Books

Hanif Shiwani's most ambitious collection yet, "Zakhm Khandan" (The Laughing Wound) spans six thematic sections — from language and society to politics and a uniquely imaginative section devoted entirely to the metaphorical goat. Published in 2025, this is a masterclass in Urdu satirical writing.

The title means "Your veil is lifted before us" — and this collection does exactly that. Each of the 47 essays peels back the curtain on an everyday irony: from marriage and money to medicine and the meaning of belonging. First published September 2023.

Hanif Shiwani's debut collection, published under the pen name "M.H.Sh". Ranging from language and literature to politics, social commentary and the Covid pandemic, these essays announce the arrival of a distinctive new voice in Urdu humour and satire.