Narendra Luther: A bureaucrat with wit and humour

Narendra Luther authored three books of humour in Urdu - Band Kiwad, Mizaj Pursi and Alif Tamasha

Hyderabad: Some civil servants are neither civil nor servants. But he begged to differ. Narendra Luther, who passed away the other day, was a bureaucrat with a difference. Unlike the run-of-the- mill administrators he sparkled with wit and humour – and was also business like at the same time.

That he wrote about the history and culture of Hyderabad is well known. But not many know that Luther was a good humour writer as well. He authored three books of humour in Urdu – Band Kiwad, Mizaj Pursi and Alif Tamasha. He also wrote a travelogue – Hawai Columbus. This is apart from the 14 books he wrote in English. When Syed Mustafa Kamal, editor of the well-known humour magazine, Shugoofa, wanted to bring out a special number on Luther in 2018, the latter refused. “Why me? Such issues are brought out usually after one’s demise”, he remarked.

But later he gave in, feeling perhaps, this would help his soul rest in peace after death. “I will have no grouse that none paid tributes to me. This special issue is a peshgi atiya (award in advance) for me”, he wrote.

Born in Hoshiyarpur, Punjab, Luther had his initial schooling in Urdu and later studied it as a subject in B.A. No wonder he was well versed in the language although Punjabi was his mother tongue. Even after he became an IAS officer the writer in him did not let his passion for Urdu to be buried under the pile of files. Luther kept writing whenever he found time. “He thought in English, understood in Punjabi and wrote in Urdu”, says Kamal.

Ever since he was posted to Andhra Pradesh in 1956, Luther made a distinct mark in the field of literature and fine arts. The literary ambience of Hyderabad and its famed Ganga-Jamuni culture further refined his writing style. His association with Zinda Dilane Hyderabad, the literary wing of Fine Arts Academy, helped in promotion of humour, wit and satire. He played a key role in organising the World Humour Conference in the city in 1985.

Luther’s writings are lucid and crisp and his humour clean and wholesome. He used words which are in common usage and brought a freshness with his ideas. One can feel a dash of kori mitti jaisi sondhi sondhi mithas in his essays. Be it essays like Dile Laqt Laqt, Hum Ghar Sajan Aaye, Sach Bolna or Meri Aakhri Tasveer, Luther regales readers with his sense of humour.

Want to know what Luther thought of Hyderabad where he spent most of his life? Just read his essay Hyderbad Ka Tagraphia and you will know. He gives a funny account of the cityscape. A number of languages are spoken here but none is clearly understood as every language carries the influence of other languages. One can find Urdu and Marathi words in Telugu and a sprinkling of Kanada, Telengi and Marathi words in Urdu. “To understand one language you need to be an expert in three languages”, writes Luther.

In the same comical fashion he writes about the locality names and public transport of Hyderabad. Luther sure knew how to weave a story taking every day events which normally one tends to overlook. There is no exaggeration or fabrication in his humour. It creeps in quite naturally into his writings. Readers invariably grin from ear to ear after going through his write-ups as a kind of quiet joy takes hold.

Also read:

Narendra Luther’s tryst with Hyderabad inseparable

CM KCR condoles demise of writer Narendra Luther

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