Ego, negative sentiments pushing our society toward injustice’

Fiction work on challenges of social injustice, gender inequality launched

Renowned poet and writer Kishwar Naheed on Monday said due to lack of priorities, egotism and lack of positive sentiments for one another, we are pushing our society toward injustice, inequality, discrimination and prejudice.

She was speaking at a book launch titled 'Kutbon ke Darmian' or Between the Gravestones authored by Dr Humaira Ashfaq, an acclaimed literary critic and fiction writer. The book launch was organised by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) in Islamabad.

Naheed said that in order to bring a positive change in our society we all have to give up our arrogance, and need to show some empathy to one another and must allow learned and educated personalities to lead the society from the front.

While commenting on the book, Naheed said that the way societal pressing issues originally portray in the form of fiction shows the maturity of the author, which lack in our young scholars. “Dr Humaira  writes from the point of view of a third person to avoid biases and exaggeration, which can be observed in her fictions such as Bhagbhari and Ghuggo Ghory,” she said adding that the messages in the fictions shows that the author has clear thoughts and conviction to bring positive change in society.

Naheed stressed the need for educating the society, especially the young generation, on norms and values.

SDPI Executive Director Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri in his recorded message said that the author through her fictions in her book skillfully unfolds the true face of the society. "The fiction 'Thook' or Spit is a story about class system in the society, which tells the suffering and exploitation of marginalised segment of the society and shows the collective societal behaviour and attitude," he said adding that the author took courageous and bold steps to present the stark reality of the society.

Hameed Shahid, an acclaimed short story writer and critic said that every fiction of the book has a different message which highlights different perspectives of the society. He said the fictions 'Duniya Ab Bhi Khobsorat Hay' or the world is still beautiful and Bhagbhari give hope in this world and provide the purpose of life.

The author tried to present the social realities through women’s perspective, he added.

Renowned poet and SDPI Senior Advisor Ahmed Saleem said that the book is an anthology of short Urdu stories which covers social, political, judicial and economic challenges of the society.

"Dr Humaira (the author) in her short stories tried to shed light on pressing issues including gender inequality, social justice and women economic empowerment," he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 29^th, 2019.