August 18, 2002

THE Halqa-i-Arbab-i-Zauq brought in its folds a large number of short story writers, poets and critics. Amidst them, was a young poet who was also a teacher of mathematics. He was Anjum Roomani.

With great command over language and diction, Roomani became popular in the literary circle of Lahore where he came to be recognized as a high-ranking poet. Although he had started off as a poet of nazm, he was soon excelling in ghazal goi.

This was a period of extreme turbulence. While migrating to Pakistan from East Punjab his parents were butchered. He lived a very pathetic life, constantly struggling for survival. He was saddened immensely by the the political catastrophes that befell the country. His verses reflect his emotions:

Kulliyat-i-Anjum Roomani

Compiled by Yasmin Anjum Javed

Roodad Publications, House 734, Street 102, G-9/4, Islamabad

ISBN 969-8611-02-9 528pp. Rs1000

 

ASGHAR Abid’s Pani ko patwar kiya is a collection of verses by an upcoming poet. Previously Abid had published his Seraiki Haikus entitled Pandh. His two other books, one in Seraiki and one in Urdu, consisting of poems and songs on Kashmir have won him national awards. However, Pani ko patwar kiya is his first attempt at writing Urdu ghazal.

The Urdu ghazal has broadened its scope and is now a direct expression of human feelings on the contemporary socio-political scene. It also targets global economic and humanitarian issues. The ghazal thus introduces a new diction. Asghar Abid shows tremendous command over shaping his thoughts and feelings into various rhyme schemes and rhythmic scales.

With expressive yet simple language, he also uses metaphors, imagery and personification of thoughts and objects. His poetry is vivid, making his work effective and easy to understand.

Also evident in this collection are glimpses of sensousness and a refined expression of obsessed sexuality, which is more sublime rather than hedonistic.

Reading Abid’s poetry one finds a streak of pessimism in his work. However, in the final analysis the poet emerges as an optimist, and firmly believes that the dark night will be followed by a dawn of hope. — Ikram Jamali

 

Pani ko patwar kiya

By Asghar Abid

Harf Academy, 103-A/1, Peshawar Road, Rawalpindi

176pp. Rs120

 

THE book under review is Salma Shaheen’s first collection of short stories. A senior research specialist at the Pashto Academy, Shaheen has to her credit eight books of poetry, novels, historiography, and a vast amount of translation and research. Being a woman and that too from a conservative Pakhtoon society, Shaheen has had to cope with the challenge of expressing her feelings through her work.

Salma Shaheen is the first female voice to represent the Pakhtoon woman boldly. There have certainly been women poets and writers before her who were devoted to this cause. But it was Shaheen who discussed in depth the problems that affect women in this repressive society. Shaheen strongly feels that in view of the changes occurring in the world, Pakhtoons must change as well. The women must break the shackles that have bound them for years. They should shoulder responsibilities equally with men. As the name of the book suggests, Kanree auo azgee (stones and thorns) describes the plight of the woman in nineteen short stories.

Bearing a keen sense of observation and a gripping style, the writer provides the reader with the minutest of details. However, at times one feels that a link is missing in the plot.— Sher Alam Shinwari

 

Kanree au azghee

By Salma Shaheen

Millat Printers, Lahore

118pp. Rs100

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