Urdu Columns & Books | Bashaoor Pakistan » Qudratullah Shahab

What I Say to Myself

Naveed Taj Ghouri — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 14:00:55 +0000

By: Javed Chaudhry

Whenever I get worried or whenever another person makes me worry, I remember the lines of a famous sufi writer (and a former bureaucrat). And when I do that, I manage to smile and move on. The writer said that whenever an individual is worried, whenever he feels perturbed or helpless, he should say to himself a particular English phrase — and if he does that, it will help. And that English phrase is ‘let it go’.

At first, I was quite sceptical about this whole exercise — how could simply saying a phrase alter how I was feeling at a particular point in time? However, I tried it and was startled by the results. For instance, if someone was rude to me normally I would flare up and get angry but before exhibiting that sentiment I tried saying ‘let it go’ over and over to myself. And lo and behold — the anger that had surfaced in me soon subsided and I was able to move past it.

Now, whenever someone is rude to me, or puts me down, or makes a fool of me, or takes away my rights, instead of getting angry and seeking revenge all I do is say this phrase repeatedly to myself and it becomes alright. The more I thought about my reaction to the use of this phrase, the more I began to realise that most of my issues and problems have an ‘expiry date’. Now this can vary from problem to problem but if I act patiently, not react in a negative manner and wait out the said period then the problem automatically gets resolved.

As for the writer who came up with this phrase, it is none other than the author of Shahabnama, Qudratullah Shahab. His autobiography created a stir not only in Urdu literature but also in contemporary society so much so that there will hardly be an educated person in Pakistan today who has not heard of him.

When he passed away, he left behind two sufis – Nasim Anwar Beg, I tell him I am his “only son” (at which he laughs out loudly), and Siddiq Rai. Siddiq Rai is a retired bureaucrat who used to live in Islamabad but has now moved to Jhang. His health is not good these days but neither that nor distance have ever affected my bond with him, which is as deep as ever.

Shahab sahib has left a deep imprint on Pakistani society. If we make his Shahabnama our societal Bible and keep his writings and what he said as our guiding principles then we may perhaps be able to live a life of relative contentment and ease.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 29^th, 2010.

http://www.facebook.com/javed.chaudhry

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Let It Go!

Naveed Taj Ghouri — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 04:47:58 +0000

Javed Chaudhry Tributes Qudratullah Shahab!

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Download Shahab Nama by Qudratullah Shahab Free Urdu eBook

Naveed Taj Ghouri — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:17:27 +0000

Update: Part 11 (Chhota Moon Bari Baat – Shahab Nama) has been included!

Shahab Nama is the autobiography of Qudrat Ullah Shahab. It was finished in 1986 just before his death. It was published the same year and soon he became a household name in Pakistan.

Qudrat Ullah Shahab (or Qudratullah Shahab; 1917– July 24 1986) was an eminent Urdu writer and civil servant from Pakistan. Qudrat Ullah Shahab was a well known bureaucrat of Pakistan. He was from Jammu Kashmir and initially got into civil service by passing the Indian civil service exam some years prior to the independence of Pakistan. He served on several high offices including being Ambassador of Pakistan to Netherlands. He got well known to people after his book Shahab Nama got published, which portrays his life experiences.

His early childhood was full of adventures, some of which are mentioned in his book Shahab Nama. The book has become a cult favourite in Pakistan. His personality reflected mysticism, something which he describes as a gift from an out-of-world personality which he named as ‘Ninety’ in his book SHAHAB NAMA, this mysticism belongs to Owaisiah chain of Sufism. Mumtaz Mufti and Ashfaq Ahmed, both well known writers of Pakistan, were close friends of Q.U.Shahab and were deeply inspired by him.

Shahab Nama has sixty chapters and 893 pages (Sang-e-Meel Publications, Lahore, 2005). The first chapter entitled “Iqbal-e-Jurm” (confession) is about the author’s motivation for writing an autobiography. The next seven “Jammu main plague” (Plague in Jammu), “Nanda Bus Service”, “Chamkor Sahib”, “Raj keroo ga khalisa baqi rahey na ko” (No one else but the Khalsa shall reign), “Maharaja Hari Singh kay sath chahay” (Tea with Maharaja Hari Singh), “Chandravati”, and “ICS main dakhla” (Entry to ICS)chronicle his early life up to entry into Indian Civil Service. Chapter nine to fifteen describe author’s experiences during his initial postings to different parts of India and creation of Pakistan in 1947. Four chapters are devoted to Mr. Shahab’s writings and critics’ comments on them. (Chapter 16 to 19). Chapter 20 is on the new state of Kashmir (“Azad Kashmir”) and 21 on assassination of the first Prime Minister of Pakistan, Liaquat Ali Khan (“Sila-e-Shaheed”). Chapter 22 to 34 are devoted to author’s experiences as Deputy Commissioner of Jhang District in Punjab.

After a year in Jhang, Mr. Shahab left for the Netherlands on a scholarship to attend a six-month course at the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague. Two chapters, 35 and 36 are on his impressions of the Netherlands and his decision to proceed to Hajj. Chapter 37 and 38 are a pilgrim’s tale. “Jhoot, fraud aur hirs ki daldal” (The quagmire of lies, fraud and greed), chapter 39, details author’s time at the Ministry of Industries as Director. For the next 200 pages, chapter 40 to 50, Mr. Shahab delves into politics of his time as observed by him as the Principal Secretary to Governor General Malik Ghulam Muhammad, President Iskander Mirza and General Ayub Khan. The last ten chapters of Shahab Nama deal with a variety of topics such as death of his mother (“Maa ji ki wafaat”), life of an Ambassador (“Rozgar-e-safeer”), the future of Pakistan (“Pakistan ka mustaqbil)” and so on. There is a chapter titled “Iffat” dedicated to his late wife. The last chapter is about his mystical experiences.

Download Option 1: Single Book

To Download Urdu eBook Shahab Nama Complete Single Book by Qudratullah Shahab, Click Here

Download Option 2: By Parts

To Download Urdu eBook Shahab Nama by Qudratullah Shahab, in 11 Parts Click Here

Please note that Shahab Nama has been divided in to 11 parts for better downloading at slower or load-shedding affected connections. You will have to download each part individually. If you are unable to download this book, kindly let us know. Also please view the following link for more books!

http://www.ibitians.com/ebooks

If you are unable to download the book or link is not working, please use the comments form below and let us know immediately. Please note that this download link has been provided for the knowledge sharing purpose not for any commercial gain or financial benefits. People are advised to purchase their copies strongly. All rights are reserved to book’s author / publishers.

Comments & Suggestion are Welcome… Thanks!

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Naveed Taj Ghouri — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 17:47:33 +0000

Once again a very beautiful column written by Javed Chaudhry on Mysticism. This time its our Favourte “Shahab Nama” fame Qudratulla Shahab.

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