Pehreen January is a collection of short stories by Anwer Abro. Although an engineer by profession, Abro has made journalism and literature his career and full-time job. Before Pehreen January, his fifth book, he has published a collection of short stories, a novel, a book of essays and poetry and a collection of newspaper columns. Besides, he has been regularly contributing to various newspapers and magazines. The book under review has 28 stories dealing with various social and political issues, as well as pertaining to the self.

The currents of change in Sindh, its economy, politics and society; the emergence and development of the middle class; rural-urban migration; these have all affected literature. Thus, the trends and issues in Sindhi literature have not remained as they were in the latter half of the 20th century. For example, the question of oppressed classes is no longer an issue of supreme importance in Sindh’s politics. This is reflected in present-day literature. Most of the themes in present-day literature are about the issues of the middle class which is struggling to strengthen its position in the setup of the country, as well as in the cities. This is evident in the styles and topics found in fiction and poetry.

In the story ‘Jhang’, the protagonist is migrating to Karachi from his village under compulsion; he does not have a choice. Unemployment, unstable law and order, and other problems force the people of rural areas to migrate to cities. However, the city itself is plagued by ethnic clashes and security issues, among a plethora of other problems, and thus offers no relief. For the protagonist, both the cities and rural areas are like Jhang where violence reigns supreme.

Anwar Abro’s stories follow Sindh through the tides of change

Like most writers from Sindh, Abro has a complicated relationship with Benazir Bhutto and the political party she belonged to, and he asserts he does not endorse their policies; but he does have an emotional connection with her. Such a relationship was expressed when grief and sorrow over her death was deeply felt, especially in Sindh. The story ‘Muhanjo Chand Marji Wiyo’ (My Moon Was Killed) is a reaction to the very moment when she was killed in Rawalpindi. The character in this story almost loses his senses and goes to do something in retaliation, but the helplessness he feels is overwhelming.

Similarly, ‘Aaj Baghna Nahi’ is a very sensitive story, and arguably the best one in the collection. It is about a PPP worker from Lyari, killed while escorting Benazir Bhutto at the time of the blast at Karsaz in Karachi in Oct 2007. Even as he breathes his last, he urges his colleagues to not run away leaving their leader among chaos. Another story on this theme, ‘Roshan Qabar’, documents the love and adoration of men and women who visit Benazir’s tomb and hail her as saint.

In Sindh, Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai is a figure considered a great poet and spiritual guide by writers and political workers unanimously. This is evident from the story “Bhittai jo Karkun” (Worker of Bhittai) in which a man tells another that since as he is a follower of Bhittai, no wrongdoing is expected of him. Similarly, in the story ‘Wadyal Sir je Dahan’, a woman attends a meeting of the wise men of Sindh, presided over by Bhittai at his shrine, with the severed head of her lover, complaining that her parents and relatives had killed him instead of giving him her hand in marriage.

Like most writers from Sindh, Abro has a complicated relationship with Benazir Bhutto and the political party she belonged to, and he asserts he does not endorse their policies; but he does he have an emotional connection with her. Such a relationship was expressed when the grief and sorrow over her death was deeply felt, especially in Sindh. The story ‘Muhanjo Chand Marji Wiyo’ (My Moon Was Killed) is a reaction to the very moment when she was killed in Rawalpindi. The character in this story almost loses his senses and goes to do something in retaliation but the helplessness he feels is overwhelming.

Although most stories such as ‘Aseen Agte Wadendaseen’ (We Will Go Forward), ‘Band Gali’ (Blind Alley) and ‘Naeen Janam jo Sad’ rally for social and political change against the backdrop of sorrowful times, a ray of hope and a way to reform through struggle is shown at the end. The situation, however, is starkly different in stories about matters of the heart, such as the title story ‘Pehreen January’ and ‘Mitti je Sej’. These are stories of separation, pain and frustration.

Fiction is said to be the history of present times as well as the story of the self. The stories compiled in this book also depict the writer’s reactions to changes in society at different stages of his life.

The reviewer is a freelance writer who writes on literature, politics, economics and current affairs.

Pehreen January
(SHORT STORIES)
By Anwar Abro
Kavita Publications, Hyderabad
160pp.

Published in Dawn, Books & Authors, July 31st, 2016