Acclaimed Pakistani writer Saadat Hasan Manto on 14 August 2012 was
honoured with the Nisan-i-Imtiaz, Pakistan's highest civilian award.
Manto is best known for his Urdu short stories, especially those that
explored the impact of the partition of the subcontinent into India and
Pakistan in 1947. Toba Tek Singh, Bu (Odour), Khol Do (Open It) and
Thanda Gosht (Cold Meat) were written by him.
Saadat Hasan Manto
worked for the Urdu Service of All India Radio in 1941 for several
months. Manto ended a career as a scriptwriter in Mumbai to move to
Pakistan in 1948. He died at the age of 42 in 1955. His frank style
angered conservatives in Pakistan and he faced trial three times on
charges of obscenity.
Besides Manto, renowned singer Mehdi Hassan, Lt.Gen (retired)
Khalid Kidwai and Munir Ahmed Khan were honoured with civilian awards
for their contributions in fields like arts and literature, nuclear
science, education and sports, healthcare and public service. The awards
will be given away at a ceremony to be held on Pakistan Day on 23 March
2013.
