[Reader-list] Manto still banned on TV and radio in Pakistan

[Shivam Vij]

The Daily Times
January 19, 2005

MANTO'S 50TH DEATH ANNIVERSARY OBSERVED: BAN ON
MANTO'S WRITINGS ON TV AND RADIO CONDEMNED

By Shoaib Ahmad
LAHORE: It is regrettable that Saadat Hasan
Manto's writings are still banned on television
and radio and he has not been given due respect
in Pakistan, said speakers at a special gathering
held at 'Lakshmi Mansion' in front of Manto's
house on Tuesday to mark his 50th death
anniversary.

Speaking on the occasion, which was organised by
the Weekly Mazdoor Jido-Johad, Abid Hasan Manto
said although life in Manto's days was simple his
farsightedness made him write about the
complexities of today. He came from a middle
class family and associated with his economic
strata, he said. He wrote about the hypocrisy of
society, which people usually 'hate' to discuss
like Sahiba Karamat and Mangoo, a character he
sketched in his famous short-story Naiya Qanoon,
he added. Throwing light on Manto's story Naiya
Qanoon, he said the 17th amendment in Pakistan
and imperial design behind globalisation were the
examples of present times. He said Manto wanted
an egalitarian society where the poor were not
oppressed and women got equal rights and were
accepted as equal partners in society.
Tahira Mazhar Ali Khan, a women's rights
activist, said the 'so-called custodians of
Pakistan's ideology' had never accepted Manto,
but the people in Pakistan had accepted Manto in
the 21st century. She said Manto was widely read
in India and nearly all the bookstores carried
his work.

She said Manto lived a respectable and happy life
in Bombay but in Lahore he had to go through
trouble and several cases were filed against him.
Shujaat Hashmi, an actor, regretted that Manto
was still banned from television and radio.
Disagreeing with Ms Khan, he said those who loved
Manto had accepted him even in the 20th century.
He said Manto did not only belong to the
sub-continent but to the whole world. In India,
he said, Manto was celebrated but in Pakistan he
was still banned.

Madeeha Gauhar said that she tried to convey
Manto's ideas through theatrical performances.
She said she had staged his two important plays
in Pakistan, Toba Tek Singh and Naiya Qanoon.
Manto's daughters Nighat Patail, Nuzhat Arshad
and Nusrat Jalal were present on the occasion. Ms
Arshad said she felt great being Manto's
daughter. He was a sensitive writer, she added.
Poet Munir Niazi presided over the gathering. He
said the Pakistani nation had not learnt to
respect its great people. Mr Niazi said he met
Manto after partition.