KARACHI: A meeting of the Karachi Press Club’s literary committee was held on Thursday with Prof Saher Ansari in the chair. Masroor Javed, convener of Aalmi Urdu Tehrik, placed in the US, was the chief guest.

Sarwer Javed read out his critical essay on ‘Adab aur alamia’, Akhtar Saeedi recited his ghazal while Jahangir Syed presented his light essay (not inshaiya).

Earlier, a separate meeting was held to introduce fiction writer Maqsood Elahi Shaikh and his three latest publications. Mr Shaikh coming from Bradford (England) and known for his literary magazine - Ravi - (now defunct) is widely acknowledged as an Urdu activist. Makhzen, the anthology of poetry and prose pieces contributed by Urdu language writers residing in England and the West, is what was compiled last year by Mr Shaikh, while Makhzen-II, carrying 80 poems and 30 short stories with critical opinion on them, has been brought out in Oct 2002.

Mobin Mirza briefly spoke about Mr Shaikh’s contribution in promotion of Urdu and its cultural heritage. His publishing house, Academy Bazyaft, produced the Makhzen and the collection of short stories - ‘Puloon Ke Neechay Behta Pani. His third book, Mun Darpan, also based on stories was published from Lahore.

Quite a sizable number of persons, mostly Mr Shaikh’s friends and admirers, were present at the KPC, among whom he distributed all the three books duly autographed; a generous move no doubt.

Prof Saher Ansari in his presidential remarks at the literary sitting admired Sarwer Javed’s article and suggested that more such critical articles based on theories should be written. He also praised Akhtar Saeedi’s ghazal, suggesting minor changes in one or two lines. As for the light essay, recalling the writers’ study of Faiz and references to Jalib, Prof Ansari thought it should be improved by a closer study of the lives of both the stalwarts.

Earlier, a heated discussion erupted on Saeed’s ghazal as Ahmed Saghir Siddiqui passed sarcastic remarks on the couplets — lampooning the poet.

Among those who came to defend Saeedi included Sarwer Javed, Noor Mohammad Shaikh, Rauf Niazi and Shafiq Ahmad Shafiq. The ghazal, they contended, was composed in classical form and fulfilled the requirements of a good ghazal.

Javed Masroor also recited his poetry, which was not meant for a critical examination. He disclosed that an Urdu website (in Roman script), developed with the blessing of Jamiluddin Aali and Ghopi Chand Narang, was gaining ground mostly among younger people who want to read Urdu, but there were no institutions of Urdu teaching.

Zeb Azkar Hussain at the outset gave a brief account of the sittings held earlier. Rashid Noor did the compering.—Hasan Abidi