KARACHI: At a literary meeting of the Adbi committee of the Arts Council, poetry and prose pieces were presented by senior and young writers on Wednesday.

Justice (rtd) Hazequl Khairi was in the chair and was happy to note the large number of audience at a literary moot, when the taste for books and journals was said to be declining.

He recalled the years of his early youth when literary periodicals were found in every household and its contents— fiction and poetry were discussed among the youth with zest. His own collection of stories was published in those days, predicting a bright future for the teenager “who rose from the House of Khairies— Allama Rashedul Khairi and some others. But it could not happen, as Hazequl Khairi had joined the law.

He was kind and judicious in his comments on the articles presented in the meeting and, at times, differed from the remarks of the chief guest, Sarshar Siddiqui, who had, earlier, critically examined not the writings but the ‘half-baked’ opinion of the commentators.

Nasir Shamsi presented a short story against the use of narcotics and among those who praised the story were, Hamid Ali Syed and Anis Beg. Story writers, Mr Nasim Anjum, Rehman Nishat and Asif Maalik opined it was based on a much trodden theme, “a narrative, “ unduly ornate”, repetitive and devoid of a climax.

Sarshar Siddiqui admired the story and flayed the critics to much annoyance of some speakers.

Fauqui Mushtaq’s verse ‘Zara Thehro’ was taken lightly by Sarver Javed and others as a piece not worth discussing, but the chair found it “quite good”. An innocent love poem should not be ignored, looking at the tender age of the poet, some others opined.

Ghazel by senior poet, Akhtar Saeedi, and another ghazal by Ms Shahnaz Noor were liked by everyone including Afaq Siddiqui, Ghaus Mathravi, Mobarak Ahmad and Shamim Ravish, who found in Noor’s ghazal the “voice of the new women, bold and confidant.”

Two poets from abroad— Dr Shehla Naqvi from New York and Humayoon Zafer Zaidi from Mascat, who were guests at the Council, introduced themselves and presented their poetry which was much admired.

Naqqash Kazmi was host at the meeting.—Hasan Abidi