THE Quaid-i-Azam Library of Lahore arranged a discussion on the role of literary journals in the development of literature. Salim Akhtar presented his paper, which was confined to a survey of literary journalism in Urdu.
Salim Akhtar is perhaps the most peaceful and harmless critic in Urdu. He rarely says things which may injure the feelings of his contemporaries and provoke a controversy. So, in general, he confines himself to a harmless survey. Here, too, he stuck to this kind of paper. It was left for others to censure the editors of contemporary journals for self-projection through their journals.
Salim Akhtar traced the history of literary journalism in Urdu as it took a start in the late 19th century and flourished throughout the 20th century, giving a boost to literary activity. Sir Syed’s Tahzibulakhlaq, which started in 1870, is, according to him, the first literary journal in Urdu. I don’t think it is so. This journal was exclusively devoted to social reform and the inculcation of modern knowledge with no intrusion by literary writings. He tells us that Sharar started his Dilgudaz in 1887. Soon, it was followed by another literary journal Zamana, under the editorship of Daya Narain Nigam. At the turn of the century, Makhzan made its appearance. That was Sir Abdul Qadir’s venture. These three journals may be taken as the precursors of those myriad literary journals which made their appearance in the 20th century, and played an active role in promoting new trends in Urdu literature.
Salim Akhtar has singled out Niaz Fatehpuri’s Nigar for its commitment to liberalism and rationalism. Yes, Nigar stood for liberalism and insisted on a rationalistic approach to religion. But because of that, it should not be mistaken for a progressive journal. Nigar was stuck on a conservative outlook as far as literature is concerned. It had launched a tirade against both the newly emerging trends — progressivism and modernism. So both Miraji as well as Faiz stood condemned in the eyes of Niaz Fathepuri and his Nigar.
Significantly, most of these journals made their appearance as ventures of individual writers. The publishers, in general, did not find it a profitable business. Savaira, Adab-i-Latif and Naqoosh, which were publishers’ ventures, were exceptional cases.
So most of the journals were and are writers’ personal ventures. If a journal is fortunate enough to make profit from its publication, that should be treated as an exceptional case. Yet, there has never been a dearth of literary journals in Urdu. Every literary period brought in its wake a number of new journals in addition to the old ones. In fact, our literary tradition, since the advent of the 20th century, is indebted for its growth and development more to its journals than to anything else. Even now, we have a host of journals representing different literary trends coming from not only Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad, but also from small towns of Punjab and Sindh.
The business of literary journals in Urdu has been flourishing on a non-profitable basis. Here, we have profit of another kind. An editor-writer has the advantage of using his influence and expanding it through his journal. Committed to a certain point of view or trend, he is in a better position to canvass for it.
In the past, we have seen certain writers emerging as influential personalities in the literary world just because of their journals. In the literary world, Sir Abdul Qadir is known and respected more for his Makhzan than for reasons which won for him a knighthood. It was through Nigar that Niaz Fatehpuri was able to project his rationalistic ideas and literary opinions. In consequence, he gained the reputation of a rationalist thinker and a literary opinion maker. Then we saw Maulana Salahuddin Ahmed identified with his journal Adabi Duniya, emerging as an influential editor and a respected person.
To this extent it was a healthy tradition. But in our times we are witnessing its deterioration. A number of editors are in a hurry. They want to turn quickly into a Maulana Salahuddin Ahmad or a Niaz Fatehpuri, without undergoing the process to qualify for such a status. So, they manage long letters in their praise from the contributors and readers.
Fortunately or unfortunately, we have a rich tradition of sycophancy. Not only the higher authorities in the country but even the editor of an insignificant literary journal finds it easy to gather flatterers around him. In a number of journals, we see so many pages devoted to letters in praise of the editors. Each editor of such journals is behaving within the narrow circle of his contributors and readers as the sole authority on literature.
THE Quaid-i-Azam Library of Lahore arranged a discussion on the role of literary journals in the development of literature. Salim Akhtar presented his paper, which was confined to a survey of literary journalism in Urdu.
