Ismat Chughtai (Urdu: عصمت
چغتائی) (August 1915 – 24 October 1991)1 was an eminent Indian writer
in Urdu, known for her indomitable spirit and a fierce feminist ideology.
Considered the grand dame of Urdu fiction, Chughtai was one of the Muslim
writers who stayed in India after the subcontinent was partitioned. Along with Rashid
Jahan, Wajeda Tabassum and Qurratulain Hyder, Ismat's work stands for the birth
of a revolutionary feminist politics and aesthetics in twentieth century Urdu
literature. She explored feminine sexuality, middle-class gentility, and other
evolving conflicts in modern India. Her outspoken and controversial style of
writing made her the passionate voice for the unheard, and she has become an
inspiration for the younger generation of writers, readers and intellectuals.Books by Ismat Chughtai Download Now
Life:
She was born in Badayun, Uttar Pradesh and grew up largely in Jodhpur
where her father was a civil servant. She was ninth of ten children (six
brothers, four sisters), and since her older sisters got married while Ismat
was very young, the better part of her childhood was spent in the company of
her brothers, a factor which she admits contributed greatly to the frankness in
her nature and writing. Her brother, Mirza Azim Beg Chughtai, already an
established writer, when Ismat was still in her teens, was her first teacher
and mentor. She had her early education in the Women's College of Aligarh
Muslim University.
In 1936, still working on her bachelor's degree in Lucknow, she
attended the first meeting of the Progressive Writers' Association . After her
BA from Isabella Thoburn College, Ismat secured a BEd (a Bachelor's in
Education), thus becoming the first Indian Muslim woman to have earned both
degrees. In this period she started writing in secret, due to violent
opposition to her education from her Muslim relatives.
Chughtai's short stories reflect the cultural legacy of the region
in which she lived. This is especially notable in her story "Sacred
Duty", where she deals with social pressures in India, alluding to
specific national, religious and cultural traditions.
Chughtai was a liberal Muslim whose daughter and nephew were
married to Hindus. In her own words, Chughtai came from a family of "Hindus,
Muslims and Christians who all live peacefully". She said she read not
only the Qur’an, but also the Gita and the Bible with openness.
She has two daughters, Seema Sawhny (died 2011) practiced Arya
Samaj was married to Naveen Sawhny and they had a son Ashish Sawhny
(filmmaker), second daughter Subrina Lateef is married to a Parsi and has two
sons. Ismat and her Hindu daughter did not consume beef.
Awards
- · 1974: Ghalib Award (Urdu Drama): Terhi Lakeer
- · 1975: Filmfare Best Story Award: Garam Hawa (with Kaifi Azmi)
- · 1982: Soviet Land Nehru Award
- · 1990 Iqbal Samman (Iqbal Award) from Rajasthan Urdu Akademi for the year 1989
Significance
Ismat Chughtai is considered a path-breaker for women writers in
the subcontinent, as the many women writing during Ismat's childhood –
including, notably, Muhammadi Begum, Sughra Humayun Mirza, Tyaba Bilgrami (to
whose novel Anwari Begum Chughtai refers in Terhi Lakeer) and Khatun Akram –
were considered too enmeshed in the ideology of slow, conservative and
religiously sanctioned changes for women advocated by such male reformers as
Mumtaz Ali, Rashidul Khairi and Shaikh Abdullah. However, in Ismat's formative
years, Nazar Sajjad Hyder had established herself an independent feminist
voice, and the short stories of two very different women, Hijab Imtiaz Ali and
the Progressive Dr Rashid Jehan were also a significant early influence on
Ismat.
In her career many of her writings including Angarey and Lihaaf
were banned in South Asia because their reformist and feminist content offended
conservatives (for example, her view that the Niqab, the mask worn by women in
Muslim societies, should be discouraged for Muslim women because it is oppressive
and feudal). Many of her books have been banned at various times during their
publication history.
Lihaaf controversy
Chughtai's most celebrated short story, Lihaaf (The Quilt)
published in 1942 in the Urdu literary journal Adab-i-Latif, was leveled with
charges of obscenity and she was summoned by the Lahore court in 1944. Lihaaf
deals with homosexuality in Aligarh.
Many angry letters were sent to the editor of the journal accusing
the short story of blasphemy. Chughtai chose to contest this charge instead of
apologizing and won her case in court. Her lawyer argued that there were no
explicit references to homoeroticism in the story and hence she could not be
accused writing about it.
Death
In 1941, she married screenwriter and film director Shaheed Latif,
who made such films as Ziddi (1948) and Arzoo (1950). They collaborated on many
films together, and had two daughters. Latif died in 1967.
Ismat Chughtai died in Bombay on 24 October 1991. She studied
Geeta for two years and she was afraid of gave, as per her will she was
cremated in Chandanwadi crematorium according to her wish.
Select bibliography
- · Yahan Se Wahan Tak, Society Publishers, 1981 - autobiography
- · Ismat Chughtai: Shaksiyat aur Fan by Jagdish Chander Wadhawan, 1996, Delhi.
- · A Chughtai Collection, Sama Publishing, 2005. ISBN 969-8784-16-0.
- · Lifting the Veil, Penguin, 2001.
- · The Heart Breaks Free/The Wild One, South Asia Books, 1993.
- · My Friend My Enemy: Essays, Reminiscences, Portraits, New Delhi, Kali for Women, 2001.
- · Quilt and Other Stories, New Delhi, Kali for Women, 1996
- · Terhi Lakhir (The Crooked Line), New Delhi, Kali for Women, 1995.
- · Kaghji Hai Pairahan (Memoir), Rajkamal Prakashan, 2004. ISBN 8171789676.
- · Ismat Chughtai; Tr. by M. Asaduddin (2012). A Life in Words: Memoirs. Penguin Books. ISBN 978-0-670-08618-4.
Filmography
- · Junoon – Dialogue, actor
- · My Dreams (1975) Documentary – Director
- · Garam Hawa (1973) – Story
- · Jawab Ayega (1968) – Director
- · Sone Ki Chidia (1958) – Screenwriter, producer
- · Faraib (1953) – Director
- · Arzoo – Screenwriter, Dialogue
- · Ziddi – Story
Books on Ismat Chughtai
- · Ismat Chughtai: Shaksiyat aur Fan by Jagdish Chander Wadhawan, Reference submitted by Dr. Priyanka Puri, Assistant Professor, Miranda House, University of Delhi ( Lt. Sh. Wadhawan's grand daughter).
- · Ismat: Her Life, Her Times. Sukrita Paul Kumar, Katha, New Delhi,2000. ISBN 81-85586-97-7.
- · Ismat Chughtai, A Fearless Voice. Manjulaa Negi, Rupa and Co, 2003.81-29101-53-X.
Articles on Ismat Chughtai
- · Torchbearer of a literary revolution. The Hindu, Sunday, 21 May 2000.
- · Kashmir Uzma Urdu weekly, Srinagar, 27 December 2004, 2 January 2005.
- · Ismat Chughtai – Pakistan-India (1915–1991), World People, 5 May 2006.
- · Ismat Chughtai: An Iconoclast Muslim Dame of Urdu Fiction
Plays and Dramatic Performances on Ismat Chughtai
Naseeruddin Shah and Ratna Pathak Shah have been presenting 'Ismat
Aapa Ke Naam' for the past nearly twelve years to critical success. Her story
'Chouthi Ka Joda' is presented frequently by many theatre groupes. Danish Iqbal
adapted her story 'Mughal Bachcha'مغل بچہ for stage
which was presented at the Theatre Festival organised by Government of Delhi to
commemorate her birth centenary. This Play also contained biographical
references about her works and early influences. Danish Iqbal also wrote a
stage Play عصمت اور منٹو
highlighting the love hate relationship between Ismat Chughtai and Saadat Hasan
Manto.
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