Tarar talks about life, love and death

‘I believe that one must discourage all those who spread hatred and distress among the creatures of God’

Mustansar Hussain Tarar is a travel writer and bestselling author. His latest novel ‘Khas-o-Khashak Zamane’ has been received well. The literary figure spoke to Bol News in an exclusive interview.

What are you reading these days?

Usually I have dozens of books lying around, but I choose to read books that are readable or if someone has suggested a particular title. Nowadays, I am reading Iceland’s only Nobel Laureate – Halldór Laxness’ ‘Independent People. Virginia Woolf’s ‘The Voyage Out’, and also Mario Vargas Llosa’s ‘The War of the End of the World’. I am also going through Ibn Warraq’s ‘Virgins, What Virgins?’ If I like a particular author, I try to read all of his works. Jose Saramago and Orhan Pamuk are such writers that attract me towards reading. Joining these are Haruki Murakami, whose latest book ‘1Q84’, also keeps me engaged in one of my favourite habits of reading. I am also interested in Amitav Ghosh’s works as he who is known for brilliantly tackling the novel form.

With regards to poetry, Amir Minai’s ‘Kulliyat’ and ‘The Essential Rumi’ translated by Coleman Barks, interests me a lot.

What are you planning to read again?

‘The Pillow Book’ by Sei Shonagon – a book of observations and musings recorded during the 990s and the early 11th century in Heian, Japan. I also want to read Frazer’s ‘The Golden Bough’.

What is the one book/author you feel everyone must read and why?

I would recommend Fariduddin Attar’s ‘Mantiqu’t-Tayr’, which I read in translation titled ‘The Conference of the Birds’. This has had a great impact on my creativity, and has influenced many of my works particularly my novel Khas-o-Khashak Zamane.

What is the one book you started reading but could not finish?

All the books I buy, I make it a point to read them as I have spent hard-earned money on them. However, I could not finish James Joyce’s ‘Ulysses’. It is pertinent to mention here that the Time magazine declared it the novel of the century.

What is your favourite childhood book or story?

During my childhood, I used to read a lot of youth magazines. Then, as many as 25 magazines used to be printed in a month. Books about genes and fairies were usually available at a shop located at the Circular Road. I also was an avid comic book fan; ‘The Lone Ranger’ and ‘Tarzan’ are some comic characters that I loved reading about.

Which books are found at your bedside table?

Waheed Ahmed’s ‘Mundriwala’ and Toni Morrison’s ‘Beloved’. Also, you will find some other books, which have been written by relatively unknown writers such as ‘The End of the Novel of Love’ by Vivian Gornick and ‘Gifts’ by Noorudding Farah, at my bedside table.

Do you have any regrets in your life?

Yes! I could not become a good human being. Actually, very few people attain the stage of perfection, and I feel that I could not ace all of my weaknesses during the life spent so far. I get angry on nitty gritty stuff, and this is not something that I inherited. In fact, my father was a very calm and composed person.

How is your relationship with God?

Full of love and passion! I wrote a book called ‘Aik Raat Ghar-e-Hira Mein’. I spent a whole night in Ghar-e-Hira experiencing ecstasy of the devotion which I own and respire in every breath that I take.  And most probably I am the only person all across the globe who wrote a book on it. I feel extremely bad for all those who use Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) name to fulfill their personal worldly desires. I firmly believe that if someone falls in love with the Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) personality, there is no room for stepping back.

What are your future plans?

As Baba Farid has said that the past has gone far while the future has come near, so I believe my future is very near.

So in this entire journey, what did you understand about life?

I could not understand it. And that’s not just me saying it. Baba Bulleh Shah died in the journey to pursue the meaning of life. And I consider Bulleh Shah as one of the greatest and finest human beings ever. When life could not unveil its reality on marvelous human beings like him, how come I be blessed with the opportunity.

How do you define love?

Love is Life. I remain in the elixir of love all the time! I am always fond of visiting the northern areas. There are 15 books that I have written about that region of our country. I am blessed that people from all across the world go and visit northern Pakistan after reading my books. There is a lake there which the locals have named after me. It is called the ‘Tarar Lake’. So that is again another aspect of love.

What is hatred according to Mustansar Hussain Tarar?

I believe that one must discourage all those who spread hatred and distress among the creatures of God.

What does death mean to you?

Well, it is a pause and that is what people say. A student from Peshawar University did PHD on my writings, and summarized my writings into three different elements: water, birds and death. Death has had a mild flirtation with my life at various stages as I passed it. And let me tell you one thing, going to the mountains is equivalent to inviting death. I believe death adds beauty to everything. If there is no ending, how could one admire and appreciate the beginning? Had death not been introduced to life, each and everything would have become so ordinary and typical.