KARACHI: Ghubar-i-Askari by Col (retd) Syed Shafaat Ali was launched at Jinnah Medical College on Friday. The book was biographical in nature, mostly based on the life the author spent in the army and worked in various capacities, including his eventful years in the former East Pakistan crises. As the author living abroad in these days could not attend the function, it was hosted and compered by his close associate Syed Tahir Husnain. Gen (retd) Moinuddin Haider was in the chair and the speakers included Brig (retd) Abdur Rahman Siddiqui, Dr Manzoor Ahmad, Dr Jaafer Ahmad and Farasat Rizvi.
As the author Col (retd) Syed Shafaat Ali remained with Jinnah Medical College as its administrator for eight long years in association with Dr Syed Tariq Sohail, the later also introduced the author as a host and spoke briefly on the contents of the book admiring its prose while partly differing some of its comments.
Farasat Rizvi in his paper observed that the book, though a memoir, was highly readable, like fiction, very much truthful and also self-critical. Shafaat, born in Delhi, joined British army in 1947 just before the partition and left the job to locate his parents during disturbance, and later went over to join Haiderabad (Deccan) army and finally landed in Pakistan to continue his career as an army man.
Gen Haider, recalling the past, said there were many similarities between him and the writer; both started their career simultaneously and ran through similar circumstances, also worked along with the seniors known to both, although, Haider said, he had never met Shafaat in the army.
Commenting on the remarks of earlier speakers that the life of an army man was always very tasteless and boring, Gen Haider said it was not so. As against this, it was most entertaining, visiting places in and outside the country and there was all comfort of life, including “a chance to rule over the country”.
Dr Jaafer had raised the question as to why the humour writers were mostly coming from the army — General Shafiqur Rahman, Col Mohammad Khan and many others. He thought they wrote humour to get rid of the boredom in life which used to be humourless.
Commenting on the contents of the book, Jaafer differed the author who had like some other authors accused that Bhutto was instrumental in igniting the ‘65 war.
He also advised the lower and middle rank retired officers to record their accounts and experiences while in service.
Dr Manzoor Ahmad found the author an honest and bold person who had the courage to criticise the wrong decisions taken during professional career. The book was catchy and interesting to read, he said.
Brig Siddiqui admired the simple language used by the author but was critical of the omissions by the author and the faulty proof reading.
Earlier, the host Mr Husnain had introduced the author as an accomplished painter and a master violinist. — HA
