice and not the voice of a specific identity.” Are we, then, ready for a post-feminist world? "It’s always a fight. We are always losing and re-negotiating. The feminist movement is so important. I would probably not be sitting here, neither would you! We wouldn’t be having this conversation if it weren’t for the feminist movement. At the same time, thinking about a post-feminist movement is important too. Maybe someday, we would be in a world where it wouldn’t matter. It’s worth imagining what that world would look like." Women and kindness Azam Zanganeh slips in an interesting thought while talking about her favourite authors. “I like the French Belgian writer Marguerite Yourcenar who wrote Memoirs of Hadrian. I adore her, she was hugely well-read and erudite. But she wasn’t a very good human being; Not very kind. Kindness to me is extremely important, just as important as intelligence and anything else is. Kindness is at the heart of whatever politics I embody.” Kindness and fortitude are Azam Zanganeh's most defining character traits. Her association with initiatives like International Rescue Committee, Libraries Without Borders, Narrative 4, and The Lunchbox Fund exemplifies that. When she finishes speaking, I begin to wonder if women have to be particularly kind. Is that a burden of their category- gender- they ought to carry? I carry this thought away with me. We reconnect over SMS after a couple of months. She remembers me but misspells my name. Most people do so. What sets her apart from them is that she sends an apology briefly afterwards. She cares. I recall how upon our first meeting she suggested that since we both were starving, lunch was a better idea than an interview. How she later waited for me to wrap up other interviews. Lila Azam Zanganeh didn’t have to. (WION)

International Women's Day: In conversation with Lila Azam Zanganeh

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