KARACHI, Aug 17: Speakers highlighted the finer points of distinguished columnist, poet, novelist and Marxist scholar Comrade Anwar Ahsan Siddiqui’s life and works at a meeting held to pay homage to him at the Karachi Press Club on Friday.

Anwar Ahsan Siddiqui passed away on July 20.

Poetess Fahmida Riaz, who presided over the event, said she had known Mr Siddiqui from the time when he was involved in a students’ struggle against a military dictator in the 1960s. At the time the students were forced to leave Karachi and Mr Siddiqui was fighting against all odds to spread his and students’ message. She hailed Karachi for being the city that stood against the dictator and sided with Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah. She stressed the need for never forgetting what Mr Siddiqui stood for.

Dr Jaffer Ahmed read a very incisive paper on the topic. He argued that Mr Siddiqui had struggled all through his life not for himself but for hundreds of thousands of marginalized people; he wanted to see man have his fundamental rights (bashar ki azadi). He said that Mr Siddiqui had done nothing in his entire course of life which could have hurt his reputation. He never hankered after fame or recognition. He was a true revolutionary who used the pen both to earn a living and to spread his message. He said Mr Siddiqui had written about his life in a magazine published by his nephew writer Asif Farrukhi and it would be worthwhile if the rest of his life story and whatever so far had been published could be compiled into a book. Similarly, his columns must also be compiled. Whatever he wrote was always steeped in Marxist philosophy, he said. After the likes of Sibte Hasan and Hamza Alvi, Mr Siddiqui was the one who showed many how to serve and think for mankind.

Prof Sahar Ansari touched on the magazine Loh-o-Qalam that Mr Siddiqui used to edit. He praised his organisational skills. He told the audience that Mr Siddiqui had made units in every college and whatever transpired at literary gatherings in colleges would get published in Loh-o-Qalam. He said Mr Siddiqui had the quality to inspire people but he would never glorify himself.

He also talked about how the late poet and columnist influenced women in the 1960s to join the struggle he was an integral part of.

Asif Farrukhi shed light on Mr Siddiqui’s personal life. He said contrary to what people think he was quite a cheerful person. He would recite different poets’ poems in their distinct styles and often in family gatherings he would compose a humor-laden nazm and ask him (Farrukhi) to recite it. He said Mr Siddiqui keenly watched every TV play written by Ashfaq Ahmed and Bano Qudsia.

Speaking about his high self-esteem, Mr Farrukhi said when Mr Siddiqui was diagnosed with cancer he never sought any kind of help from anyone. He added that while he revealed a lot about the Communist Party, its members and the incidents associated with them, there were many things he never brought to light.

Dr Shershah Syed said in a society where every noted individual belonging to every sphere of life was mired in corruption, it was important to remember Mr Siddiqui who was an exceedingly honest man.

Journalist Shahid Husain, Mujahid Barelvi, Ahmed Shah and Kamran Asdar also spoke. The event was conducted by Fazil Jamili.