On the third day of the four-day Thirteenth International Urdu Conference being held at Karachi Arts Council, a session titled “One Hundred Years of Urdu Journalism” was conducted.
Eminent journalists expressed their views and talked on the subject. The well-known journalist Wasatullah Khan said that the element of professionalism has faded in journalism compared to past. Asma Shirazi, a well-known anchor, while participating in the conversation, said that nowadays there is an era of puppets in journalism. She said that in the present era a remote- controlled society can be formed.
Well-known journalist Sohail Warraich, while participating in the discussion, said that recent journalism does not have written restrictions but in fact there are some restrictions, some channels are banned while some are independent. And that is the perfection of journalism, he said, adding that only Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was the only leader who understood the importance of journalism and newspapers.
Leading journalist and columnist Mazhar Abbas Journalism does not exist. In the past, newspaper policies were decided by editors, now by marketing people. Well-known journalist Wajahat Masood, while expressing his views on journalism, said that in the present times, the editor’s blessing has come in the form of cable operators.
Owais Tawheed said that the development of journalism started in the nineties and since the beginning of the century there has been a period of prosperity among journalists. He said that Pakistani journalism is facing major challenges in recent times, there is no room for disagreement in the present journalism and in journalism, resistance seems to be dying out. The session was hosted by renowned TV anchor Wasim Badami. At the end of the session, Arts Council President Ahmad Shah thanked the participants. A session titled “Hundred Years of Education” was also organized. Syed Jaffer Ahmed presided over the session titled “100 Years of Education”.
Speaking on the occasion, Sindh Education Minister Saeed Ghani said that there is an effort due to the Corona epidemic. He said that children should not be kept away from education, however, the challenge is huge for which the cooperation of communities is very important. He said that public-private partnership has benefited in many places, said eminent researcher Yousuf Kushk. Dr. Riaz Sheikh expressed disappointment over the quality of education and the performance of the Higher Education Commission. In response to a question from the audience, Saeed Ghani said that he was not in favor of closing the school in the second phase of the epidemic. The decision was taken under duress. Well-known publisher Amina Syed said that the curriculum developed by the federation in 2006 is excellent based on peace and brotherhood and the continuation of the same curriculum will be seen in 2012, he said, adding that the examination system should be changed. Talking about the quality of research, I said that the freedom that universities and students need for research is not available, which is why our research does not seem to be flourishing.
At the session under the theme “A Century of Urdu Fiction” in which eminent writers discussed various topics related to fiction, presided over by Akhtar Saeedi. Zahida Hina, referring to “Modern Sensitivity and Modern Urdu Fiction”, said that a writer informs his readers about the state of society through literature, a writer and an intellectual who uses literature as a tool. They never make their place in the courts but their job is to convey the truth and facts to the people in their original form, he said, adding that in our society there has been a return from enlightenment to narrow-mindedness. Qurat-ul-Ain Haider and other fiction writers, Sajid Rashid’s story is unforgettable in this context, Saba Ikram while discussing the topic of “Creative styles of contemporary fiction” said that style is an Arabic word which currently used in Urdu in the sense of style. He said that style is not imposed from outside. Rather, it emanates from within a creator himself. He said that the styles that appear in contemporary languages come from creation itself. What a creator feels is also seen in his style, said Amjad Tufail.
Talking on the topic of “Urdu Fiction: In the Context of Reality, Symbolism and Modernity”, he said that it is important to keep literature and cultural life out and those who are promoting literature and culture even in unfavorable conditions are valuable.
Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi is the most prominent.
He said that the journey of Urdu fiction spans 117 years. In the 1930s, fiction took a turn for the worse. People associated with progressive movement and circle of taste masters complete the theory of realism.Talking online from Lahore on the topic of “Resistance Fiction in Urdu”, Abbas Nair said that some people think that the process of writing is a resistance rather than a self-resistance.
Speaking on the topic of “Urdu Fiction and Our Political History”, Zeb Azkar Hussain said that Urdu fiction can generally be seen in the hands of Munshi Prem Chand in terms of its evolutionary stages, said Sajjad Zaheer. The novel “Dulari” hurts the society while his other novel “Summer Night” also seems to hurt deeply and all these were based on the deep observations and experiences of Sajjad Zaheer.
He said that Krishna Chandra, Hayat Ansari, names of Ali Abbas, Saadat Hassan Manto, Ismat Chughtai, Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi, Mirza Adib, Hameed Akhtar, Khadija Mastoor, Hajira Mastoor, and others seem important in this regard. The last stage of degradation has been presented. Similarly, it is mentioned in great detail in Qudratullah Shehab’s “Shahabnameh”. He said that the political situation in our society has not affected our creations but the youth. I see great potential while women novelists are also writing great fiction. He said that the evolution of fiction can never be stopped, Iqbal Khor talking on the topic of “Terrorism and Urdu Fiction”, Shaid said that when a person dies, a story is born. Literature is not made up of subjects but of style. Making any big event an immediate story can confuse the writer.
A session was organized to mark the hundred years of Urdu ghazal.
In his essay, Haseeb Anbar, a well-known poet, reviewed ghazal in a post-modern context However, mechanical life has changed the mood of ghazal in recent times. Well-known poet and critic Rukhsana Saba, while presenting an essay on the subject of changes in the style of feeling in Urdu literature, said that in the present era, the element of modernity is evident in a ghazal.
Faiz and other contemporary poets changed the style and feel of a ghazal by adding political and social elements in their ghazals. In the era of ghazal, some poets added funny elements in ghazal but these experiences were not appreciated.
Appreciate Fahim Sahanas Kazmi while presenting his essay on Urdu ghazal and social behavior said that ghazal is the glory of our civilization and Urdu poetry.
At the session titled “Memoirs”, various speakers highlighted the scholarly and literary services of those who have passed away. Nadeem Zafar Talking about the late Masood Mufti, a well-known novelist, and author of several books, Siddiqui said that he had met Masood Mufti only a month ago. He had been associated with literature for the last 60 years. In 1971, he visited ex-East Pakistan. He also said that Masood Mufti’s priority was fiction. Every book of his is a chapter of national literature. His fiction, plays, novels, and memoirs are deep in the minds of the readers. He lived a full life and always wrote with the truth. There is nothing wrong with being a pure realist. Whatever he wrote, whether it was fiction or a novel, was really included in it, Mazhar Mahmood Sherani used to talk about the late. Rauf Parikh said that Mazhar Mahmood Sherani was really a manifestation of ancient sciences There were two big things in his life, one of which he has completed and that was to hide his great grandfather’s treasure of knowledge, Mazhar Mahmood Sherani compiled it in ten volumes in fact, he was a part of it.
Actor, producer, director and television broadcaster Zia Mohyuddin hosted a session on ‘Urdu Ka ShahkarMizah’ with his graceful style and punching note. He read excerpts from various fiction pieces and stories and enthralled the audience to the limit.
