Ali Baba (1940 – 8 August, 2014)

Ali Muhammad Rind, well-known as Ali Baba was one of the doyens of Sindhi fiction after partition. Interestingly, he was also one of the first full-time writers, and mostly he did not give stories without claiming royalty. He was born in Kotri, a twin town of Hyderabad, but in a different District, probably on 7th July 1940. He was schooled there up to the Matriculation. Then he did not pursue further formal education. At a very early age, he developed a passion for writing fiction.

Writing Career

About his writing career, he himself tells us in the preface of the novel Mohen jo Daro, published by New Fields Publications, Hyderabad in 1985, in the following words:

“I could recall that I commenced to write this novel (Mohen jo Daro) when I was around eleven or twelve years old…Whenever any shape, character, or place appeared on the canvas of my mind, I would recreate it onto the paper. I considered this whole exercise more important than the school work. Especially, I used to visit Hyderabad only to purchase high-quality notebooks and fountain pens such as Sheaffer and Parker. But these notebooks got filled very soon and then I would have to buy other stock. When I would not be satisfied with my writing, I would tear these notebooks. This process ran for five years. At that time, I was enrolled in SM High School, Kotri, which was an excellent school. In those days, the Municipal Library at Kotri was also a cherished place for book lovers. Whatever material I got about Mohen jo Daro, I used to study it diligently. In charge of that Library was my maternal uncle Abdullah D Baloch, who was also Head Master of SM High School. As such, I had full access to all cupboards and no one questioned me about how many books I was taking home for study. I used to return all the books after reading them…At that time there were three persons, whom I talked to about my inner feelings. One was my disabled uncle Chhutto Khan, who brought me up like his son. I used to take him as my real father up until 12 years old, and he always appreciated my writings. He knew Sindhi and Gurmukhi. He encouraged me by saying that I was doing the world’s best work. Second, was Abdul Karim Baloch (1938-2008) (who later became a renowned actor, broadcaster, and PTV producer) and third was my mother…My mother taught me not only verses of Shah Latif but also chapters of the Quran.

“During the lifetimes of my uncle, I completed this novel twice but felt unconvinced. Therefore, I tore both of these manuscripts. Meanwhile, I wrote a few short stories: 1) Pinjrey Jaa Pakhhee (Birds of Cage, 2) Dhuban (Swamp {which I now dislike}) and 3) Na T Saan Halan Seer me (Otherwise they may accompany us to the stream), but I would make changes in them on and off. The School teachers became angry with me because, except Dragon Book of Verse, Tales from Shakespeare, Shah Bhitai, History, and Geography subjects, I was unaware of other subjects and books. Moreover, I used to spend a large portion of my time thinking about my novel…

“Then my father like uncle died. At that time, I used to spend a lot of amount on the purchase of high-quality notebooks and fountain pens. Now I began to write on simple papers. Once upon, Syed Khadim Hussain Shah, a friend of Abdul Karim Baloch, who later became my friend also, took my story “Birds of Cage” from him and gave it to Shamsherul Hyderi, who published it in Sindhi quarterly Mehran. To publish my second story in Mehran, I went personally to Hyderabad, as in those days, the office of the Mehran was situated at Tilak Incline. When I peeped inside the office room, I saw there sitting Molana Ghulam Muhammad Giramee (30 December, 1920 – 15 September, 1976), Mohammad Usman Deeplai (13 June 1908 – 8 February 1981) and Abdullah Khawab, all bespectacled and sherwani-clad. I could not muster the courage to go inside, so I returned back without handing over my story to anybody.

“After three or four months, I met Shamsherul Hyderi (10 September 1931 – 10 August 2012), whose hospitality and adorable treatment made me his friend. After reading three chapters of my novel, he appreciated me and said that in the manner you have started the novel, if you continued this flow up to the end, then, this novel will be counted as best of this century. In those days, Tariq Ashraf (July 5, 1940 - April 14, 1992), after taking first and then second steps, had launched Sohni monthly magazine. For the third issue of Sohni, I gave him my story entitled Zindagi (life), but Tariq changed its title to Mujasimoo (Statue) and also due to a major mistake of proof, my story lost its charm. However, at that time, Hameed Sindhi also used to publish a magazine, Rooh Rehan. Then I started writing for Rooh Rehan, which published my short stories prominently. It also serialized my novel Mohen jo Daro. However, after the publication of only eight chapters, the magazine was banned. During the same period, I developed permanent literary friendships with Shokat Hussain Shoro (4 July 1947 -  November 9, 2021), Abdul Haq Almani (1st Jan, 1941 – 24 April, 1975), Abdul Qadir Junejo (13 September 1945 – 30 March 2020), Dr. Arbab Ali Khahawar (April 12, 1947 – 14 March, 2016), Imdad Hussaini (10 March 1940 – 27 August 2022), Rasool Bux Palijo (21 February 1930 – 7 June 2018). Simultaneously, Shamsher was now appointed as Editor of the Sindhi periodical Naeen Zindgi. Now once again my novel started to be serialized in that monthly. But, alas, our own Sindhi scholars and molvis became jealous and angry so they complained to relevant Department that “is Naeen Zindgi personal property of Ali Baba and Shamsher?” This made me disgusted, therefore, I discontinued my contribution to Naeen Zindagi.

“Also at the same time, I had started writing Dramas and song stories for the Radio Pakistan, Hyderabad Station. When the Pakistan TV centre was being established in Karachi, I was forcefully thrown into its mirage. I tried my utmost to dissuade Abdul Karim and Shamsher not to drag me into TV dramas, because I wanted to complete my novel, but they rejected my arguments and further, there seemed to be no publisher interested in publishing my novel. Also unfortunately, my chest housing the manuscript of that novel was stolen. Now after thirty-six years, after making a good number of changes, I have given the first volume of my novel to New Fields Publishers for its publication. I would try to complete it within three to four months and present it to my readers. Moreover, I wanted to write it with a particular style and verve, but due to incompatible conditions, I could not do that, so I am unsatisfied.”

Ali Baba could not complete this novel. He wrote another novel Sindhbaad jo Safar for children. Besides he wrote a good number of short stories.

Literary Works

His first story collection entitled Dharti Dhikaana (Wretched of Earth) comprising 18 short stories, was published in 1983. His second collection Ayal rhe olana (Lullaby of Mother) containing 20 short stories was published in 1984. In the next year, the First Volume of his novel Mohen jo Daro was published in 1985. He wrote a novel for kids entitled Sindhbaad jo Safar, which was published in 1993 by Roshni Publications.

In 1994 an anthology entitled Munhjiyoon Kahaniyoon (My stories) was published by Roshni Publication, Kandiaro/Hyderabad, which not only contained stories of the previous two collections referred to above but also 21 more short stories. 

In 2017 his other story collection Janam Bhoomi Shamshaan Bhoomi (Birthplace, Burial place) was published by Roshni Publications, which was compiled by Dr. Ishaq Samejo and it contained his new 32 short stories and one song story. This anthology has also an index of his hitherto published short stories. According to that index, his first short story Punjri ja Pakhhi (The Birds of the Cage) was published in the quarterly Mehranin 1960. His story Dhuban (Swamp), was published in 2017 posthumously.

How he evaluated himself as a Short Story writer

It would be worthwhile to share his views about his role as a short story writer made in the preface of the anthology entitled Munhjiyoon Kahaniyoon (My stories) (1994) with worthy readers:

 “Am I a good story writer? Am I a naked story writer? Do I humiliate women in my stories? Have I been fortunate enough to write some immortal stories on my own without any effort? Or would my stories be forgotten with time because they don’t have any immortality?

“These and such types of other questions always roam in my mind. I have never seriously considered myself a story writer, nor, I am desirous to affix myself with the label of a great story writer. Sometimes in the fogginess of the story, I feel that I am a natural story writer. I indulge in experiments only to make my stories most beautiful. My struggle to generate innovations in my short stories is not borrowed or stale. Sometimes the story is written, sometimes it is merely written and sometimes I shred the papers and throw them away.

“Sometimes, I feel that I don’t want to write any story, but somehow a story is written. Every time being bitten by my stories, either I play with a story or the story plays with me. There is no barrier between us. Romance between stories and me carries on without any involvement of business etc. Despite getting heavily disgusted with stories, I still love stories…”

Ali has written around 200 short stories and 50 radio and TV dramas. He also wrote song stories for Radio.

His renowned TV play Dungi Munj Darya (A Boat on the River) was awarded a third position in the International Drama Festival in Munich, Germany in 1981. It was telecast on PTV Karachi in 1976.

Personal Hardships and Miseries

According to an eminent writer and journalist Hasan Mansoor (1966-2020), “His choice to rely on his creative prowess to earn livelihood brought miseries to him and his family — a wife, two daughters and two sons — who remained impoverished for all their life... And, despite all this, said friends, he had a piece of land in Kotri, which he donated for establishing a girl's school. He literally fought for the school as he wanted every girl to get an education.”

Prominent writer and activist Taj Joyo told Hasan Mansoor that “Two of his children have neurological problems, which too kept him disturbed as he had no money to treat them regularly.”

Books about him

Recently a book about his personality and art in Urdu entitled Ali Baba Shakhsiyat aur Fan written by Madad Ali Sindhi was published by the Pakistan Academy of Letters, Islamabad under the series of Pakistani Adab Ke Memaar and during the launching ceremony of this book, Madad Ali Sindhi, who was at that caretaker Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training, said that he had written about the personality of Ali Baba in great detail in this book. Despite being a great writer, Ali Baba was oblivious to his greatness … Ali Baba’s writings reveal the depth of human existence and self. He contributed wonderful works like the novel Moenjo Daro and the drama Dungi Manj Darya.”

 

How contemporary writers assess him

According to Shokat Hussain Shoro, a well-known story writer, “In Sindhi short story, style of Ali Baba is so different that I call him as Ali Baba Diction. Ali is a giant short story writer, dramatist, and novelist of this age, but he is still the same restless soul, as he was in years ago you met him.”

Madad Ali Sindhi, the celebrated writer, and journalist opines that “It is the bitter reality that Ali Baba is not given due honour, which he deserves on account of being a big story writer, novelist and play writer.”

Abdul Qadir Junejo, famous dramatist and writer considers him as writer of images. “Depth of Ali Baba was his world of imagination, and this world is not beholden to any ism or dogma.”

Taj Joyo, renowned writer and activist, thinks that “Ali Baba was a storyteller who knew soul of Sindh better than any other fiction writer.”

Eminent short story writer and Jounralist Hasan Mansoor in his obituary published in Dawn has written that “Ali Baba was regarded as a prolific and one of a few ‘original’ writers of Sindhi language who wrote in almost all forms of fiction, got fame but remained impecunious for most of his life. His fiction featured Sindh’s history, marginalised communities and socio-economic conditions. His short story, ‘Dharti Dhikana’ (Uprooted people) highlighted miseries of the 1947 Partition, while ‘Karoonjhar jo qaidi’ (Prisoner of Karoonjhar) focused on Sindhi freedom-fighter Rooplo Kolhi, who fought against the British in Karoonjhar mountains of Thar.”

Noted Short story Jan Khaskheli (23 April, 1956 – 20 March, 2022), himself a celebrated poet, short story writer and journalist was of the opinion that “He was among a few Sindhi writers who had never been accused of plagiarism. And, he had original stories to tell us whenever you demand for one.”

Death

On the morning of 8th August, 2016, while watching TV in his Karachi home, Ali Baba suffered a severe heart attack. He was rushed to the hospital, but could not survive. He was laid in his ancestral graveyard in Kotri.

Published at https://sindhcourier.com/ali-baba-one-of-the-doyens-of-sindhi-fiction/