حلیمہ خاتون کا ارینجڈ میرج پر لکھا ناول ای۔بُک کی شکل میں اَے مے زون کنڈل سٹور سے خریدا جا سکتا ہے
حلیمہ خاتون کا ارینجڈ میرج پر لکھا دوسرا ناول بھی ای۔بُک کی شکل میں اَے مے زون کنڈل سٹور سے خریدا جا سکتا ہے
برطانیہ ، کینیڈا، امریکہ، آسٹریلیا اور یورپ میں بستے ایشیائی لوگوں کے لیے اپنے جوان بچے بچیوں کی شادی ایک اہم مسئلہ ہے ۔ برطانیہ میں مقامی مسجدوں نے اپنی مسلمان کمیونٹی کے ساتھ مِل کر مسلمان مرد عورتوں کی روایتی شادی یعنی ارینجڈ میرج کے لیے میرج بیورو کھول رکھے ہیں اور یو ٹیوب پر اِن میرج ایجنسیوں میں آنے والے مسلمانوں کی کہانیاں دیکھی جا سکتی ہیں۔ ایسی ہی ایک یو ٹیوب وڈیو اِس یو ٹیوب لنک پر موجود ہے۔
یو ٹیوب پر برطانوی میرج بیوروز کے بارے میں ایک وڈیو کا لنک
جیو نیوز چینل کی 6 جوُن سنہ 2021 کی خبروں میں ایک برطانوی بنگالی لکھاری حلیمہ خاتون کے ناول “ایک ارینجڈ میرج کی خفیہ ڈائری “ کے سنہ 2021 کے سیلفی بُک ایوارڈ جیت جانے کی خبر دکھائی جا رہی ہے۔ یہ ناول فروری سنہ 2020 میں ایک ای۔بُک کی شکل میں اَے مے زون کنڈل کے آن لائین سٹور پر چھپا تھا اور موبائیل فون یا لیپ ٹاپ پر پڑھا جا سکتا ہے۔ ایسے ای۔بُک ناولوں کا چھپنا اور ایوارڈ جیتنا جنوب ایشیائی لوگوں کے لیے اور پاکستانیوں کے لیے ایک خوش آیند خبر ہے۔ میرے نزدیک ہمارے پاکستانی ناشران کو بھی پاکستانی نوجوان مرد عورتوں کی دلچسپی کے ناول، شاعری وغیرہ اُردو ای۔بُک کی شکل میں چھاپنے کے لیے ہنگامی بنیادوں پر کام شروع کر دینا چاہیے ۔
کورونا کے لاک ڈاؤن عام ہونے کے ساتھ ہی ساتھ پاکستان کے نوجوان قارئین کو ای۔بُک کی طرف راغب کرنے کا یہ ایک سنہری موقع ہے۔ سنگ ِ میل پبلی کیشنز، الحمد پبلشرز، مقبول اکیڈمی، وین گارڈ، سانجھ پبلشرز، ماورا بُکس، حق پبلی کیشنز، دوست پبلی کیشنز، تخلیقات، فکشن ہاؤس، الحمرا ، جہانگیر بُک ڈپو، مکتبہ ءِ دانیال وغیرہ تمام پاکستانی پبلشنگ کمپنیوں کو ایک پانچ سالہ پلان بنا کر اردو ای۔ بُکس اور علاقائی زبانوں کی ای۔ بُکس کو پاکستان بھر میں عام کرنا چاہیے تاکہ پاکستانی طالبعلم اپنے موبائیل فون پر ای۔زی۔ پیسہ، جیَز کیش یا کسی بھی پاکستانی کریڈٹ کارڈ کے ذریعے نئی سے نئی فکشن اور نان فکشن ای۔ بُکس خرید کر پڑھ سکیں اور اپنی ایک ذاتی الیکٹرانک کتابوں کی لائیبریری جمع کرنے کی ابھی سے عادت ڈالیں۔
The Muslim communities all over Britain have set up numerous Marriage Bureas in association with local Mosques where Muslim staff maintain databases of Muslim clients from their neighborhood who have approached their Marriage Bureau or Marriage Agency for an Arranged Marriage.
YouTube has many videos of such local Muslim Marriage Agencies . . . here is one YouTube link to the work such Marriage Bureaus do in their Muslim community ….
Muslim And Looking For Love (Dating Documentary) | Real Stories
Geo News, one of the main Pakistani Cable TV News, Entertainment and Sports channel is airing a breaking news as of 6th June, 2021 featuring the award-winning novel “The Secret Diary of an Arranged Marriage” by Halima Khatun, a 35 year old British-Bengali journalist and Public Relations Firm employee which won the British Page Turner Award in October, 2020 and has now won the Book Brunch UK’s Selfie Award 2021.
To read News Articles published in the British Press about Halima Khatun winning two British Literary Awards please click on the following web links:
Amazon Kindle Review for Secret Diary of an Arranged Marriage by Halima Khatun Published 3rd Febuary, 2020.
Asian Life magazine – “You’ll laugh a lot and cry a bit”
Reader review – This is a great book to read on transport or going on holidays. I finished mine in no time and laughed lots!
This is a genuine and light-hearted book; opening the door on the lives of many young South-Asian British in the UK. It is a timely read in racism rising post-Brexit society. We need more books that celebrate diversity and show that no matter how different we may seem to be, we all have the same needs, aspirations and hopes. We might just go slightly differently about it… and that’s the fun!
Reader review – This was a great book – it was a page-turner that made me laugh a lot and cry (just a bit). By the end, I felt I knew the characters personally, and I can’t wait to find out what happens next – I certainly hope there is a next book!
Winner of the 2021 Bookbrunch Selfie Award for Best Adult Fiction.
Meet the brown Bridget Jones… If you like British chick lit books with strong women of colour, then this is for you.
What the press are saying about The Secret Diary of an Arranged Marriage:
“Rebranding arranged marriages”, BBC Asian Network
“Halima Khatun decided to write a book because nobody was talking. More specifically, nobody was talking about arranged marriages,” MyLondon
“It’ll make you laugh a lot… and maybe cry a bit,” Asian Life magazine.
Blurb
A British-Bengali girl looking for Mr Right. A motley crew of men, some hoping it’s them. A mum on a mission to match make. And an age-old tradition with a twist.
Welcome to the world of the arranged marriage.
“While I’m young, (somewhat) free and single, time is – by Bengali standards – marching on. I’ve got to meet my dream man, or at least someone I can grow to like, and get married. The trouble is, having never fully fit in with my English friends or Asian community, I don’t really know what – or who – I’m looking for.
Luckily (or not) for me, arranged marriages are still a thing. So alongside my own dating efforts, it’s everyone’s business – from my adorable yet overbearing mum, to pretend aunties and profiteering opportunists – to find me a match. With all this help, I’m pretty sure I’ll land a husband, but will he be ‘The One’?”
The Secret Diary of an Arranged Marriage lifts the lid on the intriguing world of British-Bengali matrimony. The debut novel from former journalist Halima Khatun explores family, identity and belonging with acerbic humour.
Not your average arranged marriage romance, It’ll change your view of matchmaking for good…
Reader reviews:
“This is a great book to read on transport or going on holidays. I finished mine in no time and laughed lots!”
“I loved reading this book! Such an enjoyable read which was hilarious at some points but also really highlighted how arranged marriages are viewed from different perspectives, especially in western society. It’s hard to find a book that isn’t too ‘heavy’ but also covers important issues and makes you really empathise with the main character – I even shed a tear at one point! This would be great to pack with you for your holidays or for the daily commute, it’s a real page turner and is actually very relatable even if the concept of arrange marriages is something you’re not familiar with. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a fun read but something a bit different from the usual chick-lit.”
“I started this book late one evening and just couldn’t put it down! I really enjoyed it. I love the writing style and the self-deprecating humour. it’s a real window into a world I don’t know at all and I found it fascinating. I’m left wanting to know what happens next!”
Amazon Review of Secret Diary of a Bengali Bridezilla by Halima Khatun Published 13th January, 2021
And I thought finding a husband was hard…
One couple. Three months. 600 guests (most of whom I’ve never met) and LOTS of opinions.
Welcome to my big fat Bangladeshi wedding.
To do:
– [ ] Find top makeup artist
– [ ] Create meaningful favours
– [ ] Outdo my cousins impending nuptials
– [ ] Have nervous breakdown?
I’ve found my dream man but will my wedding day be a nightmare?
If Fleabag and Bridget Jones got together over tea and a samosa, this is what you’d get. Former journalist Halima Khatun’s hilarious follow-up to The Secret Diary of an Arranged Marriage is a must read for anyone looking for British wit with a multicultural twist.
Reader reviews:
I finished the book last night and I absolutely loved it!
I find it so fascinating to learn about the culture and traditions surrounding weddings. Although, it’s made me want to go to some of the clothes shops!
I began this book with minimal expectations, not being a particularly huge fan of chick lit. And slightly dubious how this genre would tie in with a writer writing about my own community – I’m sceptical enough to know that the sensationalist, prejudice feeding, rescue the oppressed brown/ Muslim woman stories are the ones that sell best and one would have to be a brave and competent writer to go against the grain and not fall into that easy trap.
To say I was pleasantly surprised would be a big understatement. As far as the Bengali community I love (and sometimes loathe, lol) goes, Halima gives a pretty accurate, hilarious, yet affectionate insight into how it operates – with its own unique foibles, yet altogether not too different from any other community on the planet!
With a deft and witty hand and her own raw personal touch, she writes about the universal themes of family, friendships, identity and belonging, making it a story every woman can relate to and gain from one way or another. Laugh out loud throughout and poignant or indignant at other moments, the book will take you through a rollercoaster of emotions without weighing you down.
The heroine is a warm and down to earth character with an admirable stinginess – a girl after my own heart! In a world of materialism and image obsession, our savvy protagonist is a great role model who makes an important journey of self-discovery alongside her wedding planning struggles.
Diary of a Bridezilla is such a heart-warming book so full of positive vibes that if there was to be a Bengali version of My Big Fat Greek Wedding – this would definitely be it!
I’m so proud – and grateful, that Halima has documented the experiences of my generation so beautifully that I’m looking forward to my daughters (and sons!) reading it in future and getting an idea of what life was like for us as second-generation immigrants. I await with keen anticipation Halima’s next offering!
About the Author
Halima Khatun is a former journalist (having worked for ITV and the BBC), writer and PR consultant. Since she was a child, she knew that words would be her thing. With a lifelong passion for writing, Halima wrote her first novel – a coming-of-age children’s story – at the age of 12. It was politely turned down by all the major publishing houses. However, proving that writing was indeed her forte, Halima went on to study English and journalism and was one of just four people in the UK to be granted a BBC scholarship during her postgraduate studies. She has since written for a number of publications including the Huffington Post and Yahoo! Style, and has been featured in the Express, Metro UK and other British publications. Halima is a regular guest on the BBC Asian Network and frequently contributes to the Huffington Post. Having spent years in London, Halima has resettled in Manchester, UK with her family. Halima also blogs on lifestyle, food and travel and parenthood on halimabobs.com. This is where she also shares updates on her novels.
You can connect with Halima on
Facebook here: www.facebook.com/HalimaKhatunAuthor/ , or
Twitter https://twitter.com/halimabobs .
نئی منزل نئی راہیں 