His eloquence: impeccable. His verbal intonations: natural. His charisma: unparalleled. His personality: mesmerizing. He is Mr Zia Mohyeddin, the man who has remained charismatic with his written and verbal skills both in English and Urdu. It is perhaps in Mr Zia Mohyeddin’s DNA to speak so fluently and persuasively that every listener forgets the world and focuses on what he is saying. There is a magical essence in his words, where each finds its exact place in the listener’s mind and heart, eventually reaching the soul, to shake it and stir it. The words that look simple and ordinary become prodigious and exceptional when they exit Mr. Zia Mohyeddin’s lips and touch us in a unique way. The same can be seen in Mr Zia Mohyeddin’s writing. His articles and essays have the allure that compels us to keep reading his words that echo in our mind the message Mr Zia Mohyeddin wants to convey. He knows well how to articulate his words and how best to use them appropriately. While reading Mr Zia Mohyeddin’s “A Carrot is a Carrot — Memories and Reflections” one can comprehend more of Mr Zia’s writing style. Reading Mr Zia Mohyeddin’s works — both in prose and poetry — the readers come face-to-face with his thought-process which he preserves in each one of his words. An example of Mr Zia Mohyeddin’s literary prowess can be gauged by reading a paragraph from the essay ‘Kasur’ from his collection of essays, A Carrot is a Carrot, in which he narrates the marketplace of Kasur, his native town: He writes, “There was an incredible commingling of smells in the bazaar. The acrid odor of tobacco and jaggery lying in open sacks, was soon overtaken by the aroma of freshly roasted grams. The cloth shops with their bolts of shiny silks and cottons gave off a whiff of vetiver; a few yards away was the soothing, breezy fragrance of sherbets which again dissolved into the tangy, spicy fumes of fried aubergines. The provision shops didn’t smell of turmeric and coriander, but fenugreek, which was a great Kasur specialty.” What you see in Mr Zia Mohyeddin’s writing is a keen sense of how he uses the concept of ‘show, don’t tell’ to the most and adds value to the narrative. Zia Mohyeddin’s command over both English and Urdu languages — verbal and written — in prose and poetry, is an unmatched and an unparalleled phenomenon Recently, Mr Zia Mohyeddin conducted a poetry recital and read his prose in Dubai. Ms Najia Syed and Mr Khurram Jehanzeb had the privilege of spending quality time with Mr Zia Ms Najia said, “It has always a dream of mine to meet people like him (Mr Zia) who have shaped the literary culture in Pakistan. And for me, this was the first such interaction. I certainly was over the moon. I was volunteering for this event, which is how I met him. The way he brings the text to life, and the way he acts every character on its own, and how his feelings show up in his recitations are the best part of his narrations. If the text is humorous, he will make sure you laugh at it, if it is a sad one, his narration will make you feel its sobriety. I might have listened to him countless times on videos. But it really was overwhelming to listen to him, knowing he is standing just a few feet away from you.” Mr Khurram Jehanzeb, who facilitated Mr. Zia during his stay in Dubai, said, “I watched him on TV and idealized during my teenage and adult life and never had a thought that I will spend three days with him, sit next to him and drive him around. I cannot explain these feelings in words. He is very down to earth and friendly. His sense of humor is commendable and the way he speaks is awesome. I was with him when he was doing the rehearsals, behind the curtains he is a very jolly person and of course the experience of listening to him live was priceless.” Mr Zia Mohyeddin is a marvel in his own regard, his command over both English and Urdu language, verbal and written, in prose and poetry, is an unmatched and an unparalleled phenomenon. When he recites Urdu prose or poetry, his vocal intonations, voice modulation, and facial expressions make listeners and audience members become an active part of his narration. He has the acumen to understand historical and contemporary concepts of arts and literature and his expertise, perspicacity, and proficiency in Urdu literature makes him an institution. The writer is a columnist and an author Published in Daily Times, December 6th 2017.