ISLAMABAD - Author Taimoor Shahid launched his book ‘Madness of Waiting,’ a co-translation in English of Junoon-e-Intezaar, at the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP).
This is Shahid’s second translation and his previous work ‘The Dangerous Man’ based on two early 20th century detective novels by Ibn-e-Safi was published by Random House.
Published by Zubaan Books in India, the co-translation has largely received positive reviews from critics and audiences alike. The book is a semi-fictional tale of author Hadi Ruswa who penned the renowned Urdu literary classic ‘Umrao Jan Ada’ in 1899. While Umrao Jan Ada is a purported fictionalised account of a Lucknow courtesan and poetess of the same name, Madness of Waiting is told from the point-of-view of Umrao Jan who serves as both narrator and literary device in this novella. The story combines letters and poetry to draw readers into Mirza Ruswa’s passion-fuelled and tragic life story in undivided India.
Speaking at the event, USEFP Executive Director Rita Akhtar underscored the importance of supporting students wishing to raise awareness and understanding of the Urdu language and literature within Pakistan’s educational institutions.  “Taimoor’s success as an academic and translator exemplifies the need to raise the profile of Pakistan’s national language and the need for greater academic discourse on the literary history of South Asia. His focus on the philosophy and history and literature of South Asia makes him the only recent Fulbright candidate to have studied the Urdu language as part of a degree programme at a US university.”
Taimoor Shahid was among the approximately 160 students USEFP sends annually on a fully-funded Fulbright scholarship. He received his masters degree from Columbia University and joins an elite group of students to study languages and literature under the auspices of the programme.
The translation has been referred to as Umrao Jan’s “revenge” on her “creator” Hadi Ruswa for exposing the intimate details of her life to the public. Madness of Waiting therefore demonstrates a clever literary narrative device in which a character (Umrao Jan) assumes the role of author, while the narrative focus of the novella shifts to the author himself (Hadi Rusa) classifying the novella as a bonafide sequel to Umrao Jaan Ada. This role reversal is ultimately an attempt by Ruswa to further mystify and obscure what audiences might construe as fact and fiction in the Umrao Jan Ada saga.
Shahid collaborates with author Krupa Shandilya to bring Madness of Waiting to life for audiences. He also pens the introduction to the book which provides context on the Urdu literary culture of the time and serves as an academic balance to the accompanying prose.
Meanwhile, the USEFP hosted a pre-departure orientation for 80 students who will be travelling this fall to realise their dreams of a higher education in the US.
The event was a networking platform aimed to prepare the students for a potentially life-changing experience. Education USA Advising Manager Umair Khan offered some invaluable tips to the students. He explained that professor-student relations were less formal in the United States than in Pakistani universities. “Despite the casual atmosphere, you will be required to do class readings ahead of time, attend classes on regular basis and submit assignments on time. A majority of teachers in the American classrooms are big on class participation that may be counted towards final grades,” said Khan.
The departing students were given a presentation to prepare them for their new life in the US - both inside and outside the classroom.