The book "The Tree of Words (A Collection of Minimalist Stories)," penned by Mr. Seyyed Mobashsher Ali Zeydi, a renowned Pakistani author, was published in Persian for the first time in 2020 (1399 SH) by the ECO Cultural Institute Publications.
This collection, which opens with a introduction by Mr. Sarvar Bakhti, the former President of the ECO Cultural Institute, comprises one hundred and two short stories originally written in Urdu, each consisting of exactly one hundred words. It has been translated into Persian by Mr. Ahmad Shahriar and edited by Dr. Zahra Aslani.
Seyyed Mobashsher Ali Zeydi is one of Pakistan's prominent journalists and authors, and his mastery of brevity has established him as one of the pioneers of modern short-story writing in the Urdu language. In this work, he skillfully navigates the fine line between "reductive brevity" and "miraculous conciseness." These stories, framed within a hundred-word limit, presented a significant challenge for the author to achieve narrative tension and resolution within such a confined space.
From a thematic perspective, Zaidi targets social inequalities, moral contradictions, and human and environmental challenges with a humorous and sometimes biting perspective. Without using complex vocabulary, he portrays the underlying layers of Pakistani society.
The themes of the stories often focus on the objective issues of modern human life. The author draws the readers' attention to the most ordinary and tangible experiences and realities that have sometimes become commonplace to them, lending greater depth to the reader's perspective on human existence.
The stories in this book often conclude with a "twist" or surprise in the final line. The author strives to move the reader toward a moment of silence and reflection after reading each flash fiction; as if each story is a seed planted in the audience's mind to grow into a "Tree of Words."
The aforementioned book, consisting of 220 pages in medium octavo (Ruqa'i) format, has been made available to the public with the aim of opening a new path toward recognizing the works and thoughts of Pakistani writers and strengthening literary ties within the region.
"The Tree of Words" will serve as an inspiring resource not only for fiction lovers but also for those interested in "creative writing" who seek to learn the techniques of brevity and narrative impact.
Interested individuals may contact +98 21 27673246 to purchase the book or visit the Diplomatic Library of the ECO Cultural Institute to borrow the title.