Urdu writing in 2004

Urdu writings of the year 2004 were reviewed by some critics at the Irteqa literary forum last Sunday. Dr Mohammad Ali Siddiqui chaired the event, which was attended by many eminent writers, Dr Anwar Moazzam and Jilani Bano from India, Dr Asad Areeb from Multan and his wife Mah Talat Zahedi, a reputed poet, and Dr Manzoor Ahmad, among others.

Jamal Naqvi in a short paper introduced the subject and asked Sarwar Javed to give his assessment of the critical works in Urdu produced last year. He spoke on a dismal note, saying that Urdu criticism was almost dying out.

He recalled the galaxy of critics from Majnoon Gorakhpuri and Ehtesham Husain to Wazir Agha and Waris Alvi and said as against the past, only adulatory comments were now seen on book dust covers. Ironically, the younger writers appeared to feel relieved at the absence of good critics.

Dr Siddiqui agreed with Javed and said book cover writings had done immense harm to literature. Criticism, he said, could be even more creative than creative writing.

Later, a paper was read on Urdu poetry, the writer being critical of "excessive ghazal writing", mostly poor in content and form. Important issues were not being confronted by today's poets.

This provoked Ms Zahedi to lodge a personal protest and point out that her poetry dealt with all important national and international issues. Dr Anwer Moazzam said it was Maulana Hali, later followed by the progressive writers, who had stressed the need for "a clear ideological" stance in writing.

Creativity and criticism both went together. Ghazal was popular with Indian poets as well, but poems were also being written. Hindu poets of Telgu, Gujarati and other languages had written on the carnage and killings of Gujarat and a collection of verses, "Gujarat ke zakhm", had been published on the tragedy.

Urdu short story was also popular. It appeared as if the ideology that underpinned progressive writing was making a comeback, Dr Moazzam said. At that point Dr Manzoor Ahmad politely pointed out that 'ideology' might be too 'harsh' a word to use; one should instead say 'paradigm'.

Dr Moazzam said that abstraction in Indian writings was almost dead. "What follows will become apparent after some time." Shafiq Ahmad Shafiq had come with a comprehensive paper on novels and short stories, both original and in translation, writer during the last year.

He analyzed some stories in depth - for example stories by Humra Khalique, Shamshad Ahmad and Shahnaz Pervin on topical socio-political issues. His paper was liked by the audience.

Earlier Dr Asad Areeb briefly reviewed the genre of criticism, which began with 'Tazkera aur tabsira' (comments and reviews), Darya-i-Latafat and other classical books, the influence of English, Khumkhana-i-Javed by Krishan Parshad Kole, Abdus Sattar Siddiqui's researches on linguistics, etc, all of which are considered to be landmarks in Urdu literature. The meeting concluded with Mah Talat Zahedi's recitation of her poetry.

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An international conference known as 'Shah, Sachal, Saani conference' was held in the last week of the year, stressing the need for peace and friendship between Pakistan and India.

The 32-member Indian delegation at the conference was by the vice-chancellor of the Sindhi Academy, Delhi, Suresh A. Keswani. The concluding session on Dec 28 was hosted by the Pen for Peace and a reaffirmation of the Declaration for Peace was presented by Rahat Saeed.

Suresh Keswani was highly moved by the warmth shown to his delegation. He said the people of both countries wanted to live in peace and harmony for a better and prosperous future.

Sindhi writers and poets were introduced by Taj Baloch, editor of his local monthly journal 'Sojhro'. Brief speeches were made stressing that more such exchanges should take place between writers of India and Pakistan.

Mr Nooruddin Sirki, who was presiding over the function, advised peace activists on both sides of the border to keep the present momentum alive. Mrs Anis Haroon revealed that a delegation of 300 members from Pakistan was expected to visit Delhi in February.

One of the visiting Sindhi poets, young Vimi Sadarangani, presented her poetry at the PMA House on Thursday. A pleasant and cheerful person, she represents the budding crop of writers whose poetry is fresh and stimulating.

Attiya Dawood, our own writer and activist, spoke about the guest, followed by an exhaustive paper on Vimi's poetry read out by Amar Sindhu, another talented writer.

Representing the Auratzaad, Women's Research Publications, Amar Sindhu praised Vimi for creating a new trend in the Sindhi language and articulating the case of women in a male-dominated society. She draws her images from natural phenomenon to give them a new meaning.

Vimi's idiom is low-keyed, and her poetry gains by eschewing harsh language and cliches. She also focuses on the contradictions existing on both sides of the divide, Sindhu said.