Manto Raama – منٹو راما

Manto was known to write atrocious truths of the society that no one dared to talk about. Manto apparently loved challenges. What he loved even more was to shock people. He was considered a rebel by the society.
He was a master craftsman when it comes to story telling. Manto Nama was the first to hit the shelves. The next in line was Manto Rama. It is compiled of short stories. They all are masterpieces. But the main attraction was the nine letters written to Uncle Sam by Manto which were written in between 1951 and 1954. He couldnt send those letters as he lacked money for postage. In the letters, Manto happily described his poverty, and contrasts it to the image of fabulous American wealth. Manto begins with a note of rancour over the absurdity of the Partition,development in post-colonial Pakistan and US role in these affairs. He also told about his run-ins with American troops stationed in Bombay during the war.He shared his thoughts about religion,politics,films,bollywood and lollywood.
Reading his stories you cant help to think, how less he cared about the norms of the society. He wrote what he felt. He wrote what he wanted to. He so openly and with courage shares his own thoughts
to reveal the bitter truth of the world we live in.If there was ever a writer from Pakistan showing the real face of society without any regrets, then it has to be Manto.
Manto Rama is the must read for those who want to know the answers to our social failure.
As Manto said,
“If you find my stories dirty, the society you are living in is dirty. With my stories I only expose the truth”
And I couldnt agree less.