Characters In My Stories Are Real Life Characters, I Try To Write What I see: Khusboo Baloch

 

(Cover Page of Khusboo's Book)

Khusboo Baloch is an aspiring Sindhi short-story writer; she hails from Johi, District Dadu of Sindh province. She completed her intermediate from Dadu and got admission in university for higher education, she happens to be the first female from her area to get higher education.

 

Recently collection of her short stories “Samaj Ain Sachai” has been published by Chandoki Publication, in 2022. Her stories reflect the evil norms prevailing in society, most of her stories roam around oppressed women of rural Sindh, and she has tried to portray suffering of women and girls in a male dominated society.

 

 There are 30 short stories in her first book, written with simplicity of language, she is inspired from realist literary movement and her stories and characters are reflection of society. Since 2008, she is teaching as a lecturer in a girls’ college at Hyderabad, Sindh. In this interview with WiseSindh, she has shared her ideas regarding fiction, society and variety of topics.

  

Q: Your views on Literature?

 

KB: Literature is word having a deep meaning, even if we look at its literal meaning this word literature that started from Arab lands, was defined by Europeans as being polite or enlightened writings, to enhance knowledge and also to entertain the audience. In other words literature is a piece of writing that enriches aesthetics, focuses on different colours of life and represents emotions.

 

 The main purpose of literature is to provide aesthetic pleasure; literature is also the lifeline of a language and culture for a nation. I believe that literature is also mirror of a society reflecting the good and evil in the society, and quality literature helps in formation of a society. Literature is a living evidence of civilizations and history.    

 

Q: Your Ideas on Sindhi short story being written today?

 

KB: Nowadays, Sindhi short story is being written in large quantity as compared to past, and it has got more readership than it was in past.

 

 Number of books of short stories are being published with short intervals, while Sindhi writers have introduced variety of topics and styles in their stories, and it seems that Sindhi short story has a bright future.

 

     (File Photo of Khusboo Baloch)

Q: Role of women in Sindhi society?

 

KB: Women play an important role not only in our society but in any society, as we live in a patriarch society, there is no doubt that women face many hardships including domestic violence, abuse, unfair distribution of means, unequal education and employment opportunities, and such other issues.

 

 But I think that now things have started to change women have started to raise their voice for their rights and they are showing up in every field. I believe that women should be given more and more education opportunities. Can you believe that even this advanced age I was the first female from my area, who got higher education, but now things have started to change. All women need is little encouragement and ample opportunities with proper guidance.  

 

Q: Share your opinion woman choosing writing career?

 

KB: I believe that Sindhi women as compared to past have taken writing career more seriously; there is a huge number of female Sindhi writers, who are contributing a lot as far as literature is concerned. Again all they need is proper guidance and ample opportunities.

 

      (File Photo)

Q: How and what motivated you to write stories?

 

KB: I don’t remember exactly when I was motivated to write stories, but when I was doing my gradation I came became familiar with the hostel life, in those days literature was only mean to kill time, while reading whatever came to my mind I used to note it down. Later on I read stories of Madam Noor-ul-Huda Shah, her writing inspired me a lot, and started to write stories.

 

 I think the reason behind me writing stories is the injustice prevailing in our society, I cannot tolerate injustice, most of my characters are real people who have suffered injustice, abuse and oppression in the society.

 

Q: Tell us something about your stories?

 

KB: Mostly my stories revolve around social issues; I prefer to write on domestic issues especially domestic violence against women, I believe it is the root of all evils prevailing in our society. I also like to write on issues of national interest of Sindh. As I have mentioned most of my characters are based on real people, I love to write what I see and feel.

 

Q: Tell us about your future project?

 

KB: I am working on my new book; it is collection of short stories and prosaic poems written on the devastation of recent rain flood in Sindh. It is titled “Lohri Wayal Umeedon”, I went through enduring pain during this recent rain flood in Sindh, as my village in Johi was devastated, my family suffered a lot during these past months and I have tried to pen down that pain and suffering.