Barelvi’s pen sketches applauded

Veteran journalist, anchor person Mujahid Barelvi’s book of pen sketches entitled Fasana Raqam Karein launched.

ISLAMABAD: Veteran journalist and popular anchor person Mujahid Barelvi’s book of pen sketches Fasana Raqam Karein was launched here jointly by (National Language Authority) and literary organisation ‘Zaviya’ on Friday evening.

Federal Minister for Education Sardar Assef Ahmad Ali was the chief guest who greeted the author’s contribution to journalism and praised his defiance during military dictatorship for which he suffered as much as politicians and other intellectuals and writers of the day. He said Barelvi had won the admiration of the educated public by his famous sketch of the slain Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

The minister said that intellectuals and writers were the conscience of the people and their work reflected the high ideals that inspired nations. He said that Barelvi’s character sketches threw light on the lives of people whose memory we need to preserve to inspire the coming generations.

Agha Nasir praised Barelvi’s sparkling wit as the most interesting part of his style. He said his situational insights into his characters brought them to life.

Iftikhar Arif, the NLA chairman, said that Barelvi was a self-made man and his experiences enrich his writing. His literary sketches of persons he knew closely present them in a new way and bring out the salient features of their character. In his writing the characters spring back to life. He praised the richness and literary flavor of Barelvi’s pen.

Dr Anwar Nasim, General (retd) Abdul Qayyum, Bilal Mustafa, Farrukh Suhail Goindi and Mahboob Zafar of Zaviya praised Barelvi’s sketches for their lucidity, wit, keen observation and polite expression.

The author read passages from his sketches of Benazir, Habib Jalib and Hassan Abdi.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 27^th, 2010.