13 Krishan Chandar Short Stories: translated in Victorian English reminiscent of Charles Dickins

Step into the vibrant and enthralling world of Krishan Chander, one of Urdu literature's most illustrious and celebrated storytellers. With the deft touch of a master craftsman, Chander weaves tales that sparkle with the raw, unfiltered essence of the human condition-its joys, its sorrows, its triumphs, and its despairs. In this first volume, lovingly translated by Qasim Usmani, these short stories find a new breath, now caressed by the eloquence of Victorian English reminiscent of Charles Dickens.

Usmani, with his poetic soul and boundless admiration for Urdu and English literary traditions, has tenderly preserved the heartbeats of Chander's words, offering them to you as a gift wrapped in the timeless elegance of the English language. Each story pulses with life, as though plucked from the streets of Lahore, the bustling corners of Bombay, or the forgotten alleys of Amritsar. The characters-whether a lonely courtesan penning her sorrows, a resilient sweeper dreaming of dignity, or a train brimming with tales of hope and despair-leap from the pages to grasp your heart and soul.

In this collection, you will discover thirteen short stories that span the breadth of human emotions and illuminate the shadows of forgotten lives. Whether it is the tender moonlit night of Pooray Chaand ki Raat or the poignant reflection on freedom in Amritsar Azaadi kay Baad" each story unfurls like a delicate flower blooming amidst the ruins of forgotten dreams.

May you be swept away into these worlds, and may the echoes of Chander's poignant tales linger long after you close these pages, urging you to return time and again to the exquisite tapestry of emotions spun within.

1. Pooray Chaand ki Raat
2. Aik Tawaif ka Khut
3. Peshawar Express
4. Mahalukshmi ka Pul
5. Kaloo Bhungi
6. Jaaman ka Pairr
7. Amritsar Azadi say Pehlay
8. Amritsar Azadi kay Baad
9. Un Daata
10. Muhabbat ki Pehchaan
11. Taai Isri
12. Aadhay Ghuntay ka Khuda
13. Tootay Huay Taaray