hi everyone,
i need you people to give me names of books that, as u noe already from the title of this thread, are based on pakistan, specifically its culture. books on celebrites, myths about pakistan, how pakistanis from different areas live etc. would be the perfect topics.
Thanks in advance 
Re: Novels on Pakistani culture and Pakistan Overall
Read ' Raja Gidh' by Bano Qudsia. It will tell you life style of the people from both the rural and urban Punjab. From Gublerg's berger families to Bhati gate's middle class. The main character of the novel lives in Sanda Kala Lahore and basically belongs to a small village in Sahiwal (probably). Bano Aapa's style of story telling and strong characterization will definitely meet your requirements.
PS: Its also available online.
Re: Novels on Pakistani culture and Pakistan Overall
Another one is Mustansar Hussain Tarar's : Des Huway Pardes (story of three young men from rural Punjab in search of their destiny (living) in urban Punjab.
It was also dramatised as 'Suraj ke sath sath'.
Others novel by Tarar Sahb which tell you about Pakistan and Pakistanis are : Raakh, Qila Jangi (post 9/11 impacts on Pakistani society), and the latest one 'Khas o Khashak Zamane' which is the story of generations from independence todate.
Re: Novels on Pakistani culture and Pakistan Overall
Raja Gidh is a great novel but I doubt if it actually could help the OP in what she is looking for. A better book would be Shahabnama
Re: Novels on Pakistani culture and Pakistan Overall
Raja Gidh is a great novel but I doubt if it actually could help the OP in what she is looking for. A better book would be Shahabnama
Yes Shahb Nama tells us about history, bureaucracy, etc of Pakistan in detail but its a debatable thing whether it can be called a novel. Many ppl consider it as novel though and a work of fiction, considering the chapters related to ghost of Bimla Kumari and magicians of Isreal and reasons behind death of Mrs Iffat Shahab. The last chapter of the book is quite controversial for some readers and some takes it as the hilight of the book. I think OP may also find 'Alakh Nagri' by Mumtaz Mufti quite interesting.
As far as Raja Gidh is concerned it really depicts about the life styles of the people from different classes. Personally, I don't remember any Urdu novel (other than Raja Gidh) which tells us the stories of different women from so many different classes. From ultra mod Seemi of Gulberg to Solat Bhabi of Sanda Kala (wife of a clerk), from teenage girl Roshan from Bhati Chowk (Andron e Lahore) to Qayyom's mother in a small village of Sahiwal, and many other women characters that are very well defined by Bano Aapa alongwith the main theme of distinction between Rizq e Halal and Haram, always tempted me to read this novel again and again.
Re: Novels on Pakistani culture and Pakistan Overall
^ Have you read Ali poor ka Aaili?
Re: Novels on Pakistani culture and Pakistan Overall
Yes I have read that, but its mainly about Mufti Sahb's personal life (mainly before partitian and his prejudice with his father) and I think he admitted that its his autobiography.
Re: Novels on Pakistani culture and Pakistan Overall
yes it was actually his bioagraphy written as a novel.
I also suggest that if we want to see the cultural growth of post partition pakistan, we read Zarguzasht and Aab-e-Gum of Mushtaq Ahmed Yousufi. These are not novels, but they give us a good glimpse of the life of baby Pakistan and newly immigrants
Re: Novels on Pakistani culture and Pakistan Overall
Yes. These are must read. Yusufi Sahb's style is amazing. Khaakam e ba Dahan is also a must read from Yusufi Sahb.
Another important novel on Pakistani society is Qurat ul Ain Haider's Aag Ka Darya. Its been translated in English by writer herself, but I heard that she made drastic changes in the English version from the original Urdu version.
Re: Novels on Pakistani culture and Pakistan Overall
How about Khadija Mastoor's 'Zameen'. While her novel ' Aangan' deals with the independence moment and its effects (both positive and negative) on Muslim families uptil partition, Zameen covers the issues faced by the people during migration and in the process of settlement.
Qudratullah Shahab's novelette ' Ya Khuda' is also a must read to know what migrants has to face just after partition.
Re: Novels on Pakistani culture and Pakistan Overall
Read ' Raja Gidh' by Bano Qudsia. It will tell you life style of the people from both the rural and urban Punjab. From Gublerg's berger families to Bhati gate's middle class. The main character of the novel lives in Sanda Kala Lahore and basically belongs to a small village in Sahiwal (probably). Bano Aapa's style of story telling and strong characterization will definitely meet your requirements.
PS: Its also available online.
this one sounds interesting, i will try to read it :)
Another one is Mustansar Hussain Tarar's : Des Huway Pardes (story of three young men from rural Punjab in search of their destiny (living) in urban Punjab.
It was also dramatised as 'Suraj ke sath sath'.
Others novel by Tarar Sahb which tell you about Pakistan and Pakistanis are : Raakh, Qila Jangi (post 9/11 impacts on Pakistani society), and the latest one 'Khas o Khashak Zamane' which is the story of generations from independence todate.
yes it was actually his bioagraphy written as a novel.
I also suggest that if we want to see the cultural growth of post partition pakistan, we read Zarguzasht and Aab-e-Gum of Mushtaq Ahmed Yousufi. These are not novels, but they give us a good glimpse of the life of baby Pakistan and newly immigrants
Yes. These are must read. Yusufi Sahb's style is amazing. Khaakam e ba Dahan is also a must read from Yusufi Sahb.
Another important novel on Pakistani society is Qurat ul Ain Haider's Aag Ka Darya. Its been translated in English by writer herself, but I heard that she made drastic changes in the English version from the original Urdu version.
How about Khadija Mastoor's 'Zameen'. While her novel ' Aangan' deals with the independence moment and its effects (both positive and negative) on Muslim families uptil partition, Zameen covers the issues faced by the people during migration and in the process of settlement.
Qudratullah Shahab's novelette ' Ya Khuda' is also a must read to know what migrants has to face just after partition.
all of u members' suggestions seem great. however, i forgot to mention one thing. I live in canada, so trying to find places where they sell pakistani novels/books will be quite hard. (in addition to the fact that i don't go out much)
so the most useful suggestions would be of books that i can find online, like muqawwee suggested, Raja Gidh. So...ya. However, I will try to see if i can find the books mentioned here :)
Re: Novels on Pakistani culture and Pakistan Overall
this one sounds interesting, i will try to read it :)
all of u members' suggestions seem great. however, i forgot to mention one thing. I live in canada, so trying to find places where they sell pakistani novels/books will be quite hard. (in addition to the fact that i don't go out much) so the most useful suggestions would be of books that i can find online, like muqawwee suggested, Raja Gidh. So...ya. However, I will try to see if i can find the books mentioned here :)
Most the books mentioned above are available online. I'll post links here shortly.
Re: Novels on Pakistani culture and Pakistan Overall
@baby_princess33](http://www.paklinks.com/gs/members/baby_princess33.html)
Here is link for ‘Raja Gidh’ & other Books of Bano Qudsia.
The other novel ‘Hasil e Ghaat’ by Bano Aapa is also must raed, which covers the problems of Pakistani immigrants to western countries and revolves around the comparison of Tarraqi & Falah.
Mard e Abresham (Bano Aapa’s book on Qudrat ullah Shahab) becomes meaningful when you’ve gone through Mumtaz Mufti’s Alakh Nagri and Qudratullah Shahab’s ‘ShahabNama’.
Re: Novels on Pakistani culture and Pakistan Overall
@baby_princess33](http://www.paklinks.com/gs/members/baby_princess33.html)
**Link for QA Shahab’s books (including ShahabNama & Ya Khuda)
**
Link for Mumtaz Mufti’s books (including Alakh Nagri & Alipur ka Aili)
**
**
Link for Mushtaq Ahmed Yusufi’s books
Re: Novels on Pakistani culture and Pakistan Overall
The best fiction work that I have read by a pakistani is The reluctant fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid, It is gem of books:k:
Re: Novels on Pakistani culture and Pakistan Overall
I have hard copies of many of these books that I purchased through online stores. I also live in USA and dont have access to real urdu book stores
Re: Novels on Pakistani culture and Pakistan Overall
How about " Dastak Na Duo" by Altaf Fatima, I loved it!!!
Re: Novels on Pakistani culture and Pakistan Overall
How about " Dastak Na Duo" by Altaf Fatima, I loved it!!!
I read it. Its good, but I found it heavily inspired from Tagore's Kabli wala.
Re: Novels on Pakistani culture and Pakistan Overall
A Journey Through Pakistan by M. Amin.