The Mehfil Press: Patras ke Mazameen
This anthology brings together five of Patras Bokhari's acclaimed satirical essays in both Urdu and English. An Urdu humourist, educator, essayist, broadcaster, and diplomat, Patras Bokhari is widely acclaimed for his satirical writings and is considered a pioneer of the Mizah genre in Urdu literature.
Still refreshingly relevant today as when originally published in 1927, these comical works provide readers with a humorous glimpse into the social, cultural, and religious context of South Asian society.
The book is suitable for Urdu literature enthusiasts and students of Urdu A level alike (featuring the essays included in the GCE Edexcel A level Urdu syllabus). The edition also comprises extensive commentary in Urdu to supplement the reading of the texts. Importantly, through new English translations, this collection serves to introduce Bokhari's sublime comic genius to the world outside Pakistan.
Translated from the Urdu by Tasnim Firdaus & Neelofer Korotana. The book is available to purchase here.
Tasnim Firdaus received her BA from the University of Punjab and her MA from University Oriental College, Lahore, where she studied under the late Professor Aftab Asghar and Dr Akram Shah. She taught Persian and Urdu literature at several colleges in Faisalabad and Lahore before moving to London in the 1980s. A teaching career spanning over 35 years, Tasnim has taught Urdu and Persian at a number of institutions and has served as Chief Examiner and Subject Specialist of Urdu at Edexcel Board of Examinations. She has also authored ‘Step by Step Urdu’, an Urdu language learning textbook comprising 101 lessons on Urdu language and grammar. An enthusiast of Urdu and Persian literature, Tasnim writes poetry in her free time. Presently, she serves as Director of Language & Literature Programmes at The Mehfil.
Neelofer Korotana obtained her BA in Oriental Studies from the University of Oxford and her MA in Literary Studies from the University of London.
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The Mehfil Press is a small, independent publisher dedicated to the preservation and production of Urdu works and translation of Urdu works into English. We hope this endeavour will continue to bridge the gap between the eastern and western worlds.