Daily Times

The literary information that the magazine Takhleeq has been providing since 48 years continuously on monthly basis at an affordable price, is commendable.

In June 2017, Muhammad Sajid provided some basic information on the great Ravian teacher Professor Sabir Lodhi who was born after a lot of praying at the shrine of Hazrat Allauddin Sabir by his parents. Hence the title Sabri was adopted as part of his name after he was born in Hushiarpur. He started his career as a lecturer at Aitchison College, Lahore and then spent 33 years as part of faculty of Urdu Department, Government College, Lahore. His book comprising sketches appeared in 2012. His work on criticism and research is scattered which needs to be put together. He married Queen Mary College, Lahore chief librarian Farkhanda Lodhi in 1961, the year he had joined GC as lecturer. She too carried a name in literature.

Hasan Askari Kazmi has discussed Roshini Misaal – late Aizaz Ahmad Aazar’s book on poetry. In this reviewer’s opinion, Aizaz being a humble person was also modest when he addressed the Almighty. He says, “Main Jaise Taise Bhi Lafzon Ko Jore Laya Hu / Qalam Ke Khaliq-o-Maalik Inhe Muani De” (I have somehow or the other managed to knit words together, it is for You, the Creator of pen to give them meanings). This book comprises poetry in the domains, Hamd, Naat, salaam, Manqabat and Kafi.

This reviewer contributed his impressions of how late singer Parvez Mehdi won the title Mehdi because of him being a true pupil of veteran Mehdi Hasan. Why, because this reviewer has seen him spend his lifetime in serving his teacher with diligence and acquiring his teacher’s skills by accompanying him at almost all of his performances. He would carry his teacher’s instrument ‘Surmandal’ all the time. By doing so, he developed his teacher’s singing style right from the days when he was a novice. Normally in such eventualities, a singer gets less opportunity to make an independent niche for himself and get recognition on his own. Surprisingly Parvez Mehdi managed to get out of this imprint when Mehdi Hassan was at the peak of his career. So by and large, music lovers consider him the third best male ghazal singer after Mehdi Hassan and Ghulam Ali.

Writer Muslim Shamim discusses the impact of globalisation on literature in his article ‘Mughalia Daur Main Rasikh ul Aiteqadi Ka Ubhar’ (Liberalism in Mughal Rule). He agrees with the impressions of Dr Jamil Jalibi that continuing writing literature without keep in mind the changes that have taken place globally would be hitting in the dark.

Dr Muhammad Ajmal Niazi glorifies the personality of Bushra Rehman in his submission ‘Nigar-e-Sukhan’. He finds Bushra as a complete woman from whom half women stay away. Bushra does not bother. When she wrote plays, they left a new taste in the readers’ mind. On a different topic Zafar Sipal discusses how as a reaction to Mughal King Akbar’s liberal policies, Sheikh Muhadas Dehelvi, Sheikh Ahmad Sarhindi and Hazrat Khwaja Baqi Billa introduced the fourth Sufi Link, Naqshbandi.

Writer Muslim Shamim discusses the impact of globalisation on literature in his article Liberalism during Mughal Rule

There have been many cases where a poet has not liked to be a part of lobby to remain in the forefront of literary groupings. One case is that of Dr Mahmud Aseer from Sargodha. It was due to the encouragement of personalities such as Prof. Riaz Ahmad Shad, Professor Sajjad Hussain Naqvi and Dr Anwar Sadeed that Mahmud Aseer 35 years journey is complete with inventive criticism. Akhlaq Atif informs that his doctoral thesis titled ‘Maulana Salah uddin Ahmad – Ehwal-o-Asaar’ won him PhD degree. In 2013 he wrote a book on criticism titled Auraq Ki Khidmat (The services of literary magazine Auraq). His latest works are ‘Tadrees-e-Adab-o-Tehqeeq’ (teaching literature and research) and ‘Tehreekat-e-Tangeedat’ (Movements and Criticisms). All these books contain articles on varied topics of literature and criticism. Dr Aseer is also a poet and his friends pray that his books appear in his lifetime.

In another article, Malik Ashraf Zaki declares Professor Haroonur Rasheed Tabbasum a true torchbearer of Sargodha in the domain of literature.

From among poems by Azhar Javed, Jalil Aali, Bushra Rehman, Parveen Sher, Hasan Askari Kazmi, Sarfraz Syed, Neelum Ahmad Bashir, Shahzad Nayyar, Aasnath Kanwal, Seemab Bukhari, Amjad Babar and Sadia Sethi, this reviewer shall quote the poem titled ‘Hairat Hai’ (surprised) by Amjad Babar. It says ‘DNA Ki Takhti Par / Ankhon Kei Sehra Main / Tip Tip Girte Khwabon Par / Kainaat Badalne Wale / Lamha Ba Lamha Manazar Par / Neele Samunder Main Barish Ki Rim Jhim Par / Aik Nakaam Muhabbat Ki Barbadi Par / Hairat Hai’ (on DNA tests, in the desert of eyed, tip tip falling dreams, moment to moment changing scenes in the universe, rains in the blue ocean on failed lobe, I am surprised). Amjad perhaps realizes that all these are the acts of God. In poems writing poets get to refer to many diverse themes without the restrictions of rhymes.

Dr Rasheed Amjad, author of many short stories has touched the nerve of unblessed present day living in his short story titled ‘Barkat’ (blessed). In the old days simple living had happiness. Now everybody has all the amenities of life but people are too busy to share moments of joy with one another. Realisation came to the master of the house that it was home then and is a house now where robots lived.

A very interesting section titled ‘Yaad Nigari’ comprises remembrances by Rasheed Amjad, Anwar Sadeed and Salma Awan. The first one’s submission is titled ‘Ashiqui Sabr Talab’. It talks about the philosophy of death to the shortfall of electricity in Pakistan. Anwar Sadeed speaks of his student life in an article titled ‘Ghum-e-Dauran Sei Pehle.

There are ghazals, sketches, travelogues, reviews and letters to the editor. So much in so little cost, thanks to Sonaan Azhar Javed.

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, July 27^th 2017.