After arriving from Pakistan via the Wagah-Attari border yesterday, late Manto's daughters visited the village in Samrala area of Ludhiyana district on the invitation of a Punjab-based writers' body.
Manto's daughters--Nighat (66), Nuzhat Arshad and Nusrat Jalal (62) crossed over to India through Attari border along with other members of the Pakistani delegation that also comprised of Prof Rabia Sarfraz, who is a teacher in a Pakistan college and also a writer, and another writer Tahira Iqbal.
A roadshow was held in Samrala area while the Pakistani guests passed through the town in a decorated open jeep.
A function was held in the village where all the seven guests were honoured and it was decided that a Manto Memorial Gate would be set up in the writer's memory.
Manto's daughters were touched by the gesture and said they were overwhelmed by the love and hospitality showered upon them.
"It's an emotional moment for us to be here amongst you all, the land where our father spent his early days. We are grateful and touched by the love and hospitality," Nusrat said.
Meanwhile, besides visiting Manto's village, the Pakistani delegation is also scheduled to attend a seminar on Manto's works in New Delhi while on their way back to Pakistan, they are expected to visit Koocha Vakilaan, a locality in Amritsar where the writer spent a considerable time of his life.
Last month, Manto was honoured with the Nisan-i-Imtiaz, Pakistan's highest civilian award, 57 years after he died.
Apparently referring to the honour, Nusrat said, "he was a great writer and the whole world knew this, but his work was acknowledged late".
Manto is best known for his short stories, especially those that explored the impact of the partition of the subcontinent into India and Pakistan in 1947.
He ended a career as a scriptwriter in Mumbai to move to Pakistan with his family in early 1948. He died at the age of 42 in 1955.
