SYED AHMAD QUADRI : MAKING WAVES

Dr. M.Q. Khan

Syed Ahmed Quadri is a well-known name in the field of urdu short story. He had made his debut with his first anthology titled "Reza Reza Khaab" having twenty short stories. His confessional writing, "I any my short stories' views and reviews of eminent critics like Hussain-ul- Haque, Manazir Aashique Harganvi with the observation of reputed short story writers of urdu, Ghyas Ahmad Gaddi, Ram Lal, Kalam Haidri,

Shaukat Hayat, Shafaque and Rizwan Ahmad Project a befitting light on the realm of Quadri's world of short stories."

"My defeat taught me many lesson of life. I observed the chameleon faces of confidence, faith, friendship, generosity and love...." And further he express, I never felt myself elevated to great heights and pampered by praise, nor did lose heart by comments and detractions".

Regarding inspirations of his writings he says, "When I am influenced and impressed by certain accident or event, there is great restless and turmoil within my heart and mind. My fingers seem to itch. I do not feel at ease until I give vent to my intense feelings experiences in the form of a short story, only after this I feel relieved and have a

sound sleep".

Quadri's pen has all along been fighting a crusade against social in justice, exploitations of the weaker classes of the society, whether it may be a labour or a woman. He picks up his characters from his own surroundings. He never lets his fancy roam at large in the world of dream or abstract or airy. He has taken up great pains to fuse udder short story to its main track, the traditions of prem chand. Suhail Azimabadi, Isamt chaughtai and Ram Lal.

His grip on spinning plot delineating life - like characters is firm. He has made formidable advancement in the tradition, narrative pattern of short story writing. His characters like Nasrin of "Shahre-Khamoshan" and Suryia of "Surkh Joray" Javed of "Band Aankhon ka sapna" and Waqar Ahmad of "Angan ki Baat" are common human beings facing the ordeals of life like an ordinary being. Nusrat of "Fasla Qareeb ka" Shahla of "Sisaktay Lamhay" and Javed of "Khaab" give an insight into the keen of all pervading observation of Quadri.

Most of the short stories of his second anthology of short stories "Dhoop ki Chaadar" revolve round the presentday burning problems : poverty, tyrannical treatments of haves with haves not, labour unemployment and unemployed youths, eligible parents dowry, upper cast and lower caste conflicts, class and communal riots. He has taken up with all precision the slackness and inactivity of the government officers and administration, flattery of, bribe, hushing up the cases of crime and injustice under the spiel of power and pelf. There is much hullabaloo regarding the atrocities let loose by the Naxalites and MCC, but those raise the hue and cry do not like to diagnose who all these have perpetrated. Quadri has shown it in his first story of this second anthology titled "Apni Adalat" when the daughter of a poor man is forcibly picked up by goons of the land lord and raped, the rage of vendetta surges and the result is what MCC Adalat decree. His story "Rait Ki Diwar" is based on the activities and fear of an unemployed youth who strangles his ailing father for getting a job in his place. The youth gets job and when he returns home, his son Rahul stretches his hands to welcome him and the guilty youth feels those hands advancing

to gag his throat, a very startling thought provoking and impressive anticlimax. His third short "Khalij" deals with dream of an elder brother, Anwar who educated his younger brother without thinking of his own personal comforts and well-being. The Younger brother after graduation gets success in the competitive examination and is appointed Income Tax Officer. When Anwar wanted to go about with some of his friends in his younger brother's car, Anwar was stopped tauntingly and sternly "Listen this is not your Sahib's Govt. car" And Answer's dream shattered. Quadri has given a very symbolic ending, when their mother says "Oh, how has this mirror on the dressing

table broken...?" Similarly izzatdar, Tashwish, Daldal, Inqualab, Old People Home are fine specimens of fusion of matter and expression. In the story "Izzatdar" Quadri has exposed the hypocrisy of the society where honour has become slave to power and wealth by any means. Akhter's son Arshad was a problem child and Akhter had to face a lot of humiliations by his neighbours. When Arshad in course of time, grew up to be a first ranking goon, everyone was afraid of him and all paid respect to him and his father. In the story "Khamosh Saya" Quadri has exposed the exponents of art and literature social service who forget the patron who had watered them to flourish and make name and fame. His devotion and sacrifices and but the tales of the past.

The last story of his anthology "Old people home" is the tragic sage of an old father Tafazul Hussain. Being fed up with the treatment of his younger son, Shamshad, Tafazul turned to his elder son, Sarwar, a doctor settled in England. After much pursuance, Sarwar sent him money and visa to fly over to England. But after few days Tafazul was treated as intruder and he was sent to an old people Home and was soon forgotten by his son. After this Tafazul returned to India but once again the ill-treating of his younger son and daughter-in-law and illness found him in Govt. hospital. He began making enquiries from the hospital employees it there was any old people's Home? This was but taken as his instantly and here the old People's Home was the grave yard.

Both of his anthologies were awarded by Urdu Academies. Besides he had own the "Man of the year award 98" of American Biographical Institute, U.S.A. Khawja Ahmed Abbas award 1998, K.K. Birla foundation fellowship award in 1995 for his contribution to journalism.

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