KARACHI, May 6: The Progressive Writers Association held its literary sitting with Anwer Sajjad in the chair at the PMA House on Thursday. Izhar Haideri presented his ghazal for critical analysis. Ahmad Saghir Siddiqui found the ghazal hackneyed, a poor version of the ghazals written by the masters more effectively. “Why should one write a ghazal, if it was not justified?” he commented. However, one or two couplets were admired by Noor Mohammad Sheikh, Khursheed Ahmad and others including Jamal Naqvi. Ideology should not eclipse the poetic beauty, Rauf Niazi and Mumtaz Meher said. The content and diction employed in the ghazal reminded one the progressive writings of the 36 and the years after it had lost the appeal, Anwer Sajjad said.
Later, Shamshad Ahmad recited his short story titled ‘Ehtejaj’ (protest) which was thoroughly discussed by Tashna Barelvi, Noor Mohammad Sheikh, Ahmad Saghir Siddiqui, Jamal Naqvi, Sadiq Madhosh and others.
The story was symbolically based on a railway journey, the compartment packed with faceless passengers and the writer despite his resistance was pushed into the train. It depicted the present social order in which young and talented people were forced to join the rotten social system. To some, the narration was too concealed and beyond the comprehension of common readers. But, it was not meant for them, many others including the chair opined. Anyway it was admired as a masterpiece reminding some most admirable stories written the world over.
Anwer Sajjad congratulated Shamshad Ahmad for writing the story. The art pieces should not be branded with particular titles like symbolic, progressive, and modernist, he advised and ridiculed the opinion expressed in some circles that the “story had come back”. It was always there, he said. — HA
