HYDERABAD: Eminent scriptwriter, humorist and satirist Anwar Maqsood has said that Urdu is a huge language like a river which could break any wall to contain it.

He urged Urdu speakers — commonly known as Mohajirs — to give up introducing themselves as Mohajirs and be Pakistani. Ruing the fact that he does not understand Sindhi, he said he was learning and reading it then.

Speaking at a Bazm-i-Araish-i-Urdu held at Mehran Arts Council here on Tuesday evening, Anwar Maqsood read out his famous letter to Allama Iqbal and its rejoinder to the delight of jam packed hall of the council. He also made some off-the-cuff remarks to enthral audience in his typical humour style.

The programme was presided over by Karachi Arts Council president Ahmed Shah. Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) MNA from Latifabad Sabir Kaimkhani, Ishrat Ali Khan, Dilawar Qureshi, Prof Nasiruddin Shaikh also spoke. Qureshi also presented his paper.

“I have listened so many speeches in Urdu that I want to speak in Sindhi,” he said. He said someone had asked him why he gave up writing drama for television and he responded that no one was writing. “The drama is gone with those who were writing it,” he remarked.

He sarcastically said national language’s importance was evident from dramas being screened on television channels. “Peer sat bajay shab, khujli meray hath mey. Is this drama and is this Urdu or civilization?” he asked and added that Mughal empire gifted Urdu, Ghalib and Taj Mahal.

He read out his famous letter written to Allama Iqbal. He said when he informed Iqbal that he was going to attend Urdu conference, Iqbal inquired whether ‘adab’ was still alive in Islamabad. “Iqbal asked me to tell conference’s organisers to at least forgive and give up discussing his [Iqbal] philosophy and poetry,” he stated. According to Iqbal, meaning of ‘adab’ is principles, politeness, civilisation and respect, the celebrated writer said.

Taking a jibe at Ruet-i-Hilal committee, Maqsood said Iqbal observed: “We spend millions on moon sighting while people are reaching moon.” Iqbal in his conversation with the Quaid-i-Azam in the spiritual world told him that he had not seen that dream while the Quaid stated thousands time that he did not envision that Pakistan. The Quaid said his death anniversary was observed with pomp and show, but his birthday anniversary was never observed.

He said Faiz Ahmed Faiz told Mirza Ghalib while sitting in the company of the Quaid that the Quaid did not celebrate birthday because he did not see Pakistan being dismembered; dishonesty and law enforcers getting richer. He said Jinnah told Mirza Ghalib when he came to Karachi from London, but one ‘quaid’ set sail for London and his followers were more than him (Jinnah) in Karachi.

Anwar discussed conditions prevailing in India and crisis confronting Muslims. He said the MQM-P used to be a good party and had emerged with a good demand for ‘jobs for all’. But now the father had escaped to London and siblings were PIB, Bahadurabad, Defence and Malir, Gulistan-i-Jauhar etc. “Many finest people are there in the MQM but hardly anyone read verses correctly,” he said in a lighter vein.

“I only want to say to you to give up introducing themselves as Mohajirs and be Pakistani and we will make great progress,” he stated. In his humorous way, he said Imran Khan did not understand; if Pakistan became ‘Riasat-i-Madina”, “mohajirs” would be in commanding position. He read out his letter written to Jaun Elia also.

He said Hyderabad had plenty of people who believed in love and were living there, but all bad people had left for Karachi. He recalled how he had strained relations with Gen Zia, who got angry in an event. He said that at a dinner, he invited people to the dinner, saying that ‘zia-aafat is arranged for guests and Gen Zia observed that he made a big pause in pronouncing word ziayafat (dinner)’.

Later, answering a few questions of reporters, he said he wanted poverty and Prado (a five door vehicle) to be eliminated from the province. He said that new generation of Urdu speaking community could address identity crisis because elders like him were ‘culprits’. He said youths were talented and they would make Pakistan envisioned by Bhitai, Sarmast, the Quaid-i-Azam and Allama Iqbal.

Asked why he was not producing content for television, he said he could not write the kind of humour being screened these days. He said Urdu was a federal language spoken by everyone. “I regret I don’t understand Sindhi. I am learning and reading it now and read Shaikh Ayaz,” he said.

Ahmed Shah said he took pride in organizing the first Alami Urdu conference. He said he had been named as president, although this position did not reflect respect in the country. He said Muslims in India and Urdu speaking community in Pakistan caused damage to Urdu. He said that when Muslims considered their language superior, Hindus immediately disowned it. He said it was the mother tongue that was considered basic language and then came the national language — Urdu. He said no language could progress unless one got job through that language because the society revolved around class system. He said if Jawahar Lal Nehru could introduce one education system, then why that could not happen in Pakistan.

He said an Alami Urdu conference in Hyderabad would be organised this year.

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2020