KARACHI, Aug 3: At a the condolence meeting held here on Friday to remember Naim Arvi, it was suggested that a complete book on the life and work of the late writer should be compiled, which was the only way to pay due compliments to him. This was suggested by Dr Hanfi Fauq, who lamented that Naim, a bold and courageous writer with a wealth of imagination, was not given recognition in his lifetime.
His faith in socialism, his commitment to ideology and the future of humanity was commendable and should be recorded for posterity as a source of inspiration to the coming generation.
The meeting to remember the writer/journalist, who died last Sunday, was held by the Progressive Writers Association and co- hosted by the Arts Council. Shaukat Siddiqui was in the chair, while noted speakers paid tribute to the memory of Arvi, “a merited story writer, strong in his ideological commitment, a generous and humane person and a faithful friend.”
Papers were read by Ahmad Zainuddin, editor of the journal Roshnai, Ms Zaheda Hena and Saba Ikram. ‘Roshnai,’ recently published, had carried several articles on the life and art of Naim, including Zain’s own interview with him. But his essay based on the last meeting with the writer just a few hours before his death was very appealing.
Zaheda recalled her longtime association with Naim, both sharing a common cultural heritage coming from Bihar (India). She admired the person — a writer and a human figure.
Saba Ikram, in his brief paper, critically examined Naim’s stories and pointed out his leaning toward modernity and also traces of existentialism in some stories.
Secretary of the Arts Council, Saifur Rehman Gerami, praised the writer and agreed with Dr Fauq that special editions of periodicals and books should be compiled about the lives and contributions of such noted persons as the late Naim Arvi.
The last to speak was Shaukat Siddiqui, who recalled that in the early 1970s, when he was working for a weekly paper in Karachi, Naim was one among his young associates. He found him an honest and self respecting young man and a budding writer with immense talents.
Other speakers included Taj Baloch and Muslim Shamim, Secretary Writers Association, who introduced Naim Arvi and read out an adulatory poem, beside conduction the proceedings. Another meeting to condole the death of Arvi, an active member of the Karachi Press Club and KUJ, was held at the KPC on Saturday.
The meeting was presided over by Shaukat Siddiqui, while being addressed by Dr Musharraf Ahmad, Sheen Farrukh, Baba Najmi, Shafi Aqeel, Samidad Khan, Mujahid Barelvi and others. —Hasan Abidi
