KARACHI, Oct 16: After 16 years of his death in 1988, noted writer and intellectual Prof Majnoon Gorakhpuri was remembered by Idara-i-Adbiyat Pakistan at KDA Club on Saturday.

The main speakers at Majnoon Gorakhpuri's memorial meeting on the occasion of his 100th birth anniversary were Dr Mohammad Ali Siddiqui, Shabnam Romani, Jazib Qureshi and Zafer Alam, Majnoon's son.

Yusuf Jamal presided over the meeting while Irfan Abedi conducted the proceedings. Yusuf Jamal admired the great writer's understanding of literature and incisive criticism.

He raised the same question he had put up a couple of days earlier at a similar meeting before the intellectuals to explain if Urdu literature was on the decline; if not, how would they justify the present dismal conditions and if the answer was in affirmative, the causes should be known.

Yusuf Jamal, in evaluating the merits of Majnoon's erudition, presented quotes from his book Adab aur zindagi and another book Jamaliat (aesthetics).

Shabnam Romani, who was very close to the great master in later part of his life and helped him in the compilation and publication of his book on Ghalib, spoke briefly about his disciplined reading and teaching methods as a selfless teacher at the University of Karachi till his last days.

Jazib Qureshi was a frequent visitor to Majnoon Gorakhpuri and spoke about the later's liberal ideas and views on Sher-i-mansoor (poetic prose). Jazib, to prove his point, read out his prose poem which Majnoon Saheb had also admired.

Dr Mohammad Siddiqui was privileged to reside in Majnoon Gorakhpuri's neighbour for many years and for whom the later had developed much liking. He spoke about Majnoon Saheb's stylish writing, both in Urdu and English. A few English writers could match him, Siddiqui quoted a learned person's opinion. His knowledge in English classics including Latin grammar, and study in Persian and Arabic was amazing, he further said.

There were two basic books on progressive literature, one by Dr Akhtar Hussain Raipuri Adab aur inquilab and the other by Majnoon Gorakhpuri 'Adab aur zindagi, Dr Siddiqui said and informed the audience that Armaghan-i- Majnoon in two volumes, compiled in the writer's life, was a very useful book for all those who were interested in the study of literature and Majnoon Gorakhpuri.

Resident director of Idara-i-Adbiyat, Agha Noor Mohammad Moghal, thanked the guests and the audience.