Eminent short-story writer and columnist Intezaar Husain presided over the condolence meeting at the Pakistan Academy of Letters.
A galaxy of writers of Rawalpindi and Islamabad said how much they were smitten with the love of Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi, his magic personality as well as the majesty of his prose and poetic works.
His death has created a great void in the literary scene of Pakistan which is difficult to be filled, observed Intezaar Husain.
He said Lahore, in particular, had lost a father figure, the last of the great solicitous personalities about the physical and spiritual needs of Lahorite’s. In fact he was the last of the great short-story writers of the Progressive Writers Movement.
As a literary journalist he inspired and guided three generations of young writers and groomed them to literary maturity. They always sought his advice and guidance on a number of literary and mundane things, even about living a good life, Intezaar Husain said.
PAL chief Iftikhar Arif started the proceedings of the meeting and recited from the literary works of Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi. He said Qasmi sahib was the last of the literary editors who searched for and nurtured writers.
The PAL chief announced that the next issue of the quarterly journal Adbiat would be dedicated to the memory of Qasmi Sahib and would contain a collection of essays and reflections on his personality and his creative works.
The suggestion for writers to sum up their personal reminiscences about Qasmi sahib came from his old friend Prof Fateh Muhammad Malik, Chairman of the National Language Authority.
He said during his life Qasmi sahib would go out of his way to help every one but all of us had been very neglectful of the last 15 years of life during which he was in great pain. “He endured the pain but would not mention his agony to any one”, said Prof Malik.
It reflected poorly on a society that could not take care of the spiritual and physical needs of its senior citizens, including those who have made significant contribution to strengthen the national panorama and perspective, Prof Malik said.
Writer and social activist Kishwar Naheed said if any one wanted to know the meaning of humility, and forbearance and greatness he must look at the life of Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi. He would give valuable advice as well as nurture a stream of writers through his literary magazines Naqoosh and Fanoon.
Poet Shabnam Shakeel was almost in tears when she spoke of Qasmi sahib’s father figure and his habit of showering love on every one and his solicitous help to young writers.
He freely provided access of all his knowledge and experience to every one who came to him for help, she said.
Critic Shaheen Mufti likened Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi’s life to a river stream which had now submerged in the greater expanse of ocean. He portrayed the life of downtrodden section of the society.
Short-story writer Mansha Yad remembered his first meeting with Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi in 1963, which since had grown to friendship. He said Qasmi sahib was one of the last short-story writers in the tradition of Prem Chand and depicted the problems and miseries of the rural life.
Poet Mohsin Ihsan spoke of Qasmi’s stint as a programme officer in Radio Pakistan, Peshawar, which he joined a few months before the creation of Pakistan.
During those years Qasmi wrote a memorable drama Shikast-o-Fatah that became popular. He spoke of the days he had shared with Qasmi in Canada and USA.