KARACHI Scholars at a seminar in the Arts Council on Thursday evening shed light on the various aspects of 'resistance literature' and traced its history in the subcontinent.
Poet and scholar Sahar Ansari presided over the seminar, which turned out to be a quality event for the thin audience who was in attendance.
Media person Anjum Rizvi read out an interesting paper highlighting the 'communication' aspect in resistance literature. He said the poet who can communicate a thought to his readers often finds a place in their hearts.
However, it's not easy to categorise literature or divide it into types. He said it all boils down to the process of communication. Literature reflects life. Great poets and writers see, speak and write the truth and communicate it to their readers. In this regard he gave examples of the likes of Ghalib, Faiz, Jalib and Fahmida Riaz.
Speaking at the seminar lawyer Salahuddin Gandapur drew the audience's attention towards the two violence-hit provinces of the country, Balochistan and the NWFP. He said ever since the concept of proprietorship came into being, the tussle between the oppressor and the oppressed has gained momentum. He quoted Karl Marx as saying that literature and art reflect the kind of society that they are produced in. Gandapur said resistance literature emerges from the soil and has a direct relation with mankind.
Muslim Shamim (advocate) traced the history of resistance literature and informed the participants of the seminar of the time when European society resisted against the Church. He talked about the Renaissance movement that originated in Italy and spread to other regions of Europe, as a result of which knowledge was revived.
Muslim Shamim also touched upon the role of the Progressive Movement in the subcontinent and lauded its role in the service of humanity. He said the resistance element dominates the literature produced in the 20th century and said that a voice against the establishment can be categorised as protest but a challenging voice against the establishment is an act of resistance.
He gave the example of leading poets like Jalib, Faiz and Khalid Alig who resisted during Ayub Khan's rule in the country. Even during Zia's suffocating tenure poets and writers did their best. Mr Shamim praised the role of literature written in regional languages, especially in Sindhi, for their contribution to different movements.
Addressing the gathering scholar Mazhar Jamil said literature not only reflects life, but also criticises it. Resistance writings, carrying the essential aesthetic qualities, criticises the establishment and suggests ways and means to rectify shortcomings in society. He said it is a wrong notion to believe that classical Urdu literature couldn't fit into that category and gave the poetry of Sauda as a case in point to underline the fact that even in those days resistance literature was being produced.
Mazhar Jamil discussed Sindhi literature's substantial and constructive role and informed the audience that Shaikh Ayaz's poem 'Safaid Wahshi' was one of the first resistance poems that invited the wrath of the government. He commended writers like Shaikh Ayaz, Shamsherul Haideri and Tanvir Abbasi, and added that during the One-Unit Movement poets and writers did a great job.
Professor Sahar Ansari walked up to the podium and in his usually scholarly style and enlightened the participants of the seminar with pearls of wisdom. He started by saying that literature cannot be created in an unreal world; it is grounded in reality, because it's created with words which take shape in society.
He quoted Greek playwright Euripides who said 'till now we've spoken in the language of the gods, now we'll speak in the language of human beings.' Socrates rebelled against values which were not human. Rumi was also looking for human beings to interact with. Rousseau in his famous Social Contract began by saying 'man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains.' Therefore, Prof Ansari said, resistance literature is a continuation of such thoughts that are based in reality.
Prof Sahar Ansari touched upon writers of regional languages and mentioned the names of Mast Tawakkuli, Rahman Baba and Khushhaal Khan Khatak and was all praise for their role in creating awareness in society.
During the seminar, poets Sohail Ahmed, Saghir Ahmed Jafferi and Muslim Shamim recited their poems relevant to the occasion. The programme was conducted by Muzaffar Iqbal Sufi.
