THE week began on an artistic note when on Jan 31, 1973 the young and talented artist Nahid Ali displayed her new paintings at the Arts Council. The exhibition was inaugurated by Nejat Diyarbekirli, visiting professor of fine arts at the State Fine Arts Academy in Istanbul. According to a critic, Nahid had moved ahead of cubism in her quest for better results. In comparison with her earlier works seen at the Indus Art Gallery sometime back, the new exhibits revealed her maturity in the use of colours. She had also done very well in her treatment of space and form, achieving a certain depth which lifted the paintings. The Turkish professor praised the artworks for their sensitive colours and artistic beauty.

Since Karachi and cultural vibrancy have always been synonymous, the Karachi Municipal Corporation (KMC) for a long time had been contemplating to build an art gallery where, apart from organising a variety of shows, it could keep the private collection of the distinguished Fayzee Rahamin family. Unfortunately, on Feb 3, it was reported that the plan for constructing a gallery and museum for housing precious art treasures and private collections of the Rahamin family was dropped by the KMC. The blueprint for the cultural space and the architectural plan had been approved a few months ago by the corporation. The building was to cost about Rs500,000 in its first phase to be constructed on the site of the Aiwan-i-Riffat on Ingle Road adjacent to the Arts Council. The museum hall was to accommodate 100 paintings, 350 textile pieces, about 50 other articles including jewellery, manuscripts, calligraphy, coins, medals and 25 samples for display of various regional dresses of Pakistan. The scheme had also envisaged an auditorium with a seating capacity for 200 persons. It was [supposed] to be the only gallery and museum in the city under the management of the KMC. (Subsequently, much has been written on the subject.)

Staying on the topic of precious things, on Feb 1, valuable antique items worth a few hundred thousand rupees were seized by the police. The raid was conducted by the CIA on a piece of information provided by a constable. The smugglers — four of them — bolted away from a taxi by which they were traveling when a police party stopped the vehicle. The antiques, mostly sculptures, were got hold of. The media suggested that the smuggling of antiquities was going on unchecked because of the legal loopholes in the system.

From art and artefacts to poetry! On Feb 4, rich tributes were paid to the eminent Urdu poet, the late Hafeez Hoshiarpuri at a meeting sponsored by the Arbab-i-Qalam Pakistan (Karachi region). It was presided over by the renowned critic, Majnoon Gorakhpuri.

Mr Gorakhpuri was of the view that all great poetry in essence was lyrical and called Mr Hoshiarpuri a ‘poetic genius’. Others who spoke on the occasion were Shanul Haq Haqqi, Mahshar Badayuni, Shabnam Roomani and Jazib Qureshi. Also, short story writer Ghulam Abbas recalled the early life of Mr Hoshiarpuri and his professional achievements. Wow! What a stellar line-up of writers.

Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2023