24/07/2025
"Rang" Journal Issue No. 2
An Important Contribution to Modern Urdu Literature
Review by : Hammad Niazi
"Rang," the second issue of the literary series, is a significant contribution to the present scenario of Urdu literature. With its diversity, range, and depth, the issue instantly engages the reader. It presents not only creative writing but also intellectual and critical writing, proving the editorial vision and the literary seriousness of its editor, Mushtaq Ahmed.
The first section of the issue features twenty poems by Rafaqat Razi. Among them, poems such as “Sawal” (Question), “Mere Haji Murad”, and “Koi Aur Tohmat Dharo” (Accuse Me of Another Crime) are particularly noteworthy for their symbolic depth, inner anguish, and layered meanings. These poems highlight a dimension of Razi’s style that represents contemporary sensibility and simultaneously opens new possibilities for the Urdu poem as a genre.
A lovingly compiled subset of twenty ghazals by Shahid Bilal also belongs to this issue. The unique tone, inner struggles, and nuanced observations of life of Bilal stand out as a unified artistic entity, adding depth and diversity to the journal.
The fiction part comprises four short stories by Khalid Mehmood Sanjrani, and "Na Kar" and "Disposable Sheher" (Disposable City) make a very strong impact on the reader. These stories, in their language, atmosphere, and narrative strategy, portend new trends in Urdu short fiction. Disposable City, particularly, provides a fresh approach to narrative and captures the intricacies of contemporary social realities.
The translation part is also enriched with worthwhile content. Juan Rulfo's short story translated by Zaheer Abbas, holds the reader in its grip with its eerie atmosphere and narrative grip. Three short stories by him translated by Saeed Naqvi are placed alongside it and both for their subject matter as well as for the standards of translation. The translation of letters by Forough Farrokhzad,(Shoaib Ahmad) and a passage from "Dil-e-Madfoon" (Gravel heart) by Abdul Razzaq Gurnah, translated by Zia Turk ,demonstrates the literary ability of the translator. The novella "Aye Ladki" (Oh Girl) of Krishna Sobti, translated from Hindi to Urdu by Muhammad Abbas, adds more value to the section. Abbas has already been awarded for his excellent Hindi-to-Urdu translations in the last few years.
The most notable and engaging part of the issue is surely the special section on Milan Kundera, which can truly be said to be the soul of the journal. The section is comprised of reflective essays by veteran critics like Dr. Zia-ul-Hasan, Dr. Nasir Abbas Nayyar, Sarwar-ul-Huda, Syed Kashif Raza, Iqbal Khurshid, and M. Khalid Fayyaz. These essays not only give profound insights into Kundera's writing and personality but also contribute to establishing a critical link between Urdu readers and world literature.
Edited by Mushtaq Ahmed, this issue testifies to his intellectual and literary brilliance. As an editor, he offers a well-rounded, multifaceted, and balanced collection of papers. His editorial skill adds intellectual and artistic weight to the journal. In addition to the powerful content selection, the print quality too is good, ensuring a comfortable reading experience overall.
With its first two numbers, Rang has already made a decent space among the modern Urdu literary magazines. Sustaining its intellectual diversity, the judicious choice of serious writers, the quality of contributions, and the considered presentation mark the start of a process that can well make Rang an important document in Urdu literary debate.
Sang-e-Meel Publishers, Lahore, has been publishing this journal.
Mushtaq Ahmad
