LET me compliment Mr Rauf Parekh, for he keeps Urdu lovers abreast of the glorious past. On reading his article on Muhammad Tufail, he rekindled my memories.

I was a student of Class IX in Raipur, CP, where Naqoosh was available only at the railway bookstall. I would cycle every month to the railway station to buy it. If my memory serves me well, its price was no more than two or three rupees. The bumper issues cost about Rs10, a substantial sum for a student of Class IX. Anyway, that was the beginning of my love for Urdu literature.

It is so sad that all the standard Urdu magazines have died for want of a readership. I do have most of the Naqoosh and the bumper issues. Besides, I have copies of Naya Daur, Savera, and Seep. Lost in transit were the copies of Saqi, Nigar and Nairang-i-Khyal.

Aijazuddin

Karachi

Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2015

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