With 18 collections of poetry and 20 prose books to his credit written over half a century, noted poet and critic Shahzad Ahmed is convinced that prose may be as enchanting as Urdu verse.

“Earlier when I felt depressed, I used poetry as a remedy to uplift my spirits. When I began studying physics, I discovered that it also has the magic properties of verse,” says the eminent poet in an interview with Dawn. “The study of cosmology, for instance, is as fascinating to me as poetry.”

He, however, clarifies that physics' scope is limited, but poetry may reach the last conceivable particle of the universe.

Though he is rarely seen at mushairas, the septuagenarian poet is one of the most sought-after poets at such events, as his thoughtful couplets provoke hearty applauses at poetry recitals.

Teri Jannat say nikala hua insaan hoon mein/ Mera aizaz azal say he khatakari hei

Dau balayain meri aankhon ka muqaddar Shahzad/ aik tau neend hei aur doosaray beidari hei

He, however, attended mushairas organised by the Sakinan-i-Shehr-i-Quaid in Karachi thrice.

“Actually,” he says, “public recitals are not my cup of tea. But I don't consider them as something forbidden. This is where poets learn how to interact and communicate with the people.”

Widely hailed as a poet of a distinct style, Shahzad says “Living in the same era, poets are compelled to use the vocabulary in currency. Zafar Iqbal and Ahmed Faraz, for instance, used similar words, but they are distinct in their styles.”

In another context, he says “Mere pulling out words from here and planting them there doesn't make you a great poet.

“I appreciated the progressive writers as they came up with a new lot of ideas. Urdu poetry needs fresh ideas to flourish.”

Answering a question about Urdu's future, he says it is not correct to assume that Urdu has a bright future because Indian films are promoting it.

And what steps may help advance Urdu's cause in Pakistan? “If competitive examinations are held in Urdu, as well as in English, it will lure the younger generation to Urdu studies.

“For the survival of any language, it is imperative that it is linked with the economy. Urdu, which has been associated either with royal courts or literature, has to be made a language of knowledge.” Besides, he says, Urdu be made the language of technology if not that of science. “Why can't we introduce masters and doctorates in the trades of carpentry, blacksmithing, goldsmithing and computers in Urdu?” He says Sindhi and Punjabi have better prospects of survival because they are linked with agriculture.

Criticising legislators' indifference to the language, he says they treat Urdu like the Kalabagh dam issue - a lot of talk and no practical steps. He says the 1973 constitution stipulated that Urdu be made the official language within 15 years. “In 1988, the groundwork was ready for Urdu's adoption as the official language. Even where we had trouble in translating English terms, we could use the English ones for the time being. But our bureaucracy was not interested in it. The legislators, too, haven't moved even a single resolution in the National Assembly to make Urdu the official language.”

Answering a related question, he mocks PhD theses supervised by various university professors. “It seems they have become stuck in a groove, repeating the same pattern over and over again. For instance, a thesis on short story invariably begins with a brief history of fiction. And then a dozen experts are asked to send in their opinions on the literary genre. ... And, lo, the thesis is complete.” He suggests that the universities change the pattern and introduce some creativity in thesis writing.

With a master's in psychology, he is naturally fond of Sigmund Freud, the father of modern psychology. He is among the four top psychoanalysts on whom Shahzad sahib has written books. Two more books he has in the works in this series will cover six more psychologists. He recalls that his translation of Dr Abdul Salam's works was seen and appreciated by the late Nobel laureate.

Heading the Majlis-i-Taraqqi-i-Adab, he has ambitious plans for the literary body as he expects funds from the government. He has set up a library with the manuscripts left over from his predecessor Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi's era. The library has as many as 20,000 books. About 4,000 of them are more than a century old classics.

Majlis staff, which is fewer than 20, gets salary from the Punjab government. The government has approved Rs60 million for the construction of a library building and Rs25 million to hire staff and a building for their stay till the library project completes

“The Pakistan Academy of Letters has also resumed its assistance to the MTA, though on a small scale. PAL chairman Fakhar Zaman has excused himself for this fiscal year, saying he doesn't have much funds, but next year, he is expected to release a significant amount of funds,” says Shahzad.

Born on April 16, 1932 in Amritsar, Shahzad Ahmed composed his first verses when he was in grade six or seven. His first collection of poetry, Sadaf, was published in 1958 and the last one, Aanay walla kal, appeared in 1995. Another collection, to be titled Mitti jaisay loag, is ready for publication.

The many awards he has received include The Pride of Performance award, Adamji award, Naqoosh award (twice) and Iqbal award (twice).