LAHORE: 18, JANUARY, 2021: Renowned short story writer Saadat Hasan Manto is being remembered on his 66th death anniversary today (Monday). 

Saadat Hasan Manto was born on May 11, 1912 in Samrala, Ludhiana, British India. He migrated to Pakistan after partition in 1947. Most of his lifetime Manto resided in Lahore.

During his early days, he met a journalist named Abdul Bari Alig, who soon changed the young man's imaginary dabbling with revolution into genuine interest in politics. During this time Bari enthusiastically discovered Hugo's 'The Last Days of Condemned', a drama expression opposition to capital punishment, and he encouraged Manto to attempt a translation of it into Urdu. 

"Tamasha" and several others were put together into Manto's first collection of original short stories in Urdu, Atish Pare (Sparks; also Quarrel-Provokers), published in 1936. 

Some of his publications are, Atishpare, Manto Ke Afsane, Dhuan, Afsane Aur Drame , Laazat-e-Sang, Thanda Gosht, Baghair Ijazat, Burque, Ratti, Masha and Tolah.

He also wrote a number of famous letters to Uncle Sam, which were published in English language as well.

He died on January 18, 1955, at the age of 44.

On January 18, 2005, the Government of Pakistan issued a postage stamp to commemorate his services on his 50th death anniversary.

The postage stamp read "Saadat Hasan Manto (1912-1955) Man of Letters." 

On August 14, 2012, Manto was also honored with Nishan-e-Imtiaz award by Pakistani government. (04)