On the scene
(weekly column)
By Zaib Azkaar Hussain
Certainly we are living in a post-pandemic (covid-19) era that is rather different world but it has still not reviewed the danger of wars and nuclear bombing threats.
It was great blessing that the humanity got rid of covid in 2024 that left a lesson that mankind was precious above all.
However, the recent violence and killings of a large number of people around the globe especially the Palestanians’ massacre has hinted that still, this was a great gap in protecting the humanity and human rights.
The writers in their fiction and poetry and artists are however depicting the ironies in their creations.
The biggest city of Pakistan is witnessing gatherings on literature and exhibitions nowadays.
Interestingly a few days back, a literary sitting of senior poets expressed deep concern over the ignorance of genuine poets at the ‘Mushairaas’ being conducted by certain elements representing different organisations in the city.
The gathering of the senior poets, writers and scholars noted that most of the genuine poets especially senior ones were being ignored intentionally by some so-called literary individuals and their organisations.
This literary meeting is mostly hosted every week by a senior poet, writer and scholar, Safdar Siddiq Razi, at a local restaurant located at the University Road.
The meeting took notice of the alleged fake ‘Mushairaas’,
Razi’s meeting called ‘Ahbaab e Ahle Adab Ki Baithak’ discussed at length serious literary issues being faced by the city writers.
Safdar Siddiq Razi uses to make the announcement of holding his literary meetings through social media.
In this regard, he uses to post the open invitation on his facebook wall and invites writers to come and join him at the meeting.
He also warns that there should be no political and religious discussions at the meeting.
Besides, he makes it clear that due attendees of the meeting must follow the dacorum disallowing raising of irrelevant issues othrer than the literary matters.
This time those attended the sitting included Shahid Iqbal Shahid, Zahid Hussain Zahid Jauhari, Rashid Aziz, Anees Merchant, Faheem Burney, Jawed Hussain Siddiqui, Kishwar Adeel Jaffery, Zia Zaidi, Nasir Shamsi and others.
Tariq Rais Froughe was also one of attendees but this time he remained absent.
On query he told “Yes i am among the permanent attendees but due other literary engagements, it was not possible for me to attend that meeting.”
He recalled that once a famous educationist and writer Dr Shadab Ehsani was also the part of the meeting and he mostly chose to speak on ‘Pakistani Bayania’ (Pakistani Narrative).
Shadaab had also some other engagements due to which he missed the meeting.
The meeting particioants thorughly discussed the literary matters and some of them recited their poetry, on the occasion.
It may be mentioned that an Urdu couplet of Safdar Siddiq Razi has gained ground these days, among the literary circles and the writers as well.
The two lines by Razi state: “Sabhi ko daikh raha hoon gharon say jaatay howaye – Ye sochta hoon kayee baar ghar banaatay howaye.”
سبھی کو دیکھ رہا ہوں گھروں سے جاتے ہوۓ
یہ سوچتا ہوں کئی بار گھر بناتے ہوۓ
(Since i observe people leaving houses for good, it hinders me to build a permanent house or residence.)
Meanwhile, a literary organisation namely Mumaasilaat E Asraar (MEA), held a virtual ‘Mushaira’ under the presidentship of Faheem Islaam Ansari.
Shabana Naveed was guest of honour and Rizwana Fehmi conducted the priceedings.
Earlier Sarwar Gazali threw light on the nature of the ‘Mushaira’ being attended by the poets of different countries.
Later he invited Rizwana Fehmi to co-ordinate the sitting.
Including others, President Faheem Islaam Ansaari, Rifat Islam Siddiqui, Sarwar Gazali, Mah Jabeen Asif, Shujja Shaad and Arham Malik presented their verses.
It was noted that due his ailment, Khawaja Muhammad Aazam (who designs the flyers) was unable to attend the online sittings these days, the flyers were being made by Rizwana Fehmi.
Rizwana Fehmi was highly commended by the participants of the online meeting, for desiging a unique flyer of the ‘Mushaira’.
Previously during two separate virtual sittings of MEA, Intezar Mehdi Jarchvi told two of his ‘Daastaans’ (stretched stories of a some events).
The first one was recited in a theatrical style. The title was “The King Makers’ and Jarchvi called it in Urdu as ‘Baadsha Gar’.
The second story titled ‘
‘Gaiti A’ara’ dealt with the exploitation of women at the hands of some men.
The first story exposes the conspiracies of the rulers of a stste to get power. The story also exposes another group of negative elements behind the rulers of a class society. He termed the group as ‘mafia’.
This group seems to dictate the rulers repredenting the masses. The rulers acted like robots fulfilling the desires of the group men.
These conspirators do play a decisive role in establishing and ousting the governments.
Mah Jabeen conducted the proceedings of this sitting.
Though the story was liked by the participants but they noticed a lack of fluency in describing the story.
Jarchvi however said that he recited the story verbally and without seeing any written papers.
He highlighted that his aim was to promote ‘dastaan’ in present times while underling current issues.
The other meeting was hosted by Rizwana Fehmi. The story of ‘Gaiti A’ara created an impression that the main character was a cheat one who used to exploit wealthy men under one or another pretexts.
The main character also looked a pervert one who prefered to develop some illicit relationship with a wealthy man to occupy his property.
Jarchvi told that the main purpose of the stretched story was to show the corruption of players of class-based society.
Khawaja Muhammad Aazam was highly appreciated for making two flyers.
Those participated the meetings were Faheem Islaam Ansaari, Rizwana Fehmi, Sarwar Gazali, Khawaja Muhammad Aazam, Rifat Islam Siddiqui, Mah Jabeen Asif, Dr Shehla Naqvi, Dr Farhat Zafar, Kamran Mughal and others.
