Daily Times

Tasteer is just not a literary magazine. It is continuity in book writing. Its April-June 2017 issue is a voluminous literary collection on all aspects of literature. Eminent poet Naseer Ahmad Nasir discusses the real meaning of naturalism, curricula and comparative literature in the editorial. The site Literary Devices defines ‘naturalism as a literary genre that started as a literary movement in late nineteenth century in literature, film, theater and art. It is a type of extreme realism. This movement suggested the role of family background, social conditions and environment in shaping human character. Thus, naturalistic writers write stories based on the idea that environment determines and governs human character. We also see use of some of the scientific principles in naturalistic works, and humans struggling for survival in hostile and alien society. In fact, naturalism took its cue from Darwin’s theory of evolution that says life is like a struggle and only fittest ones can survive’. In a way Naseer Ahmad Nasir agrees and disagrees with this definition and says that this term is just not limited to mention of trees, flowers, jungles, mountains, birds, animals etc. He refers to the book by Hafeez Siddiqui that mentions use of nature in literature in four dimensions; a) external world, b) laws of nature c) character of everything and d) human nature. The editor of Tasteer touches upon a new issue in literature in its each issue like naturalism in this issue.

According to the origin myth of Shah Daula, the saint claimed that he had the power to cure infertility. The price for the cure was donation of the first born baby to the shrine. Otherwise, the rest of the children were to be cursed with disabilities

This reviewer found a dialogue between Aksi Mufti and the reader very interesting on Pakistani culture. The start is very interesting when the writer observes that a rat has superseded the human being. It changes its tactics each time to reach to its destination. The reader responds that we are rats of Shah Daula (Rats of Shah or ‘rat-children’, ‘chuas’ or ‘mice’ are children or adults suffering from microcephaly, exploited as beggars at the shrine of Shah Daula situated in Gujrat City, Punjab and elsewhere in Pakistan. They have sloping foreheads, narrow faces which have a rodent quality and mental disabilities. One explanation to the origin of Rats of Shah Doula is a so-called abuse myth. Shah Daula was a saint belonging from Seherwardi School of thought from Aurangzeb’s Era, came in Gujrat (Punjab, Pakistan). According to the abuse myth Shah Daula claimed that he had the power of making incapable women fertile, but at the price that those women had to pay was to donate their first born baby to shrine to be a “Rat of Shah Daula”. Otherwise the rest of her children would become disabled. A steel cap on our heads therefore has not only restricted the physical growth of our heads but also of our thinking. Whatever may happen we resist changing our way of thinking. What a stark resemblance to our present day socio-political scene!

On his essay ‘Abdullah Hussain Kei Saath Ba’ad Az Marg Aik Guftagoo’ (a dialogue with Abdullah Hussain after his demise) – writer Mustansar Hussain Tarrer observes that Abdullah Hussain’s personality cannot be restricted to a traditional cliché. Abdullah used to create his own fixture and fit in, in each situation. Next moment he would come out of that fit and emerge as a new human being. Tarrer used to avoid sitting in the panel of interviewers for Abdullah Hussain in the electronic media lest he asked some awkward questions. Tarrer did not desire to lose his friendship. Now that Abdullah was no more, Tarrer took out all his letters written to him from time to time and created a dialogue; a very interesting study.

It has been observed that creating literature for children is not being paid heed to nowadays. Naseer has included an essay by Dr. Uzma Saleemi wherein interviews comprising messages for children by four writers Bano Qudsia, Kishwer Naheed, Bushra Rehman and Salma Awan; all of female gender. Bano Qudsia makes a very interesting observation about children who try to be over-smart. She desires them to remain as innocent kids and not be influenced by the present-day clever surroundings.

Short story reading has always been this reviewer’s passion. Rasheed Amjad’s story ‘Kahani Nei Khwaab Daikha’ (story has a dream) intrigued this reviewer where the central character had a dream that he was lost. Whoever asked for him, his reply was that he did not exist. Story had a dream and story writer got lost! Rasheed Amjad’s stories have a quality that they are not lengthy and leave a mysterious impact behind them. Eleven more short stories are included in the book under review.

Long sections on Nazms, long poem, Nasari (Prose) Nazms and Mazharyati (Nature) Nazms are also included. That brings this reviewer to the essay ‘Jadeed Nazm Ko Samajhna Kyun Mushkil Hei’ (why it is difficult to understand modern poem) by Nasir Abbas Nayyar – Page 303 in the section on criticism. The need arose that leave aside ordinary readers, the poets themselves are sometimes unable to grasp the essence of Jadeed (modern) poem. When presented to audience by Yasmeen Hameed in one of Halqa Arbab e Zauq sessions, it took sometime before any of them has grasped its meanings. Despite difficulty in analyzing the essence of this form of poetry, it is becoming popular each day passing. The silence of about a hundred audience indicated that neither they were confronted with an ambiguous text nor with ordinary one. As a matter of fact the poem had taken them to another zone, not a new one. It had its presence in classic poem but modern poem had taken up to it to present its basic character more powerful.

Dr Abrar Ahmad compares the literary atmosphere of the past with the present social media-addicted one in an article titled ‘Badalte Samaji Rawabit Aur Hamara Adab’ (changed social contacts and our literature) – Page 373. He remembers his literary friends in Rawalpindi two decades ago with the present Face-book ones. The contents of Tasteer intrigue this reviewer so much to write but it suffices to state that it covers practically all forms of literature.

The writer is an award-winning musician and author. He tweets at @amjadparvez and can be reached at doc_amjad@hotmail.com

Published in Daily Times, September 15^th 2017.