Tales of the times : The bold and the literary

Pashto writer Zaitun Bano recalls her work on unorthodox traditions in Pukhtun society.

PESHAWAR:

It would not be incorrect to say that Zaitun Bano inspires devotion among her readers.

For writer Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi, she has a unique place in the world of fiction writers. For playwright Mirza Adeeb, Bano is a novelist who exposes veiled realities of society.

Poet and writer Khatir Ghaznavi shared, “Her stories are timeless as they are stories of human emotions and psychology which is everlasting.” And for poet and writer Aseer Mangal, Bano has brought Pashto short stories to their zenith and to date no one has attained, let alone surpass, the place she occupies in fiction writing.

Bano – a poet, short story writer and former broadcaster – writes about unorthodox traditions in Pukhtun culture which are essentially detrimental for women. Through her work, Bano depicts the anguish women face when subjected to archaic traditions as well as the harsh treatment of women at the hands of a patriarchal society.

“I write what I notice in my surroundings. Whatever I have written so far is derived from the reality around me,” the 76-year-old told The Express Tribune. In spite of her age, the presidential pride of performance award winner retains her sharp observation skills.

“In our society, women are considered lesser human beings. With my work I have tried to present the realities of society to the society and, if possible, to steer its psyche to the right direction,” she said.

The life and times of Zaitun Bano

Recalling her youth, Bano said she was born on June 18, 1938 in Spina Warai village of Peshawar district. However, she says she spent very little time there after securing admission in Islamia School. But the scenic landscape is still fresh in her memory.

The writer hails from a literary family which had close relations with Pashto poet and intellectual Qalandar Momand. Bano’s grandfather Pir Abdul Qudus published one of the first newspapers in the area titled Angaar. She later married Hindko scriptwriter Taj Saeed.

“My father didn’t allow me to write poems. It was Saeed who encouraged me to write and helped in getting my work published,” she recalled fondly.

The author at her residence in the city. PHOTO: HIDAYAT KHAN/EXPRESS

Bano briefly stopped writing after her husband’s death. However, she shared that at the moment she was working on a story titled Da Shishay Glass based on the issue of women being burnt to death.

Although Bano has dabbled in Pashto poetry and compiled a collection, she has received more recognition for the nearly 150 short stories she has penned in Pashto over the course of her life. She later translated a majority of these into Urdu herself.

Her first short story Garrhi was published in Mardan-based magazine Qund and renamed Intiqam. Her first collection of short stories titled Hindara was published in 1958 followed by two other short story collections, Maat Bangree and Jwandi Ghamuna, in the same year. Khoboona, another short story, was published in 1986 and then a drama, Kachkol, was released in 1991.

Bano has also written a novel Barg-e-Arzoo which was published in 1980, and later translated and broadcast on Pakistan Television (PTV) as an Urdu serial under the title Dhool. Urdu short stories Bargad ka Saya, Sheesham ka Pata (1978) and Waqt ki Dehleez Par (1980) are also some of her contributions to fiction.

New work

Talking about her latest short story Da Sheeshay Glass, Bano said every day local newspapers carry stories about women being burnt to death, but no one investigates the background of the incident.

The plot of her story revolves around a father who sexually assaults his daughter and to hide his sin, sets her on fire. “These things happen in our society. They just go unreported or underreported,” maintained Bano.

Islamia College’s Professor Abaseen Yousafzai, in his book Zaitun Bano, Fan aw Shahsiat, describes Bano as one of the boldest writers Pashto literature has ever produced. She is famed for her bold writing, challenging male dominance in society and highlighting perverse realities.

Currently, Bano is busy compiling all her work in a single volume titled Da Shago Manzl. However, she lamented people do not read anymore. “Some people even feel shame in reading Pashto,” she sighed.

Bano lives in a rented house in the city. She is suffering from several health problems including diabetes, heart disease and kidney problems, but her vigour for life is unmatched by the debilitating ailments.

Swara 

By Zaitun Bano

What is my fault; what is my sin?

That I was born a girl!

Today, I am a daughter; tomorrow, I

Will be a mother.

I’m Eve, I’m Mary;

I’m Fatima; I’m Zainab;

This is my fault, this is my mistake!

The Paradise is under my feet;

I am the first being to embrace Islam;

All the Prophets and Messengers;

Were born by me;

What do the followers of those pure

figures and pure beings do?

Sometimes, they kill me in the name of honour;

Sometimes, I’m sold for money;

Sometimes, my father surrenders me

as Swara to others.

I lose the house of my parents.

I’m thrown in the fire of enmity.

I’m punished for the doing of the father.

The arrows of slander and insult pierce

my soul.

People forget my name.

Every one calls me Swara.

This is my sin, this is my fault.

This is my mistake, this is my guilt.

I was bargained as Swara.

I was disgraced.

I am Swara

And will be called Swara.

Translated by Dr Sher Zaman Taizi

Published in The Express Tribune, March 10^th, 2014.