KARACHI: Speakers belonging to the field of literature highlighted important facets of the life and work of writer Mushtaq Ahmed Yousufi, who died on June 20, at a condolence reference held in his honour on Saturday afternoon by the Anjuman Taraqqi-i-Urdu.

Writer Zaheda Hina began her speech on a sad note saying that it’s the autumnal season (patt jhar ka mausam) in the garden of Urdu. Distinguished individuals were passing away. Yousufi sahib was the strongest pillar of our literary edifice. He emerged on the literary horizon in 1961 with his book Chiragh Talay. The book was immediately acknowledged by readers of literature. After that, he didn’t write that frequently, but whenever he came out with a book, with each publication his reputation grew stronger and stronger in the eyes of the readers.

Ms Hina said Yousufi sahib had no parallel when it came to writing sharp lines and meaningful sentences. He would rib-tickle in a subtle way. If he made a satirical remark about someone, it would leave that person with no option but to keep quiet (and appreciate his wit). Underlining his inimitable wit, she read a line, “Pakistan ki afwahon mei sab se bari kharabi yeh hai ke wo sach sabit hoti hain” (The biggest flaw that rumours which float around in Pakistan have is that they prove to be true). He created unforgettable characters and his readers had memorised paragraphs from his books. Very rarely a prose writer had enjoyed such a level of appreciation, she said.

‘Unlike most humorists, Yousufi and Ibn-i-Insha wouldn’t crack jokes at gatherings’

Prof Shaista Zaidi went down memory lane and reminisced about the time Yousufi sahib read out an essay on Faiz Ahmed Faiz at the Arts Council. There, she said, while he was reading the piece, he had an eloquent smile on his face (baleegh muskurahat). While his words would remain, she would miss his smile.

Prof Sahar Ansari said Yousufi’s story spanned a century. The late writer was a perfectionist. He took utmost care of the intricacies of language and yet was able to create delightful humour, somewhat like what we read in Ghalib’s letters. His was a modern kind of prose, and it’s often said that this century (the time period that Yousufi belonged to) was the century of prose, not of poetry.

Prof Ansari said Yousufi neither wrote less nor more. He penned five books. The marked feature of his writings was that he would bring out astounding aspects of everyday life and characters that would put the reader in awe of him. This was because he was a learned man.

Prof Ansari said he first met the late author in the 1960s when Yousufi sahib used to write essays for the monthly Afkaar. Contrary to what people thought about him, he wasn’t a recluse. He would meet people and talk to them on matters of mutual interest. And unlike most humorists, Yousufi and Ibn-i-Insha were two writers who wouldn’t like to prove, by constantly cracking jokes among friends or at gatherings, that they had a good sense of humour.

Retired Justice Haziqul Khairi said he had known Yousufi sahib since 1955. He was a friend of his (Khairi’s) elder brother because both had studied at Aligarh University. “I was like a younger brother to him and would talk to him frankly,” (main un se be dharak baat kerta) he said.

Jahangir Khan, Riffat Islam Siddiqui, Wajid Jawad and Mubin Mirza also spoke.

Rukhsana Saba conducted the programme.

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2018