KARACHI: At a meeting of the Progressive Writers Association held at the PMA House on Thursday, Noor Mohammad Shiekh presented his short story and Ms Parvin Javed her ghazal.

Mr Sheikh, an Urdu language teacher also a writer and a poet, is a true son of Lyari conversant with the language, lifestyle and behaviour of common people. History titled “Mardon ki zabanain” depicted the tongues wagging of some bus riders, finding a young girl sitting in the bus. She was disturbed that the bus conductor had not returned the change from her Rs50 note and was looking for the man but the commuters drew some other meaning commenting on the girl’s behaviour. The story was well written and the narrative was found catchy. However, the title was not approved by many. The story described the common people’s behaviour and the language was used accordingly.

The ghazal by Pervin Javed could not attract most poets and writers and one or two lapses were pointed out by Hussain Anjum and Najma Khan. The ghazal was composed in a melancholic mood, someone pointed out but it did not sadden others. Among those who gave comments on the story and the ghazal included Izhar Haidery, Sadiq Madhosh Rahat Saeed, Jamal Naqvi and Saeed Pervaiz.

After the formal agenda of the meeting was concluded, Muslim Shamim who was presiding over the deliberations requested Najma Khan to present her poetry. Ms Khan is also a literary critic, apart from her engagement with ghazals, so she presented a ghazal which was liked by everyone.

Another ghazal was read out by Hussain Anjum, editor of his periodical Tulu-i-Afkar. He was close to classical form and reflected the masters of the yore. It was a good comparison when Sabir Zafer, a known modernist, read out his ghazal. Both ghazals represented two parallel schools of ghazals and were admired by the audience.—HA