KARACHI: Rastay mujhe bulatay hain (the pathways call me), a collection of 19 short stories from Azra Abbas, was launched on Saturday at Karachi Press Club. With noted fiction critic Mahmood Wajid in the chair, the assembly of eager listeners was addressed by Rafaqat Hayat, Mumtaz Rafiq and poet Rashid Mufti. Fatima Hasan, a leading poet, did the compering and was the first to read her paper based on the merits of the book and also the author, AA.

At the outset, a condolence resolution was passed on the demise of the great writer, M. Khalid Akber, with fateha offered for the departed soul.

Eminent poet Zohra Nigah, who was the chief guest, admired AA for her creative talent expressed in poetry and story writing with equal zeal.

As poetry and fiction are supposed to be two different art forms, some of the speakers expressed their surprise over the fact that poets were changing their traits with such an ease — first Fatima Hasan, later Azra Abbas — turning towards story writing. But Mahmood Wajid made things clear by tracing the link between the two, recalling the Canterbury Talks, all stories narrated in poetic form. Glossing over the history of fiction in Urdu, MW said it had come from the West and found its bold expression in Prem Chand, and later in the progressive writers and now the modern writers. He praised Azra for her artistic treatment of theme and a polished prose.

Fatima praised Azra for despite being a feminist, she never transgressed from the socio-cultural bounds we were living in. Earlier, Mumtaz Rafiq had found a link between Azra’s story and paintings, both equally graphic and colourful.

Rashid Mufti had eloquently discussed the creative talent of AA, finding its expression in poetry and story writing with ease and spontaneity.

Asif Farrukhi thanked the guests on behalf of Scheherzade, the publishers of the book.— HA