Iqbal Aur
Insan Dosti, a book by Talib Hussain
Sayal, begins with a quote from Iqbal's new
year message of January 1938 which was
broadcast by the All India Radio. "The
survival of humanity on our planet depends
on the principle of respect to all humans,"
it read. It went on to say, "As long as the
world powers will not solidly concentrate
their efforts on imbibing respect for all
humans, the earth shall remain an arena of
blood-thirsty savages fighting among
themselves."
Never did these words ring as true as they
do today. Looking at the growing popularity
of Allama Iqbal's humanitarian message to
the nations upholding the cause of peace,
the writer Mr Sayal, believes that the new
year will be dominated by publications on
the great poet.
Some books published at the fag end of the
Iqbal year (2002), caught popular attention
in later months, such as Iqbal Shinasi
by Dr Manzoor Ahmad (Idara-i-Saqafat-i-Islamia),
which gave a new interpretation of Iqbal's
works, challenging the stereotyped and
stagnant scholarship on him. Another
noteworthy book was Talash-i-Iqbal by
Dr Mohammad Ali Siddiqui (Pakistan Study
Centre, Karachi University).
Rahnaward-i-Shauq: Mohammad Iqbal,
Hayat Aur Karnamey by Iqbal Singh (OUP), an
Urdu version of the author's original
English text with some additions, was
another important publication of the year.
Also based on the early phase of Iqbal's
poetry is a treatise Dama-dum Ravan Hai
Yam-i-Zindagi (Alhamra) by Khurram Ali
Shafique. Afkar-i-Iqbal: Aham Goshay
by Mohammad Afzal Hameed is also an
important study on Iqbal and his poetic
thought.
Ghalib's popularity keeps growing with the
passage of time, posing a challenge to the
writers to delve deeper into his fascinating
poetry. Last year was no different and there
was a spate of books on the 19th century
poet. Ghalib: Nazar aur Nazzara by Dr
Hanif Fauq (Idara-i-Yaadgar-i-Ghalib) is a
collection of the author's research articles
on the subject. Taabirat-i-Ghalib is
another publication on the poet. It is a
collection of papers by Dr Farman Fatehpuri.
An indepth study of the history of Urdu
literature was Urdu Adab Ki Tareekh: from
its origin to 1857, spread over 19
chapters describing the overall cultural and
literary scenario of each period (Sang-e-Meel)
written by Dr Tabassum Kashmiri.
Kuliyat-i-Yagana (Academy Bazyaft) by
noted researcher Mushfiq Khawaja is a
voluminous work on the life of a great poet
mostly misunderstood by his detractors.
Hakim Momin Khan Momin, a commendable
effort on the poetry of this romantist par
excellence (Pakistani Adab) was made by
Ikram Barelvi better known for writing
fiction.
In the area of literary criticism, there
were mostly compilations of published
articles occasionally with valuable
additions. Adab Aur Rooh-i-Asr was
one such valued book by the late professor
Mumtaz Hussain, jointly compiled by the
erudite author's daughter and Asif Farrukhi
- a posthumous publication from Scheherzade.
Pas-i-Alfaz by Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi (Asatir)
was a collection of Qasmi's articles written
at different issues. Another publication of
this genre was Mushaheday by Waziri
Panipati, comprising his brief comments on
literary topics, and Pakistani Adab,
a selection of literary pieces compiled by
Izharul Haq and Farrukhyar, was published by
Adbiat-i-Pakistan.
Urdu Masnavian by Gopichand Narang,
comprising Indian folk tales, published much
earlier in India, was published in Pakistan
by Sang-e-Meel.
Bardasht Key Kayi Chehray, (the many
faces of tolerance) was a bilingual
anthology based on a dialogue between Rumana
Hussain and Harris Khalique, coming from
Human Rights Education Programme, a noble
effort in the making of a tolerant society.
Hudood Shikni Kay Khaab by the famous
feminist writer, Fatima Mernissi, was a
translation by Yasmeen Hameed and was
published by Simorgh Resource and
Publication Centre, Lahore. The book reveals
the truth of "women's subordination".
Relevant in this context were the selective
writings by women writers compiled by
Khaleda Hussain, Kishwar Naheed and Aslam
Farrukhi and published by Academy
Adbiat-i-Pakistan.
Khamoshi ki Awaz was another
compilation by Fatema Hasan and Asif
Farrukhi (Wada Kitab Ghar) based on the
deliberations of a seminar on feminist
writings in Karachi.
Qurrat-ul-Ain Haider Ke Khatoot, 44
letters (including three in English) written
by Ms Haider to Khalid Hasan spread over 17
years, compiled by the latter, were
published by Aaj Publications. The letters
written in a conversational style also carry
some information of a biographical nature.
Dilli Jo Ek Shaher Tha by Intizar
Hussain (Sang-e-Meel) is a socio-cultural
history of Dilli (not Dehli) beginning from
ancient times to the present, describing
minor details occurring in the lifestyle and
the spoken language of common people, a
track-2 in history writing as one may say.
Only a small number of novels were written
last year. However, Toofan Ki Aahat
by Mushtafa Karim, a historical novel,
entirely different from the so called
hackneyed historical novels was received
well with the readers. It portrayed the
events which led to the war of Plassy in
1776. It was published by Scheherzade.
Kaghzi Ghat, another novel by Khaleda
Hasan (Dost Publications, Islamabad) is also
different from traditional narratives.
Rahman Muznib Academy of Lahore published
several volumes from the late fiction writer
Rahman Muznib. Gulbadan and
Khushboo Wali Gali from the author
portray the life in the city's red-light
area.
Kalank, the Urdu translation of
Fauzia Saeed's Taboo, a research
study on the life of a red light area, is an
important sociological exposure. Fehmida
Riaz translated it for Oxford University
Press.
Two other novels, one Lahoo Phir Tapka
by Anwer Ahsan Siddiqui (Ali Mian
Publication, Lahore) and the other titled
Choti Bai authored and published by Matin
Ahmad Khan, are diametrically different from
each other, the former presenting Karachi in
the phase of its social decline and the
other nostalgically recalling the
pre-Partition non-sectarian city of Nagpur.
The lost and much lamented Lahore by
Gopal Mittal provided lasting images of the
city before the Partition (Book Home).
Lagan Apni Apni by Bano Qudsia,
Internet Cafe by Najmul Hasan Rizvi, and
Andhi Ke Pattey by Shamshad Ahmad were
some story collections of the year.
The biography of Hakim Ajmal Khan by Intizar
Hussain (Sang-e-Meel), Apna Gareban
Chaak, the autobiography of Dr Javed
Iqbal (again Sang-e-Meel), a biographical
sketch of the noted story writer Mumtaz
Mufti (Ferozsons) and Deeda-i-Beena,
personality sketches by Nazrul Hasan
Siddiqui (Scheherzade) were some prime
publications of the year.
A detailed account of
Halq-i-Arbab-i-Zauq: Khad-o-Khal, a
biography of a literary organization was
written by Agha Baber and published for the
benefit of the literary historians.
Taqseem-i-Hind aur Bahadur Shah Zafar
by Abdur Raman Siddiqi was an attempt at
re-analyzing history through eminent
characters in an allegorical form.
Salasil (an abridged Urdu version of
Alex Haley's monumental novel, Roots) was a
courageous attempt by Anwar Fatema Jafri,
(Academy Bazyaft).Shahid Hameed proved his
mettle as a translater introducing to Urdu
readers some major classical novels from
Gorky, Tolstoy, Victor Hugo and many others,
apart from the famous War and Peace
and Pride and Prejudice, some years
back. Bada Aina and Dhoop Mein
Log, translated from the Arab writers of
Morocco and Palestine, by Shahid Hameed and
published by Scheherzade, introduced to the
readers the freedom struggle of the Arabs
against the occupying forces of Israel.
The largest number of publications in Urdu
was in the form of poetry collections.
Yaani, a collection of ghazals by an
erudite poet Jaun Elia, was in much demand
last year.
Doha, originally a Hindi poetic form got
currency with Jamiluddin Ali's Dohay,
followed by another famous poet Ilyas Ishqi
bringing out Doha Hazari (Idrak
Publications).
Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi's poetic wisdom
translated into Naghmay by Zafar Azam was
received well among many poetry collections
(Liberty Books), so were the poetry
collections Ghazal-i-Dasht-i-Sagan by
Khalid Alig, Ravish-i-Baad-i-Saba by
Mehdi Ali Siddiqui and Munfarid by
Rafiq Jabir. The last three poets brought
out their nascent poetry collections after
decades of writing poetry, unmindful of the
usual longing for self projection.
Azab-i-Hamsaegi by Faza Azmi (Javedan),
a long poem with political overtones, was
also received well.
Shabnama Aur Doosri Nazmain, E-mail Aur
Doosri Nazmain, and Jang Ke Dinon
Mein by Zeeshan Sahil (Aaj ki Kitabain)
were thematic poetry collections with modern
diction. Many other poetry collections from
several poets, however, poured in only to
receive a cold reception at the sales
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