KARACHI: A literary sitting on the late Jaun Elia was held under the aegis of the Karachi Press Club’s literary committee on Thursday.

Presided over by Matin Ahmad Khan, whose nascent novel appeared only recently, the meeting was addressed by Prof Saher Ansari and Raashid Noor, who also compered the proceedings, Sarver Javed and Mahboob Ahmad Khan, the last two in place of the absentees who were supposed to present their opinions, if possible, in writing on the poetry of great poet Jaun Elia who remained virtually ignored after his death till present times.

Zabe Azkar Husain, secretary literary committee, was first to speak on the subject. Jaun a well-read person, a genius and a merited poet, knew how to present his poetry, Husain said and welcomed the guests and the audience.

As Sarver Javed took the flare, he said he was caught unaware, but he gave a cursory view on Jaun’s poetry recalling his longtime association with him. Jaun’s poetry in his first collection ‘Shayed was more spontaneous and close to heart, Javed said, than the second volume Yaani. He lamented that most part of his unpublished work was missing due to ‘carefree’ manner of the poet. At least a dozen poetry collections of Jaun Elia should have been compiled, had he been careful about his poetry.

Mahboob Ahmad Khan was all praise for Jaun and said no poetry collection equal to the merits of Yaani had appeared during the last 15 years. Karachi is fortunate and should be rightly proud to own such a great poet like Jaun. He admired his simple yet fascinating language in poetry.

Prof Saher Ansari had a close association and friendly terms with Jaun, but he was rather dismayed that nothing worthwhile had been said about Jaun’s poetry as simply friendly relations were the matter of small consequence. “When you claim Jaun Elia as an epoch-making poet, you should prove it, the professor said and abstained to speak further.

Matin Ahmad Khan, with whom Jaun Elia had stayed for sometime, recalled his association with the merited poet. Jaun shunned mediocrity and advised Mr Khan to achieve excellence in any profession. That showed he was practical in his approach in life, M. A. Khan concluded.

Raashid Noor, concluding the proceedings, said that a bigger seminar with larger number of guests and audience to pay homage to Jaun Elia was surely the need of the time, befitting the status of the poet and this task should be undertaken by city writers and poets.

Ms Rukhsana Roohi read out two verses eulogising Jaun Elia — the person and the poet.—H.A.