{"id":12991,"date":"2025-02-22T23:59:36","date_gmt":"2025-02-22T18:59:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/muftitaqiusmani\/EN\/?p=12872"},"modified":"2025-04-23T02:31:54","modified_gmt":"2025-04-22T21:31:54","slug":"memories-episode-11","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/muftitaqiusmani.com\/en\/memories-episode-11\/","title":{"rendered":"Memories (Episode 11)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Memories (Episode 11)<\/h1>\n

Beginning of my Affinity with Poetry and Literature<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hadhrat Mawlana Sahban Mahmud (may Allah have mercy on him), along with teaching us our regular curriculum books, had instilled in me a taste for poetry and literature from that time. Hadhrat himself would compose fine poetry, and during lessons, he would not only recite his favourite couplets but also explain their literary subtleties in such a way that we would understand their true meaning and enjoy them. At one point, he started the practice of giving us a couplet and asking us to compose further couplets based on it. We would, to the best of our abilities, create a rhyming line and show it to him, and he would correct it.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, as I have mentioned before, our household environment was also steeped in poetry and literature. Our respected father (may Allah have mercy on him) composed poetry not only in Urdu but also in Arabic and Persian. Our eldest brother, Hadhrat Zaki Kaifi (may Allah have mercy on him), was an established poet, and due to him, renowned poets frequently visited our house. Our sisters also had a special interest in poetry, and respected Muhammad Wali Razi would also compose poetry. Therefore, our recreation and entertainment at home was that whenever all of us siblings gathered together, we would sometimes start a poetry competition, and at other times one of us would recite a good poem or Ghazal<\/em> we had read or heard, and we would all enjoy it. At times, we would read a literary article together, and at other times, Choti Apa <\/em>would read HafIz Jalandhari\u2019s Shahnama-e-Islam<\/em> to us, which we listened to with great interest.<\/p>\n

In this backdrop, I developed a passion for poetry and literature from childhood. By the age of nine, I had already memorized many poems and Ghazal<\/em>s. In those days, a children\u2019s magazine named \u201cSathi<\/em>\u201d (\u201cCompanion\u201d) was published. My elder brother, respected Muhammad Radi (may Allah have mercy on him), had subscribed to it in my name, and I would be overjoyed at receiving it. I would eagerly await the postman at the beginning of each month because of this magazine. When I received it, I would not be satisfied until I had read it cover to cover. It was this magazine that ignited in me the desire to write something myself. My sister, whom we called Choti Apa<\/em>, especially encouraged me in this. In those days, magazines had a section for pen pals. Children would send in their names and addresses to be published, inviting other children to be their friends through written correspondence. When this magazine started the \u2018pen pals\u2019 section, my sister suggested I start correspondence with one of the names listed, as it would help me practice writing. I looked through the names [of children] who wanted to be pen pals and the name I liked the most was \u201cMujahid\u201d. From the address, I found that he lived in the African city of Nairobi, which was then the capital of Tanganyika (later renamed Kenya). I chose him for pen friendship solely because I loved the name \u201cMujahid\u201d. I wrote a haphazard letter and showed it to Choti Apa<\/em>, who made corrections and transformed it into a proper letter. I posted it and also received a reply. This pen friendship continued for some time. I would initially write a letter for my unseen friend, and show it to Choti Apa<\/em>, who would review it and enhance it with literary touches. In this manner, gradually, I also began developing some writing skills.<\/p>\n

In those same days, in the Readers\u2019 Opinion section of the daily \u201cJang<\/em>\u201d newspaper, people would spark debates on various subjects, and articles from both sides of the argument would be published. Once, a pointless debate arose about whether a woman can be a poet. Choti Apa<\/em> advised me to send my point of view to the newspaper. In compliance with her order, I wrote an article which was published under the title “Women and Poetry\u201d in \u201cJang<\/em>\u201d. This was my first published piece of writing. Later, a debate arose as to whether Quaid-e-Azam<\/em>\u2019s[1]<\/a><\/sup> face should be printed on currency notes. I wrote an article titled \u201cPictures on Currency Notes\u201d, in which I took the position that pictures[2]<\/sup><\/a> are impermissible and that it leads to personality worship. Therefore, no pictures should be printed on our currency notes. Another time, a debate ensued as to whether mixed-gender education should be allowed in the country. On this occasion, too, I sent a write-up presenting arguments against mixed-gender education. All these articles were published in \u201cJang<\/em>\u201d, and Choti Apa<\/em> not only provided moral support but also reviewed and edited them. Therefore, it would probably not be incorrect to say that it was her teaching, nurturing and encouragement that were the foundation of my literary efforts. I was ten years old at the time. She got married to late respected Shafqat Ali of Lahore on 27 February 1953. Coincidentally, the Tahrik-e-Khatm-e-Nubuwwat<\/em> (Movement for the Finality of Prophethood) had reached its peak across the country on her wedding day. A grand rally was being held in Aram Bagh<\/em>, in which Hadhrat Mawlana Ataullah Shah Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) was speaking, and arrest warrants for several senior scholars of the country had been issued. Rumours about an arrest warrant for our respected father (may Allah have mercy on him) were also circulating and we were unsure if he could attend his daughter\u2019s wedding. But in the end, Allah Most High protected him and the wedding took place with wellbeing.<\/p>\n

I still remember that I cried for weeks when Choti Apa<\/em> left our house. She would visit Karachi once a year, and those days would be like Eid<\/em> for me. A long time after her wedding, I expressed my emotions in the form of a poem, in which I said:<\/p>\n

\u0686\u06be\u0648\u0679\u06cc \u0622\u067e\u0627! \u0645\u0631\u06cc \u0627\u0633 \u0646\u0638\u0645 \u06a9\u0627 \u0639\u0646\u0648\u0627\u06ba \u062a\u0645 \u06c1\u0648<\/span>
\n\u062a\u0645 \u06c1\u0648 \u0627\u0633 \u0628\u0632\u0645 \u06a9\u06cc \u062a\u0632\u06cc\u06cc\u0646 \u06a9\u0627 \u0633\u0627\u0645\u0627\u06ba \u062a\u0645 \u06c1\u0648<\/span>
\n\u062d\u0636\u0631\u062a\u0650 \u0648\u0627\u0644\u062f\u0650 \u0645\u0627\u062c\u062f \u06a9\u06cc \u0646\u06af\u0627\u06c1\u0648\u06ba \u06a9\u0627 \u0633\u0631\u0648\u0631<\/span>
\n\u0648\u0627\u0644\u062f\u06c1 \u06a9\u06d2 \u0631\u064f\u062e\u0650 \u067e\u064f\u0631 \u0646\u0648\u0631 \u06a9\u06cc \u0627\u0641\u0634\u0627\u06ba \u062a\u0645 \u06c1\u0648<\/span>
\n\u062a\u0645 \u0633\u06d2 \u0628\u06c1\u0646\u0648\u06ba \u06a9\u06d2 \u062f\u0644\u0648\u06ba \u0645\u06cc\u06ba \u06c1\u06d2 \u0637\u0631\u0628 \u0646\u063a\u0645\u06c1 \u0633\u0631\u0627<\/span>
\n\u0628\u06be\u0627\u0626\u06cc\u0648\u06ba \u06a9\u06d2 \u0644\u06cc\u06d2 \u06c1\u0631 \u062f\u0631\u062f \u06a9\u0627 \u062f\u0631\u0645\u0627\u06ba \u062a\u0645 \u06c1\u0648<\/span>
\n\u0645\u06c1\u0631 \u0648 \u0627\u0644\u0641\u062a \u06a9\u06d2 \u062c\u06c1\u0627\u06ba \u067e\u06be\u0648\u0644 \u0645\u06c1\u06a9\u062a\u06d2 \u06c1\u06cc\u06ba \u0633\u062f\u0627<\/span>
\n\u06c1\u0627\u06ba \u0648\u06c1 \u06af\u0644\u0634\u0646\u060c \u0648\u06c1 \u06af\u0644\u0633\u062a\u0627\u06ba\u060c \u0648\u06c1 \u062e\u06cc\u0627\u0628\u0627\u06ba \u062a\u0645 \u06c1\u0648 \u200d<\/span>
\n\u062c\u0633 \u062c\u06af\u06c1 \u0634\u0648\u0631 \u06c1\u06d2 \u0627\u0646\u0633\u0627\u0646\u0648\u06ba \u06a9\u06cc \u0627\u0641\u0632\u0648\u0646\u06cc \u06a9\u0627<\/span>
\n\u0627\u064f\u0633 \u062c\u06af\u06c1 \u0645\u06cc\u06ba \u0628\u06be\u06cc \u062c\u0648 \u0645\u0644\u062a\u0627 \u0646\u06c1\u06cc\u06ba \u0627\u0646\u0633\u0627\u06ba\u060c \u062a\u0645 \u06c1\u0648<\/span>
\n\u0628\u06d2 \u0631\u062e\u06cc \u0627\u0648\u0631 \u0644\u06af\u0627\u0648\u0679 \u06a9\u06d2 \u0627\u0646 \u0627\u0646\u062f\u06be\u06cc\u0627\u0631\u0648\u06ba \u0645\u06cc\u06ba<\/span>
\n\u0631\u0648\u0634\u0646\u06cc \u062c\u0633 \u0633\u06d2 \u06c1\u06d2\u060c \u0648\u06c1 \u0634\u0645\u0639\u0650 \u0641\u0631\u0648\u0632\u0627\u06ba \u062a\u0645 \u06c1\u0648<\/span>
\n\u062a\u0645 \u0633\u06d2 \u06c1\u06d2 \u0645\u06cc\u0631\u06cc \u0646\u0638\u0631 \u0645\u06cc\u06ba \u0631\u064f\u062e\u0650 \u06c1\u0633\u062a\u06cc \u067e\u06c1 \u0646\u06a9\u06be\u0627\u0631<\/span>
\n\u062c\u0633 \u0633\u06d2 \u06c1\u06d2 \u0628\u0632\u0645\u0650 \u0645\u062d\u0628\u062a \u0645\u06cc\u06ba \u0686\u0631\u0627\u063a\u0627\u06ba\u060c \u062a\u0645 \u06c1\u0648<\/span>
\n\u062a\u0645 \u0633\u06d2 \u0686\u0648\u0646\u06a9 \u0627\u064f\u0679\u06be\u062a\u06cc \u06c1\u06cc\u06ba \u0627\u0631\u0645\u0627\u0646\u0648\u06ba \u06a9\u06cc \u0646\u0648\u0631\u0633 \u06a9\u0644\u06cc\u0627\u06ba<\/span>
\n\u0639\u06cc\u062f \u06a9\u0627 \u0686\u0627\u0646\u062f \u06c1\u0648 \u062a\u0645\u060c \u0635\u0628\u062d\u0650 \u0628\u06c1\u0627\u0631\u0627\u06ba \u062a\u0645 \u06c1\u0648!<\/span>
\n\u0644\u0648\u0631\u06cc\u0648\u06ba \u0645\u06cc\u06ba \u0628\u06be\u06cc \u0645\u062c\u06be\u06d2 \u062f\u0631\u0633 \u062f\u0626\u06d2 \u06c1\u06cc\u06ba \u062a\u0645 \u0646\u06d2<\/span>
\n\u06c1\u0627\u06ba \u0645\u0631\u06cc \u0628\u06c1\u0646\u060c \u0645\u0631\u06cc \u062f\u0648\u0633\u062a\u060c \u0645\u06cc\u0631\u06cc \u0645\u0627\u06ba \u062a\u0645 \u06c1\u0648!<\/span><\/p>\n

Translation:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Choti Apa<\/em>! You are the title of this poem of mine, you are
\nYou are the grace that beautifies this assembly, you are
\nThe delight of our respected father\u2019s eyes,
\nYou are the radiance on our mother\u2019s glowing face, you are
\nJoyous melodies resound in our sisters\u2019 hearts because of you,
\nYou are the panacea for every pain of our brothers, you are
\nWhere flowers of love and kindness bloom endlessly,
\nYes, you are that garden, that flowerbed, that park, you are
\nIn a world proclaimed to be filled with a plethora of people,
\nThe one person who is missing is you,
\nAmidst the glooms of indifference and pretentious attachment,
\nYou are the brilliant lamp that provides light, you are
\nThe world, in my eyes, appears beautiful because of you,
\nThis gathering of love lights up because of you,
\nBlossoms of hope spring into life through you,
\nYou are the crescent of Eid, a beautiful spring morning, you are!
\nYou have taught me lessons even in lullabies
\nYes, you are my sister, my friend, my mother, you are!<\/p>\n

When I recited this poem to her during her visit to Karachi, she wrote a reply in the same rhyme and rhythm after returning to Lahore:<\/p>\n

\u0686\u06be\u0648\u0679\u06d2 \u0628\u06be\u0627\u0626\u06cc! \u0645\u0631\u06cc \u0627\u0633 \u0646\u0638\u0645 \u06a9\u0627 \u0639\u0646\u0648\u0627\u06ba \u062a\u0645 \u06c1\u0648<\/span>
\n\u0622\u0646\u06a9\u06be \u06a9\u0627 \u0646\u0648\u0631 \u06c1\u0648\u060c \u062a\u0633\u06a9\u06cc\u0646\u0650 \u062f\u0644 \u0648 \u062c\u0627\u06ba \u062a\u0645 \u06c1\u0648<\/span>
\n\u062a\u0645 \u0633\u06d2 \u0645\u06cc\u06a9\u06d2 \u06a9\u06cc \u0641\u0636\u0627\u0624\u06ba \u0645\u06cc\u06ba \u06c1\u06d2 \u0627\u06a9 \u06a9\u06cc\u0641\u0650 \u0646\u0634\u0627\u0637<\/span>
\n\u06a9\u06cc\u0627 \u0686\u0645\u0646 \u0632\u0627\u0631 \u06c1\u06d2 \u0648\u06c1 \u062c\u0633 \u06a9\u06cc \u0628\u06c1\u0627\u0631\u0627\u06ba \u062a\u0645 \u06c1\u0648<\/span>
\n\u0622\u0646\u06a9\u06be \u06a9\u0627 \u0646\u0648\u0631 \u06c1\u0648\u060c \u0648\u0627\u0644\u062f \u06a9\u06d2 \u062c\u06af\u0631 \u06a9\u06cc \u0631\u0627\u062d\u062a\u060c<\/span>
\n\u0648\u0627\u0644\u062f\u06c1 \u06a9\u06d2 \u0644\u0626\u06d2 \u062a\u0633\u06a9\u06cc\u0646 \u06a9\u0627 \u0633\u0627\u0645\u0627\u06ba \u062a\u0645 \u06c1\u0648!<\/span>
\n\u0628\u06be\u0627\u0626\u06cc \u06a9\u06d2 \u062e\u0648\u0646\u0650 \u0634\u062c\u0627\u0639\u062a \u0645\u06cc\u06ba \u062d\u0631\u0627\u0631\u062a \u062a\u0645 \u0633\u06d2<\/span>
\n\u0627\u0648\u0631 \u0628\u06c1\u0646\u0648\u06ba \u06a9\u0627 \u0645\u0686\u0644\u062a\u0627 \u06c1\u0648\u0627 \u0627\u0631\u0645\u0627\u06ba \u062a\u0645 \u06c1\u0648<\/span>
\n\u0633\u0628 \u0633\u06d2 \u0686\u06be\u0648\u0679\u06d2 \u06c1\u0648\u060c \u062a\u0645\u06c1\u06cc\u06ba \u067e\u06cc\u0627\u0631 \u06c1\u06d2 \u0633\u0628 \u06a9\u0627 \u062d\u0627\u0635\u0644<\/span>
\n\u06c1\u06d2 \u062f\u0644\u0648\u06ba \u067e\u0631 \u0628\u06be\u06cc \u062d\u06a9\u0648\u0645\u062a\u060c \u0648\u06c1 \u0633\u0644\u06cc\u0645\u0627\u06ba \u062a\u0645 \u06c1\u0648<\/span>
\n\u062f\u06cc\u06a9\u06be \u06a9\u0631 \u062a\u0645 \u06a9\u0648 \u0645\u06cc\u0631\u06d2 \u062f\u0648\u0631 \u06c1\u0648\u06ba \u0633\u0628 \u0631\u0646\u062c \u0648 \u0645\u062d\u0646<\/span>
\n\u0628\u06be\u0648\u0644 \u062c\u0627\u0624\u06ba \u062c\u0633\u06d2 \u067e\u0627 \u06a9\u0631 \u063a\u0645\u0650 \u062f\u0648\u0631\u0627\u06ba \u062a\u0645 \u06c1\u0648!<\/span>
\n\u06c1\u06cc\u06ba \u0645\u0631\u06d2 \u06af\u0644\u0634\u0646\u0650 \u06c1\u0633\u062a\u06cc \u0645\u06cc\u06ba \u0628\u06c1\u0627\u0631\u06cc\u06ba \u062a\u0645 \u0633\u06d2<\/span>
\n\u06a9\u0650\u0634\u062a\u0650 \u062f\u0644 \u062c\u0633 \u0633\u06d2 \u06c1\u06d2 \u0633\u06cc\u0631\u0627\u0628 \u0648\u06c1 \u0628\u0627\u0631\u0627\u06ba \u062a\u0645 \u06c1\u0648<\/span>
\n\u062a\u0645 \u0633\u06d2 \u06a9\u06be\u0644\u062a\u06d2 \u06c1\u06cc\u06ba \u06cc\u06c1 \u0627\u0631\u0645\u0627\u0646\u0648\u06ba \u06a9\u06d2 \u0646\u0648\u0631\u0633 \u063a\u0646\u0686\u06d2<\/span>
\n\u062c\u0633 \u0645\u06cc\u06ba \u06cc\u06c1 \u067e\u06be\u0648\u0644 \u0645\u06c1\u06a9\u062a\u06d2 \u06c1\u06cc\u06ba\u060c \u0648\u06c1 \u062f\u0627\u0645\u0627\u06ba \u062a\u0645 \u06c1\u0648<\/span>
\n\u062f\u0644 \u06c1\u06d2 \u06cc\u0627 \u0639\u0644\u0645 \u06a9\u06d2 \u0627\u0646\u0648\u0627\u0631 \u06a9\u0627 \u0622\u0626\u0646\u06c1 \u06c1\u06d2<\/span>
\n\u062f\u0631\u0633 \u062f\u06cc\u062a\u0627 \u06c1\u0648 \u062c\u0648 \u067e\u06cc\u06c1\u0645\u060c \u0648\u06c1 \u062f\u0628\u0633\u062a\u0627\u06ba \u062a\u0645 \u06c1\u0648<\/span>
\n\u062c\u06c1\u0644 \u0648 \u0627\u0644\u062d\u0627\u062f \u06a9\u06d2 \u0628\u0691\u06be\u062a\u06d2 \u06c1\u0648\u0626\u06d2 \u0627\u0646\u062f\u06be\u06cc\u0627\u0631\u0648\u06ba \u0645\u06cc\u06ba<\/span>
\n\u0631\u0648\u0634\u0646\u06cc \u062c\u0633 \u0633\u06d2 \u06c1\u06d2\u060c \u0648\u06c1 \u0634\u0645\u0639\u0650 \u0641\u0631\u0648\u0632\u0627\u06ba \u062a\u0645 \u06c1\u0648<\/span>
\n\u0627\u0644\u063a\u0631\u0636 \u062d\u0645\u062f \u0627\u064f\u0633\u06cc \u0630\u0627\u062a \u06a9\u06cc \u0632\u06cc\u0628\u0627 \u06c1\u06d2 \u0645\u062c\u06be\u06d2<\/span>
\n\u062c\u0633 \u06a9\u0627 \u0627\u0646\u0639\u0627\u0645 \u06c1\u0648 \u062a\u0645\u060c \u0631\u062d\u0645\u062a\u0650 \u06cc\u0632\u062f\u0627\u06ba \u062a\u0645 \u06c1\u0648<\/span><\/p>\n

Translation:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Little brother! You are the title of this poem of mine, you are
\nThe light of my eyes, the comfort of my heart and soul, you are
\nAn invigorating aura pervades our parents\u2019 home with you,
\nHow wonderful must that garden be, whose spring is you!
\nYou are the light of our eyes, the comfort of our father\u2019s heart,
\nYou are the source of serenity for our mother, you are
\nThe brave blood of our brothers warms up with you,
\nAnd you are the ardent hope of our sisters, you are
\nYou are the youngest, enjoying the love of all,
\nYou are the Solomon who reigns even over hearts, you are
\nYour sight allays all my griefs and hardships,
\nHaving you makes me forget all worries of life, you are
\nMy garden of life gets its spring from you,
\nYou are the rain that waters the garden of my heart, you are
\nPetals of hope blossom to life with you,
\nYou are the valley in which flowers exude their scent, you are
\nYour heart is a mirror of the enlightenment of knowledge,
\nYou are the school that continuously teaches, you are
\nAmidst shrouding glooms of ignorance and disbelief,
\nYou are the brilliant flame that provides light, you are
\nIn short, all praise befits that Being,
\nWhose gift you are, a mercy of God, you are<\/p>\n

When I turned twelve years old, our new academic year began in Shawwal 1374 AH at Darul Uloom. In that year as well (i.e. 1374 AH to 1375 AH), we studied Shar\u1e25 Jami<\/em>, Maqamat<\/em> \u1e24ariri<\/em>, Kanz al-Daqaiq<\/em>, Usul al-Shashi<\/em>, Qutbi<\/em>, Shar\u1e25 Tahdhib<\/em> and al-Balaghah al-Wadihah<\/em>, all under Hadhrat Mawlana Sahban Mahmud (may Allah have mercy on him), and we continued to benefit from his unforgettable teaching style. As I have mentioned before, Hadhrat (may Allah have mercy on him) had a special interest in poetry and literature in those days and would compose fine couplets himself. Through his literary taste, he would add colour even to books like Shar\u1e25 Jami<\/em>. That year, when we studied al-Balaghah al-Wadihah<\/em> under him, his taste for literature made the study of this book twice as enjoyable. Al-Balaghah al-Wadihah<\/em> is itself filled with exquisite literary pieces. Hadhrat would explain the subtleties of eloquence and rhetoric with examples from Urdu poetry, which made the entire lesson thoroughly vibrant and colourful. For example, I remember that while explaining “Ta\u2019qid Ma\u2019nawi<\/em>\u201d, he recited this couplet of Momin as an example:<\/p>\n

\u062e\u06cc\u0627\u0644\u0650 \u062e\u0648\u0627\u0628 \u0631\u0627\u062d\u062a \u06c1\u06d2 \u0639\u0644\u0627\u062c \u0627\u0633 \u0628\u062f\u06af\u0645\u0627\u0646\u06cc \u06a9\u0627<\/span>
\n\u0648\u06c1 \u0638\u0627\u0644\u0645 \u0642\u0628\u0631 \u0645\u06cc\u06ba \u0645\u0648\u0645\u0646 \u0645\u0631\u0627 \u0634\u0627\u0646\u06c1 \u06c1\u0644\u0627\u062a\u0627 \u06c1\u06d2<\/span><\/p>\n

Hadhrat explained that \u201c\u0639\u0644\u0627\u062c \u0627\u0633 \u0628\u062f\u06af\u0645\u0627\u0646\u06cc \u06a9\u0627\u061f\u201d<\/span> \u2013 in the first line of this couplet \u2013 is actually a question and its meaning cannot be properly understood without a question mark at its end, or reading it in an interrogative tone. In similar ways, we greatly benefitted from his literary disposition.<\/p>\n

In the evening, after returning home, we would enjoy recreational activities in Burns Garden or Polo Ground until Maghrib<\/em>, and thereafter would remain busy studying and preparing for the next day\u2019s lessons. After that, all of us siblings would gather and often compete in a poetry competition and my enthusiasm for this competition made me eager to memorize as many poetry couplets as I could. During that time, when we received Shahnama-e-Islam<\/em> of Hafiz Jalandhari at home, we would sit around Choti Apa<\/em>, who would read it to us in a fluent and rhythmic tone. Her voice still echoes in my ears. I became attached to the Shahnama<\/em> so much that I memorized entire pages from it, and the reality is that I learned the detailed events of the Battle of Badr, the Battle of Uhud and the Battle of Trench through Shahnama<\/em> first and only later from the books of my syllabus.<\/p>\n

Besides this, if anyone brought a good religious or literary book, we would all enjoy reading it together. At times, \u201cal-Nabi al-Khatam\u201d<\/em> H of Mawlana Manazir Ahsan Gilani (may Allah have mercy on him) was being read; at another time, \u201cGhubar-e-Khatir\u201d<\/em> of Mawlana Abul Kalam Azad was read; on some occasions, Hadhrat Mawlana Asghar Husayn\u2019s (may Allah have mercy on him) \u201cKhwab-e-Shirin\u201d<\/em>, and on other occasions, the humorous articles of the late Patras Bukhari were read. In short, this gathering of brothers and sisters was very lively and colourful. And if ever our respected father (may Allah have mercy on him) had some time to join us, we would not need any other pastime. Any time in his company was blissfully delightful. Our respected father (may Allah have mercy on him) would blend in with us and sometimes narrate stories of his elders, sometimes events from Islamic history, and at times inform us about those of his daily engagements that we could comprehend.<\/p>\n

In those days, occasionally, beneficial programs were aired even from Radio Pakistan. The morning would begin with a recitation of the Qur\u2019an by the late Qari Zahir Qasmi, after which the daily episode of Hadhrat Mawlana Ihtisham al-Haq Thanwi\u2019s (may Allah have mercy on him) lecture on Qur\u2019anic Studies would be broadcast. On Fridays, at the request of the then-Director of Radio Pakistan, late Zulfiqar Ali Bukhari, our respected father\u2019s (may Allah have mercy on him) lectures on Ma\u2019arif al-Qur\u2019an <\/em>would be aired. The programs after these would also feature less indecency than what appears in today\u2019s radio and television programs. The programs in those days were highly literary in nature, and several interesting and informative series were broadcast. We learned about the game of \u201cChistan<\/em>\u201d, which was a general knowledge competition, from the radio. A weekly poetic gathering was also aired, in which one line of a couplet would be put forth and the participants had to create the second line. Several notable poets from around the country would take part in this. Hafiz Jalandhari, Adib Saharanpuri, Himayat Ali Sha\u2019ir, Sha\u2019ir Lakhnawi, Mahirul Qadri, Ra\u2019is Amrohwi, Qamar Jalalwi, Iram Lakhnawi — they would all recite their latest poems almost every week in this gathering, and all of us siblings would eagerly listen to it. If poets from India were visiting Pakistan, they would also be invited. In this way, we listened to respected Jigar Muradabadi, Shakil Badayuni, and Jagan Nath Azad for the first time in that poetic gathering.<\/p>\n

Now it comes to mind that in those days, even our pastimes were of an educational and literary nature, which helped increase one\u2019s knowledge and also enhanced one\u2019s academic and literary taste. It was due to these gatherings that I developed a love for books.<\/p>\n

\n

[1]<\/a> Translator: \u201cQuaid-e-Azam\u201d in Urdu means \u201cThe Great Leader\u201d. It is the title used for Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan
\n[2]<\/a> Translator: of animate objects<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

…………….(Continued)…………….<\/span><\/p>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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