'Kahanian Des Des Ki'

Kahanian Des Des Ki (Stories from various countries) is basically a translation from Chinese, Russian, Hindi, Marathi, Urya, Gujarati, Sindhi and Punjabi and Sindhi short stories. One original drama in Urdu has been included. Some stories such as Chinese and Russian stones have been translated from English translation of those stories. Other short stories from the sub-continent have been translated from their original texts.
These translation were published in various Urdu literary journals, as mentioned by Jamal Naqvi in the preface.
Syed Ali Hasnain, who is known in the literary circles by his pen name Jamal Naqvi, is perhaps the most active writer, poet, critique as is evident from the list of publications which include poetry collections, essays an science, and engineering and writings on other subjects. His first book, a collection of poetry, was published in the year 1987. By the year 2006 the number of publications has grown to 11 and other three are the in the pipeline.
The book under discussion contains 10 short stories (translations) and an original drama. It would not be proper to discuss the literary value of these stories as only the translations are not sufficient to pass any value judgement. The selection of these stories is personal choice of the translator. A translation rendered from a translation sometimes takes away the beauty of expression, the intensity of the sentiments and fine qualities of texture and colours of the original.
Jamal Naqvi, was horn and brought up in Lucknow so the command over Urdu language comes to him naturally. Being a poet gives him additional convenience in expressing intricate sentiment. These qualities are manifested in the lucid narration. These days short story, at least in Urdu, is going through a bad patch.
It is gradually returning to meaningful narration from abstract, rather absurd exercises. The stories in Kahanian Des Des Ki may help in the development of short story writing.