HYDERABAD: Writers, columnists, intellectuals and poets said on Wednesday Hassan Mujtaba was a journalist-cum-poet who revolted against the ethnic divide in Hyderabad and the rest of Sindh, dictatorship, missing persons and discovery of mutilated bodies.

They were speaking at a literary sitting about Mujtaba’s first published poetry book Koyal shehr ki katha at the Khanabadosh Writers Cafe.

Noted writer Amar Sindhu said that Mujtaba always challenged mainstream narratives, whether they were spun by ethnic or political groups or by the state. His poetry depicted an epoch when creativity was mushrooming in Hyderabad and he made serious efforts to end ethnic and political divide between Sindhi- and Urdu- speaking people, she said.

Sindh University Teachers Association leader Arfana Mallah said that Mujtaba was a journalist but his mind was inclined more towards poetry which mirrored his soul.

His famous nazm revolved round missing persons and mutilated bodies, which lamented that people were losing humanity in society, she said.

Mujtaba himself spoke briefly to the audience over the telephone from New York, USA, and stressed the need for more such spaces and sittings in every city of the province.

He expressed his grief over the killing of T2F founder Sabeen Mahmud and said she was gunned down because she was promoting a culture of tolerance in society. He recited his famous nazms on the insistence of the audience.

Columnist Imdad Soomro and writer Amar Pirzada read out papers while Amar Sindhu read papers of writer Mazhar Leghari who could not attend the sitting.

Leftist leader Momin Khan, social worker and writer Anita Shah and others also spoke about Mujtaba’s life and work while some recited his poetry from the book, Koyal shehr ki katha.

Sindh United Party leader Dr Dodo Maheri, HRCP Hyderabad coordinator Dr Ashothama, social activist Punhal Sario, activists of Women Action Forum Haseena Musarrat and others also attended the sitting.

Published in Dawn June 18th, 2015

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