KARACHI: At the book launch of Amin Hashwani’s poetry collection, the conversation between the poet and former senator Javed Jabbar was centred on the theme that poetry was a neglected art form and that its importance must be underscored especially during the tumultuous times being experienced worldwide.

Untouched Octaves: Reflections on Life, Love and Society was launched at the Oxford Bookshop on Thursday, where Hashwani shared how poetry came to him at a very young age.

“I started writing poems even before I started reading poems,” said the renowned businessman. As a result this forced him to look inward rather than outside. The hours spent in solitude penning down verses made him more in tune with the sufferings of the world and helped shape his future philanthropic endeavours.

The volume comprises more than 140 poems that are dedicated to a range of topics. An interesting element of the volume, highlighted Jabbar, was how some of the poems are based on famous Pakistanis who have contributed towards the country in the arts, culture and especially in social work.

From Rumi to Edhi and Sabeen Mehmud, the volume contains poems that are titled with the names of different individuals that Hashwani holds in high esteem. “A large number of poems are named after very eminent individuals, a usual facet in poetry. Why did you choose this way of expression?” asked Jabbar.

“As a society we have lost our role models. Even internationally we rarely have leaders we can look up to.” This is why Hashwani decided to name some of his poems after people who the younger generation may not have heard of and could in turn take inspiration from.

“These individuals are my role models and they possess unique characteristics, achievements or thought processes. This was a chance to revive their identities.”

Visual imagery alongside the poems is equally worthy of mention, explained Jabbar.

And the poems are displayed in the volume alongside arresting visual images by Bobby Sager. Videos were also shared at the launch which incorporated Hashwani’s verses.

“As businessmen we solve problems every day and strategise,” Hashwani elaborated.

“Why then can’t we use these skills for social betterment and help make the world better and establish peace which is very precious.”

The two also had a debate on whether there had been a general reduction in the reading habits of people. For Jabbar there are positive trends, which he backed with several surveys that show an upward trend in book sales. Hashwani, however, lamented that in his opinion reading, especially in Pakistan has been relegated and is much-neglected, as is poetry.

Published in Dawn, December 16th, 2017