Manto's Prayer

Dear God master of the universe,compassionate and merciful,we who are steeped in sin kneel in supplication before your throne and beseech you to recall from this world Saadat Hasan Manto,son of Ghulam Hasan Manto,who was a man of great piety.

Take him away ,Lord ,for he runs away from fragrance and chases after filth .He hates bright Sun,preferring dark labyrinths .He has nothing but contempt for modesty but is fascinated by the naked and the shameless.

He hates sweetness ,but will give his life to taste bitter fruit.He will not so much as look at housewives but is in seventh heaven in company of whores.He will not go near running waters ,but loves to wade through dirt.

Where others weep ,he laughs ,and where others laugh,he weeps .Faces blackened by evil ,he loves to wash with tender care to make visible their real features .He never thinks about You but follows Satan everywhere ,the same fallen angel who once disobeyed You.

Bitter Fruit : The very best of Saadat Hasan Manto,edited and translated by Khalid Hasan,Penguin Books,2008.

(Courtesy: Mr. Gul Mohammad Umrani's FB Wall)