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ariq Aziz Sindhu,a civil servant, has served across the country. Most of the time, professional commitments keep him on his toes. Still, he manages to find time to read books on a host of subjects. His favourite subject seems to be literature, Western as well as Urdu. He also rummages through books on history, philosophy and international relations. He occasionally writes columns for an English daily. His attachment to literature goes back to his days at the Government College, Lahore (now Government College University). After obtaining a master’s degree in English literature, he taught at Aitchison College before joining the Police Service.
His tryst with Franz Kafka began at around that time. This was a unique experience. He had long toyed with the idea of translating some of Kafka’s writings into Urdu. Finally, he picked up The Castle and rendered it into Urdu.
The Castlepaints a grim picture of a totalitarian society in which everyone seems alienated and confused. They whisper behind closed doors; fear lurks in deserted lanes and alleys; and everything is shrouded in mystery. It feels real, yet somehow surreal. A land surveyor is summoned by the authorities.He turns up but is in for a jolt. Seeking an audience with the officials of the Castle to report his arrival is an ordeal. The protagonist, K, the land surveyor, slowly tries to comprehend his situation. He is perplexed and aghast at the turn of events. He has no option but to accept it. Through this protagonist, Kafka foretells the contours of a state where the very existence of human beings is absurd. People are trapped and there seems to be no hope for them. They trudge on, oblivious to their surroundings and indifferent to their destination.
Through this protagonist, Franz Kafka foretells the contours of a ruthless state where the very existence of human beings is absurd.
The novel, first published in 1926, is regarded as one of the geratest. Kafka’s stories and novels have been translated into many languages. Naiyer Masud, one of Urdu’s finest fiction writers, has earlier translated some of Kafka’s shorter pieces. This translation of The Castle by Tariq Aziz Sindhu is a valuable addition to the growing body of Kafka’s work in Urdu. The translator demonstrates a deep understanding of the atmosphere of the novel. He succeeds in transporting readers into the predicament that K faces in his surreal town. The readers can feel the experience and empathise with K.
Tariq Aziz Sindhu deserves credit for delving into the complex and intractable terrain mapped out by Franz Kafka with the finesse that comes only from a firm grip on the text. Visually, the production is a treat.
Qila
Translator: Tariq Aziz Sindhu
Publisher: Book
Corner, Jhelum, 2025
Pages: 248
Price: Rs700
(Hardback)
The reviewer is afreelance journalist based in Lahore