What We Are Reading Today: ‘A Leaf Unturned': Short story collection explores questions of identity, social constraint
'A Leaf Unturned' is the English translation of a collection of short stories originally written in Urdu by Shamim Saifi, one of India's leading short story writers.
The stories were originally published by Bihar Urdu Academy under the title 'Ek Warq,' and have been translated by Syed Sarwar Hussain, a professor of English at Riyadh's King Saud University who has translated several books of renowned Indian and Pakistani writers.
Saifi, who died in 1994 while serving as a High Court judge, demonstrates a deep understanding of the human psyche, particularly in relation to themes of identity, and the struggles of individuals living on the margins of society.
The collection contains 12 short stories, each with a different flavor of writing, but all rich in symbolism and often with a stream-of-consciousness pattern that allows readers to follow each character's inner thought process.
The stories offer a distinctive kaleidoscope of Joycean surrealism, Kafkaesque existentialism, and Faulknerian symbolism.
Sarwar Hussain writes in his introduction: 'Shamim Saifi's work is marked by its ability to evoke strong emotional responses and its keen insight into the complex intersections between personal desire, societal expectations, and existential crises.
'Saifi is an accomplished writer with a deep understanding of the human condition, particularly when it comes to themes of desire, identity, and societal constraint. His writing is rich in symbolism and emotional resonance, making him a writer whose work invites introspection and reflection.'
The book is available on Amazon.in and Kindle.
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Author: Shamim Saifi 'A Leaf Unturned' is the English translation of a collection of short stories originally written in Urdu by Shamim Saifi, one of India's leading short story writers. The stories were originally published by Bihar Urdu Academy under the title 'Ek Warq,' and have been translated by Syed Sarwar Hussain, a professor of English at Riyadh's King Saud University who has translated several books of renowned Indian and Pakistani writers. Saifi, who died in 1994 while serving as a High Court judge, demonstrates a deep understanding of the human psyche, particularly in relation to themes of identity, and the struggles of individuals living on the margins of society. The collection contains 12 short stories, each with a different flavor of writing, but all rich in symbolism and often with a stream-of-consciousness pattern that allows readers to follow each character's inner thought process. The stories offer a distinctive kaleidoscope of Joycean surrealism, Kafkaesque existentialism, and Faulknerian symbolism. Sarwar Hussain writes in his introduction: 'Shamim Saifi's work is marked by its ability to evoke strong emotional responses and its keen insight into the complex intersections between personal desire, societal expectations, and existential crises. 'Saifi is an accomplished writer with a deep understanding of the human condition, particularly when it comes to themes of desire, identity, and societal constraint. His writing is rich in symbolism and emotional resonance, making him a writer whose work invites introspection and reflection.' The book is available on and Kindle.
