Lahore Literary Festival: Captivating reading

Zia Mohiuddin says reading style influences understanding of a writing.

LAHORE:

“An appropriate reading style is vital to the appreciation of a literary piece,” said Zia Mohiuddin on Saturday.

He was addressing a well-attended first session of the Lahore Literary Festival on the second day. Mohiuddin read, in his unique style, an excerpt from Mushtaq Ahmad Yousafi’s book Zarguzasht. “Indian Muslims, during the four centuries preceding the partition of the sub-continent, deemed trade fit for dishonourable people. They feared that with to a little carelessness, they might actually make a profit.” The excerpt drew laughter from the audience.

The second excerpt was a short Urdu essay, Khansaama, which portrayed the writer’s helplessness at finding a good cook.

Zia Mohiuddin’s clarity of voice and apt rendition of the sharp, crisp satire by Yousafi in other works, Aana Ghar Mein Murghion Ka and Chiragh Talay had the audience mesmerised. More often than not, the audience would interrupt the reading with laughter and applause.

A second session by Zia Mohiuddin was attended by an equally large number of audience at Hall-2. Here he read his own writings in English.

The first essay, Ten Men and A Horse, was laced with humour. It told the tale of a cricket match played between a team that included a horse which out-played the other team.

He next narrated was an essay titled An Equal Music by Vikram Seth.

The sentence, “I am in a world where I know everything, and nothing” was received with a huge applause. He concluded the session by reading a satirical piece titled The Hero Must be Well Fed.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 23^rd, 2014.