Bombay Stories by Saadat Hasan Manto

Bombay Stories is a collection of short stories, originally written in Urdu by Saadat Hasan Manto. This translated version, by Matt Reeck and Aftab Ahmad, makes these stories accessible to a much wider audience. Bombay Stories is set in the 1930s and 1940s, when the author had just arrived in the city. The stories speak about actors, prostitutes, intellectuals, conmen and more. For example, In Ten Rupees, a 15-year old prostitute is taken out by three older men on a drive to the beach. As readers expect this young Sarita to become a victim, the tables turn on the men! Another tale in Bombay Stories focuses on how a man is outraged and feels insulted at the sight of a woman who has not covered up in front of him. Manto then introduces a visitor to Bombay, who is amazed to see the city filled with both shrines, as well as houses of pleasure. He asks a rich sap named Babu Gopi Nath why this is so. Babu’s reply will make readers smile. Many stories in Bombay Stories are set in the Hindi film industry. Bombay Stories shows what it means to be human. Anyone who is interested in the history and culture of Bombay or is a fan of translated Urdu literature, can enjoy reading this book. Bombay Stories, published by Random House India in 2014, is available in paperback.