Abdul Rasheed Farooqi is a name that remains a beautiful, radiant impression of our childhood in the pages of Bachon Ka Islam. We read his enchanting stories and maintained a deep connection with his writings, but after Ishtiaq Ahmed Sahab, the connection with Bachon Ka Islam broke, just as the thread of connection with the writings of many renowned pen-pushers was severed.
However, some companionships and books manage to find you. Recently, upon winning second position in a children's story competition, two books were sent to me as a prize by Mian Ishaq Sons. Among these gifts was a book by Farooqi Sahab, with whose writings I had the honor of reconnecting in book form after a long time. Reading this 128-page book brought old memories flooding back.
In the current era, where book prices have skyrocketed due to paper inflation, the price of this beautiful, lightweight book has been kept extremely reasonable and accessible to general readers—a living proof of the publisher's love for books. The author has dedicated the preface of the book to his brother, and after their brief, affectionate introductory dialogue, the charming journey of the stories begins.
The book begins with the first story Maza Nahi Aata (It Isn't Fun), which paints a picture of the innocent world of animals and gives children an important training lesson: any task left unfinished or incomplete never has a good result. Completion of work is the first condition of success.
Pani Pani Jism (Water Water Body) is written to make children aware of the importance of prayer (namaz) and its blessings. The style of the story is extremely engaging and its tone is so impactful that it proves excellent for encouraging worship right from childhood.
Kanch Ki Goliyan (Glass Marbles) delivers the lesson of unity, agreement, and mutual harmony in the playing world of children in a very beautiful and impactful manner. It tells us that those who scatter can never win.
Anjaam (The End) is a traditional yet true story based on rural life and environment, depicting the rebellion of a cruel and arrogant feudal lord (wadera). In its logical conclusion, the story teaches that when oppression and transgression cross limits, the cosmic system of justice springs into action, and the end of evil is always destruction.
Kamzor Mohabbat (Weak Love) revolves around a person who got entangled in the unnecessary busyness and glare of the world and completely forgot his elderly parents. Yet, behold the system of nature, his own children made him realize that no matter how frail and advanced in age parents become, they desperately need the love and attention of their children at every turn of life.
Khushi Nahi Dete (They Don't Give Joy) is the story of an awake-minded and sensitive son who struggles to cure his father of a lethal and harmful habit like smoking. The story delivers a positive message that sometimes the love and wisdom of children also become the cause of bringing elders back to the right path.
Kaptaan Ji is the title story of the book. With extreme scrutiny, it brings to light the reality that whether it is the system of a home, practical life, or the field of sports, it can be run successfully only by the person who understands the board, its moves, and nuances. If an incompetent and irrelevant person sits in a responsible position, they ruin and devastate the entire system.
Talaash (Search) is the story of those painful and helpless children of society whose pain is generally felt by no one. This writing pays tribute to the services of those humanitarian organizations and individuals who work for such a destitute stratum and inspires us to lend a hand to such institutions to bring these weak strata of society forward.
The other stories included in the book are also extremely interesting, fluent, and purposeful. Hidden in the lap of every story is some moral or religious lesson that can play a foundational role in the character-building of children and youth.
I deeply thank Mian Ishaq Sons from the bottom of my heart for sending this best and training book, and I am also grateful to respected Abdul Rasheed Farooqi Sahab for creating such a masterpiece book, which in the present era is the best academic and moral gift for training the new generation.