EP 12: Bhatkan by Noor Zaheer

‘Bhatkan’, Noor Zaheer’s compelling new story, takes us to Sweden, where we meet Azar, an innocent-looking young Afghan man, and his warm, affectionate foster mother, Ingrid.  Filled with unexpected twists and turns, this gripping tale will hold your attention right until the very end. The Cineink podcast series Britain: Hindi Kahani is presented by renowned Hindi broadcaster Achala Sharma. Based in London, Noor Zaheer is a highly acclaimed short story writer, novelist, playwright and translator who writes with equal mastery in Hindi, English and Urdu.  In this episode, Noor Zaheer reads her latest Hindi short story, ‘Bhatkan’. A widely published and award-winning author, her major works include the memoir Mere Hisse Ki Roshnai(winner of the Delhi Hindi Akademi Kritii Samman), the short story collections Ret Par Khoon and Khamosh Pahad, Sulagte Jungle, the novels Barh Uriyye, My God is a Woman and An Indian Fantasy, as well as the powerful non-fiction book Denied by Allah, which examines the Muslim community’s struggle with triple talaq, halala, mutah and khula.Her other notable titles include the travelogues Surkh Karwan Ke Hamsafar and At Home in Enemy Land, the research work The Dancing Lama on Buddhist performing arts, and several plays — including four full-length dramas and twenty-four plays for children. She has also written a biography of Faiz Ahmed Faiz titled Aaj Ke Naam, and has compiled and translated early women’s writing from Urdu into English.  Noor Zaheer’s research explores Buddhist, tribal and oral traditions of the north-western Himalayas. Her recent collection Sayani Diwani brings together her latest short stories in Hindi.  The series is produced by Pervai8z Alam.