Altaf Fatima


Altaf Fatima was a Pakistani Urdu novelist, short story writer, and teacher. Altaf Fatima was born in Lucknow, she moved to Lahore during the Partition, and earned her MA and BEd from the University of Punjab. Her novel Dastak Na Do is regarded as one of the defining works in the Urdu language. An adaptation was presented on Pakistan Television and an abridged translation was serialised by the Karachi monthly, The Herald. In 2018, Fatima received the KLF Urdu Literature award at the 9th Karachi Literature Festival for her book, Deed Wadeed. She died on 29 November 2018.

Career

Dastak Na Do, her second novel, was published in 1965 becoming her most celebrated work. Set against the partition of India, the novel explores themes of identity, culture, and migration through the perspectives of Geeti, the protagonist, with Liu, a Chinese immigrant. A television adaptation of the novel was broadcast by Pakistan Television Corporation in 1986, starring Roohi Bano. The novel was translated into English by Rukhsana Ahmad as The One Who Did Not Ask, and published in 1993.
Following Dastak Na Do, she wrote Chalta Musafir, set against the backdrop of the 1971 Bangladesh independence movement. Some contemporary reviewers noted that the novel presented a particular perspective on the events of 1971, without covering all aspects of the conflict.

Works

Novels

  • Nishaan-i-Mehfil
  • Dastak Naa Do
  • Chalta Musafir
  • ''Khwabgar''

    Collection of short stories

  • Woh Jissay chaha gaya
  • Jab Deewarein Girya Karti Hain
  • Taar-i-Ankaboot
  • Deed Wadeed
  • ''Gawahi Akhir e Shab Ki''

    Translations

  • Naghmay ka Qatal
  • Mere Bachay Meri Daulat
  • Barrey Aadmi, Aur Unke Nazariyat. A collection of political essays
  • Moti. Urdu Translation of The Pearl by John Steinbeck
  • Sach Kahaniyan
  • Zaitoon ke Jhund
  • Japani Afsana Nigar Khawateen
  • Haveli ke Ander.
  • Urdu translation of collection of South American short stories

    Tanqeed

  • ''Urdu Adab Mein Fann e Sawaneh Nigari ka Irtiqa''

    General

  • ''Rozmarra Aadaab''