Inspiring the creative efforts of authors

This is the third year in succession in which I have participated as a judge in a literary competition organised by a bank and a media group. It has been an interesting experience first browsing and then reading the books which were submitted for the contest. I have been able to gauge not just the writing quality but also the creative skills of young authors seeking their place in the sun. In 2012, the final ceremony was held in Karachi. In the last two years, however, the ritual took place in Lahore, the garden city and arguably the most beautiful metropolis in Pakistan. What struck me after it was all over was the gradual deterioration in various categories in the English entries — particularly fiction. Non-fiction appears to be the strongest genre and children’s books have perked up considerably.

Last year, one of the highlights of the contest was the somewhat serendipitous discovery of a bookshop in Gulberg, which carries the unpretentious title of Readings. It is located in enchanting surroundings drenched by greenery. The place had been mentioned to me by two fellow judges, who added that there was also a canteen which served coffee where one could discuss purchases with other book lovers eager to exchange views. They told me that whatever I was looking for would very likely be there. Of course, I didn’t believe them. Nevertheless, I nodded in appreciation and wondered whether the four books lent to friends around 20 years ago but never returned might still be available. Striding up to the counter, I asked the salesman if they had a copy of Ulysees. The chap disappeared into the enchanted forest of books and was back in 45 seconds with a copy of James Joyce’s classic. Twilight in Delhi by Ahmed Ali, Collected Stories of O Henry and Finnegan’s Wake by Joyce took about the same time to procure. This is some bookshop.



In the early years of the republic when Elphinstone Street was the centre of the universe and the Philistine Revolution was still a long way away, there were seven bookshops and four jewellery shops in Saddar. The reading habit was strong. Today, we live in a culture of changing values, ignorance, widespread corruption and extremism, in which a teacher is thrashed by the goons of a landlord’s son after the latter had been caught cheating in an exam; and a Christian couple involved in a property dispute is burned alive by a mob of villagers on charges that haven’t been substantiated, while policemen and onlookers stand by and wonder if they are witnessing the production of a television serial. We are living in an age of risible, forgettable and cynically shoddy politicians and their publicly manipulated lives of crass tastelessness and overindulgence now set as role models. Changing values and priorities, which have marked the rule of the Philistines, have brought about a transition, which was inevitable — a transition towards conspicuous consumption, total disregard for the law and increased cruelty to women. I remember an occasion when two functions, one literary, the other anything but, were being held on the same day. Eight people interested in acquiring additional knowledge of art turned up at a gallery, while the road from Do Talwar in Clifton to Marriott Hotel was jammed by motor cars heading for the exhibition displaying the latest in lawn. Fortunately, visitors can still be seen at galleries in Karachi and Lahore and people still buy and read books. Nevertheless, I simply have to pay tribute to the bank for its efforts to get people to take up the book reading habit and for awarding generous prizes.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 30^th, 2014.

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