Rayees Ahmad Kumar
Dr Nazir Mushtaq is a renowned physician and a distinguished writer of the Valley. He is regarded as one of the long-standing lovers of Urdu language and literature. Though he remains busy attending to his patients at his clinic during the day, whenever he finds some free time, he does not let it go waste. Instead, he gives expression to his ideas in the form of microfictions and afsanchas.
He is popular not only among his patients but also among social media users because, whenever he composes a fiction or microfiction, he shares it on Facebook. Within no time, thousands of readers view his writings and respond with their valuable comments. His fictions and microfictions generally carry a message for readers.
Most of his writings reflect the social wrongs prevalent in our community and also suggest, directly or indirectly, measures that could help reform the system and eradicate social evils.
I have been following Dr Nazir Mushtaq’s writings since the days when he used to write columns on health issues, titled Sahati Kamil, in the daily Kashmir Uzma. I was pursuing my graduation during those days. Dr Nazir Mushtaq’s love for Urdu language and literature is evident from the fact that even in his seventies, he remains energetic and determined to enrich Urdu literature through his writings.
Among the general public and, particularly, among Urdu lovers, Dr Nazir Mushtaq has carved out a prominent place for himself. I am also among Dr Sahib’s Facebook friends, and whenever his fictions or microfictions appear before me, I read them with great interest and often respond with my comments because his writings are invariably engaging and thought-provoking. A few months ago,
Dr Sahib posted a microfiction titled Khoon (Blood) on Facebook. When I read it and shared it with my better half, she developed such an admiration for Dr Sahib that, since then, she has been reading his fictions with even greater interest and enthusiasm than I do. Unfortunately, for the past few weeks, I have not been able to see his writings on Facebook. I do not know whether Dr Sahib has blocked me for some unknown reason or whether some technical issue is preventing his posts from appearing on my feed. I hope that, in the near future, everything will be sorted out and I will once again be able to read his writings regularly.
Almost a month ago, Dr Sahib uploaded a Facebook post announcing that he had compiled a book, Tinkey, containing a hundred of his microfictions. My spouse insisted that I procure a copy for her and, from the very day she came to know about the book, she kept asking me to get one. I travelled from Qazigund to Srinagar twice in search of the book. During my first visit, I could not find a copy. I then sent a message to Dr Sahib on Facebook informing him about the unavailability of the book. Fortunately, when I visited the KBD Book Shop for the second time, I succeeded in getting a copy of Tinkey.
The book, Tinkey, has been published by GNK Publications, Charar-i-Sharief, Budgam. It contains a hundred microfictions spread over 198 pages. The book has been beautifully designed, and the quality of the paper also deserves appreciation. For Urdu lovers and students of Urdu literature, it is no less than a valuable gift from Dr Nazir Mushtaq. The preface to Tinkey has been written by Noor Shah, the legendary fiction writer of the Valley.
Writing about the book, Noor Shah observes that there is a galaxy of accomplished fiction writers in Jammu and Kashmir and that, as far as Dr Nazir Mushtaq is concerned, he occupies a distinctive place among writers of microfiction. His dedication to the genre can also be gauged from the fact that Tinkey represents a significant collection of its kind in the Valley.
Dr Nazir Mushtaq has written about the book under the heading Mere Afsaanche. He writes that the collection of a hundred microfictions is now in the readers’ hands. Writing microfiction, he says, is his hobby. Whenever he comes out of his busy clinical schedule, he enters the literary world and begins writing. He further observes that his microfictions are like his children, and he considers himself their mother.
The famous writer, poet and translator Parvez Manoos has also penned some beautiful words about the book. He writes that although Dr Nazir Mushtaq is a medical doctor by profession, he has fallen deeply in love with Urdu language and literature. In his microfictions, readers encounter different colours and shades of life that Dr Sahib has experienced in his day-to-day existence. To express profound ideas in a few words or lines requires considerable skill, and Dr Nazir Mushtaq, according to Manoos, possesses that skill remarkably well. This, he believes, is one of the reasons behind the writer’s popularity.
Wehshi Syed, Chief Editor of Nigeena International, writes that one needs to be exceptionally skilled to present a significant idea or thought and condense it into just a page or two. Dr Nazir Mushtaq, he observes, possesses this particular literary virtue in abundance. Dr Riyaz Tawheedi Kashmiri has contributed a four-page summary and analysis of Tinkey towards the end of the book. He observes that in Jammu and Kashmir, a considerable number of writers have achieved prominence despite not being formally trained in language and literature. Among them, he mentions Noor Shah, Wehshi Syed, Mushtaq Mehdi, Deepak Budki, Parvez Manoos, Raja Yousuf, Nasir Zameer and Zubair Qureshi, among others.
Although Dr Nazir Mushtaq is a physician by profession, he has successfully established himself as a prominent name in the world of Urdu literature. Dr Nazir Mushtaq has dedicated this book to his loving sister Tahira Bano, his better half Dr Raas Masood, Waseem and Yawar, as well as to all his Facebook friends. Tinkey reminds us that all is not well with our society and that our cultural heritage, values and ethos are gradually losing their sheen.
Dr Nazir Mushtaq has composed microfictions dealing with almost every aspect of society, although a substantial number of them draw upon his experiences as a medical professional. Among the microfictions in the book that I particularly liked are Nimazi, Bhikari, Zaroorat, Online, Taweez, Alaaj, Darr, Masla, Mazdoor, Dandha, Qatil, Paap, Peshgoyi, Maatam, Loug, Doori, Imtihaan, Robert, Saboot, Zaat, Raaz, Samaaj, Madam, Kafan, Fikr, Chour, Namumkin, Baraf, Baap-Beta, Baroosa, Gunah and Naseeb, among others.
Tinkey has an attractive appearance and an aesthetically pleasing design. I hope Urdu lovers will appreciate Dr Nazir Mushtaq’s effort after reading and studying the book closely.
In my view, Urdu literature lovers, particularly those aspiring to write short stories and microfictions in Urdu, would benefit from reading Tinkey. It can provide them with valuable insights into the art of expressing profound thoughts and social realities in a concise yet impactful manner.
Lastly, I congratulate Dr Nazir Mushtaq on bringing out this thoughtful and engaging collection of microfictions. Tinkey is a valuable addition to contemporary Urdu literature and deserves the attention of readers, students and aspiring writers alike.
(The author is a freelancer. He hails from Qazigund and can be reached at [email protected])
