January 5, 2003

The year 2002 saw an upsurge of interest in Allama Mohammad Iqbal. Some scholars undertook research on his life, poetry and philosophy and new books and reprints of old ones on Iqbal as well as special issues on the poet of the east of prestigious magazines hit the bookstalls during the year. Yet it was felt that the poet-philosopher deserved better coverage of his work. Iqbal shanasi by Dr Manzoor Ahmad, a noted philosopher, was, to my knowledge, the latest publication in the study of Iqbal.

What has been written about Iqbal focuses on some stereotype issues. Dr Manzoor contends in the preface to his book that it is like “the seed being squeezed to the last drop of oil”. So he opens some new vistas to study Iqbal in a fresh perspective. His articles are on issues which could be controversial such as “Iqbal ka falsafa-i-mazhab” and “Iqbal, science aur mazhab”.

Iqbal: nashanasi, which was published in 2002, was a book by Fateh Mohammad Malik, who was presiding over the Iqbal chair in Germany in recent years. This also points out the lapses in the studies undertaken on Iqbal, which ignore the real message of his poetry. This has not reached the ruling classes in the country either.

Iqbal sab ke liyey is a collection of articles written by Prof Dr Farman Fatehpuri, a professor at Karachi University till recently and chief editor Urdu Dictionary Board.

In the book Majalis-i-Iqbal by Jaafer Baloch, the poet’s personal and social life was more in focus than his poetry. Kalam-i-Iqbal ke awami ufaq by prolific writer Mashkoor Hussain Yaad and Allama Iqbal (speeches and writings) translated from English into Urdu by Iqbal Ahmad Siddiqui were two more books which were published last year covering Iqbal’s works comprehensively.

Special issues of Qaumi Zaban (April and November 2002) on Iqbal and 80 years of Iqbal by Ghulam Husain Zulfikar and published by Bazm-e-Iqbal were some prominent publications among other lesser known journals.

Iqbaliat ke sau saal, compiled and published by Idara-i-Adbiyaat, is a commendable presentation which offers fresh reading material. A hefty tome, spread over 1400 pages, it covers extensively the personal life of the poet with graphic details and examines the writings published by him and also on him, Khawateen ka aalami adab, compiled by Khaleda Hussain, Kishwer Naheed and Asfi Farrukhi is also from the Adbiyat during the past one hundred years.

In the realm of critical writings, Ghalib surpassed every other writer/poet in being the subject of discussion by eminent critics. Idara-i-Yadgar-i-Ghalib did well to publish new books on the poet and some re-prints to the benefit of those readers who may have not gone through them earlier. Aaina-i-Afkar-i-Ghalib by Shanul Haq Haqqi, Nawadir-i-Ghalib: Ghalibiat ke chund faramosh shuda goshe by Dr Akbar Haidari, and Ghalib ki Urdu nasr by Maulana Hamid Hasan Qadri are some of the books published in 2002 and which will always be in demand.

Meer-i-blanosh, a critical evaluation of Mir Taqi Mir by Mashkoor Husain Yaad, was another welcome publication of the year. Lasani tashkeelat aur qadeem banjer by Iftekhar Jalib is a study in modern literary criticism. So is the collection of essays titled Main jo bola by noted poet Obaidulla Aleem, which has been compiled by his widow, Tahseen Aleem. Jadeed afsana: chand soortain is a critical study on modern fiction, written by Saba Ikram.

Prof Rasheed Ahmad Siddiqui and his books need no introduction. Meezan-i-Nasr Part V, the late professor’s address to the students at Aligarh Muslim University, was compiled by Meher Elahi and Latif-uz-Zaman Khan.

Dastaan-i-Ahd-i-Gul, a collection of essays, articles and interviews, came from eminent writer Qurratul Ain Haider.

Aashob-i-Sindh by Mazhar Jameel is a study of a different kind which discusses Urdu fiction in Sindh’s socio-political background. The book carries quotations from fictional writings to further his arguments.

An incisive study of a culture and its different manifestations has been provided by writer and poet Shahid Naqvi, who died a few months ago. His book Azadari: tehzeebi, adbi aur saqafati manzer namey mein covers a rich cultural past which is losing its magnetism against the tidal wave of modernity.

Shehrzad ke naam is a collection of stories and autobiographical essays from famous fiction writer Intezar Hussain. Another story book comes from the pen of popular fiction writer Bano Qudsia. Titled Dast basta, it is a bit different in style from her previous publications.

Majmooa; Munshi Prem Chand, is a selection of the great masters short stories, whereas Gumshuda kalmat is a collection of short stories by critic and writer Mirza Hamid Beg. Fahmeeda Riaz known for her radical approach in poetry has now come out with a collection of short stories, Khat-i-Marmooz.

Meray hamsafer is a collection of essays (not exactly pen-sketches) by Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi known for his versatility in many literary genres. The essays are about Qasmi Sahib’s contemporary writers, as he found them.

Deeda-i-Beena by Nazrul Hasan Siddiqui carries pen sketches about some writers and also his close relatives. Roshan chehray is yet another collection of sketches mostly belonging to the past decades — some noted political figures like Begum Shahnawaz and Sirdar Nishtar.

Tamanna betaab is the autobiography of fiction writer and critic Dr Rasheed Amjad. Deevaron ke beech and Deevaron ke bahar are the autobiographies of the famous poet Nada Faazli. Latest addition in this genre is ‘Apna gareeban chaak’ by Dr Javed Iqbal.

Translations mostly through English has gained popularity over the years. Karamazov biradaran from Dostoevsky’s Brothers Karamazov by Shahid Hameed very well known for his valuable translations was a painstaking job which he did in racy Urdu prose. Another novel worth reading is Tamas by Bhishan Sahni, translated into Urdu by Shela Naqvi.

Iceland is a travel account by famous poet Jameeluddin Aali, whereas Deeosaee is an account of an adventurous journey to the highest grassy land on earth, made by the author Mustansar Hussain Tarar.

Two poetic collections — Kulliyat — need special mention in poetry books. One, Mausam mausam comes from Ada Jafary and the other, Kuliat-i-Anjum Roomani was compiled by Yaasmeen Anjum Javed.

Quite a large number of poetic collections appeared last year, keeping the tradition alive. Their poetic worth varied but the readers remained the most discerning judge and decided which to pick up and which to drop. However Kabir Bani, Urdu translation of the work of the mystic poet Kabirdas (1440-1578) done by Ali Sardar Jafery, was a welcome addition in the poetic literature of 2002.

Ghazaal-i-Dasht-i-Sagan, a poetry collection of senior poet Khalid Alig, was warmly received by the general readers after a long wait. Harf-i-Zer-i-Lab by Nighat Barelvi and three poetry collections — Sareer-o-sarsar and others — packed in a presentable jacket and published by Mazhar Arif were received well by their admirers. Yahan kuch phool rakhkhay hain was a poetic collection from Shahida Hasan, a noted ghazal poet. Teri sabahat ke diaray mein, is a collection of ghazals by Aqeel Ahmad and Feza Azmi. Quarterly journals and book series were found to be gradually displacing the monthly journals. Only a few periodicals such as Afkar, Sareer and Qaumi Zaban could hold their fort before the onslaught of the quarterlies such as Zaminzad edited by Asif Farrukhi, Aaenda by Mahmood Wajid and Roshnai by Ahmad Zainuddin.

A new entrant on the scene was Makhzen II edited by Maqsood Elahi Shaikh (from Bradford, England) which was published and distributed in Pakistan is an annual venture by the editor. It carries Urdu stories exclusively from overseas writers and the critics’ opinion on those stories.

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