Book Review: Gard-e-Shab-e-Khayal by Fazil Shafi Bhat
By: Rayees Ahmad Kumar
Hailing from the picturesque Akingam village of Anantnag district, Fazil Shafi Bhat has over the years emerged as an ace fiction writer. His meticulously composed and artistically painted stories regularly find space in leading dailies, weeklies and monthly magazines published locally and across the subcontinent.
His stories reflect the pain and suffering, people of the region endure due to harsh and callous attitude met in and outside home. Besides, Fazil’s stories draw a sketch of the growing immorality, social evils and also highlight the impediments erected in the way of communal harmony.
Recently his short story collection ‘Gard-e-Shab-e-Khayal’ has hit the strands, readers of all ages and experiences have praised his writing prowess and he has won accolades from even eminent and acclaimed litterateurs.
This wonderful collection was released during Fiction Writer’s Guild’s weekly session held at Srinagar, attended by leading fiction writers of valley. Published by famed GNK Publications, this collection boasting an eye catching cover and spans 158 pages of premier paper quality.
Fazil has dedicated this collection to his late father, mother, spouse, daughter, mentor Meraj Zargar, uncle Manzoor Ahmad and Mohammad Yaqoob. Comprising of well-crafted twenty five short stories, its proem is written by author himself, briefly summarizing his struggling efforts to combat hardships after being orphaned and living in desperation.
He further reiterates that factual and truthful stories have been woven in fiction intending to highlight the issues concerning humanity. While commenting on the writing career of Fazil, Meraj Zargar takes us back to Fazil’s early years when he was drawn to Urdu literature and commenced composing Urdu prose.
Naseem Ishq in her brief note has applauded the unique style of author and hailed his eloquently composed short stories reflecting happenings of daily life. Trailer, the opening short story of the book, is a reminder to all the believers who live luxuriously, while disobeying the creator and keep lengthy and flowing beard to fleece, deceive and cheat people just trying to make this mortal world a heaven for them.
Kufrani Nyamat: These days infertility is a growing concern among the married couple. Most of the couples struggle to conceive a baby soon after their marriage. Their in-laws mostly mother in-laws even suggest their sons to remarry. However those with a lone baby girl, often knock the doors of medical practitioners and faith healers to have another boy child.
This story is woven around such a married couple having a lone girl child longing for another one. Wife compels her husband to visit a faith healer, who happens to enjoy a luxurious and deluxe type of life but at the cost of his poor followers. The girl’s pleas and beseeches moistens the eyes of her parents, who later rescind to follow his directives and to revisit him.
Kamayi: Fazil has eloquently woven a story around a helpless man who has sold his land to build a house hoping to get the financial assistance later from the government department. But Ironically Sayar the officer in charge wasn’t ready to help the impoverished man without receiving a portion as bribe.
It was only after the poor man handed over him 30000 that he initiated official procedure. However after crediting the money in poor man’s account, the officer’s bad days just started when a gas cylinder explosion at his home left his spouse and daughter severely injured and their limbs were cut through a surgery at hospital.
Shabkhoon: Through the local characters, Fazil has crafted a wonderful story, depicting how orphans are made the worst sufferers in the society. They are put to extreme type of oppression, their honour and property too is sold by the selfish and self-cantered people. Disheartening is to witness the lawyers pleading their case poorly and helping the opposite parties to win effortlessly.
Rogni Shifa: Across Kashmir streets and lanes we encounter with countless number of herbal medicine and product sellers. They try every mantra to enhance their business and expand their trade. However, a big chunk among them instead of selling the genuine and efficacious products dupe the simpleton and gullible people by cheating and deceiving them as has been brilliantly portrayed in the story.
Shikast Arzoo: Amidst skyrocketing prices of essential goods, it becomes challenging to buy a sacrificial animal for Bakra Eid. Even the well-off people show reluctance to perform the traditional custom. This story shows how elderly people are looted in broad daylight even during Eid festival and they feel scared to face their children when they fail to buy an animal for Eid.
Radhi Kagaz: While going through this story, a reader is transported back to his early childhood when books of previous classes were sold at half rates. It was like a tradition and custom in Kashmir to search for second hand books for one’s children at half rates. Gone are those times and presently our wards prefer fresh lots, after using them either through them in bins or sell at paper costs.
Maya Ka Khel: This story is unravelling the wrappers of many ills prevalent in our society. Infertility is perceived as a sin, infertile women are tortured in the society and they are compelled to visit the selfstyled fake peers and faith healers who only dupe them and shatter their hopes and dreams.
Na Karda Gunah: Mobile phone addiction among our little buds in a major cause of concern as it has both affected their health and also spoiled our society, which needs an immediate remedy. At times, they scroll so recklessly or suddenly go live unnoticed that the videos which are shared from their parents ID’s, become a cause of embarrassment for them and they are reprimanded for the same. That’s what has been found in last story of this collection. Indeed it has highlighted a pressing issue.
Fazil’s columns, reviews and more specifically his short stories are constantly being widely hailed by literary circles for their unique style and thought provoking messages. He is successfully trying to mirror the ill health of society intending to find a lasting solution. My suggestion to fiction lovers would be to go through this collection and comment on merit. Fazil Shafi Bhat deserves all praises and appreciations for writing this marvellous short story collection.
(The reviewer is a columnist hailing from Qazigund, south Kashmir)
