KARACHI, May 22: Khoon alood khanjer, aur doosri kahanian — a book meant for children — written by Mujeeb Zafer Anwaar Hameedi and published by Al-Hasan Academy was launched on Friday. Editor of a children’s magazine and a famous writer for children, Masaud Ahmed Barkati, was in the chair while speakers included Hanif S. Kalia, Syed Azfer Rizvi, Dr Hasan Viqar Gul and Wali Rizvi. Mazher Yusafzai read out his verse for the occasion.

Most speakers admired the writer for paying attention towards children, since he was a teacher and was also engaged in researching Urdu’s literature for children, but Wali Rizvi objected the title of the book although the story itself was “innocent”. Was it to create horror and excitement in the minds of the children who was already living in a terrorized society? Rizvi questioned. He was however happy that that the book culture was coming back and recalled the golden age of the ‘aana litraries’ when Ibne Safi with his unending series of stories was most popular among children. He and many other writers created reading habit in children and also a taste for literary writing. Many prominent writers of our time should be grateful to the writers of the yore, Ismail Meerathi, Soofi Ghulam Mustafa Tabassum, Rehman Muznit, Ibne Insha and others, Wali Rizvi said.

Dr Viqar Gul admired the writer Mujeeb Zafer, his “senior most student” for writing highly readable stories in simple prose for which he had received many awards.

Hanif Kalia, who was also the chief guest, praised the efforts of the writer and the publisher for doing service to the children, but was dismayed to find the book lacking in any story concerning IT. Without proper knowledge of computer, a person will not be taken as literate, he said, and further reminded that after 25 years, there would be no paper work in our lives. Replying to the comments from Ali Hasan Sajid, who was compering the meeting and was proud to mention that his Academy had won many awards on children’s story books, Mr Kalia offered even more support if computer and IT were given proper place and preference in his scheme of things.

The last to speak was Masaud Ahmad Barkati who advised the writer to use even more simple prose for children. He recalled his own early years in the job when eminent persons like the famed historian Dr Mahmood Hussain, and the great scientist Dr Salimuzzaman Siddiqui were there to support the respected Hakim Saeed and also encouraged him (Barkati Saheb) to keep on writing for the children. —HA