To write is to stand as witness to truth: Minhaj Barna's poetical collection launched

After censorship on Asma Shirazi, Nusrat Javeed, Hamid Mir, Kashif Abbasi Dr Khalid Masud and Mushtaq Minhas quelled last week, Ashfaq Saleeem Mirza hit upon the idea of launching on Friday Minhaj Barna's poetical collection Marsia Chauthey Satoon Ka (A dirge of the fourth pillar).
So do we see a parallel between the best of times, a phrase that Pervez Musharraf has often used to describe eight years of his governance, and the worst of times, in the lines 'Aiye marsia likhen chauthey satoon ka/ya'anee qalam ki maut, sahafat ke khoon ka'. Barna uses to portray former President Ziaul Haq's regime, as the worst of times the country went through.
The occasion brought a lot many guests, journalists and writers, which included Professor Khwaja Masud, Mushir Anwar, Professor Fateh Muhammad Malik and Kishwar Naheed. The last two mentioned having written introductory chapters in the book, published last December from Lahore.
Incidentally, this was the first book launch of a collection written by a journalist poet and appropriately, the reviewing act was done under the aegis of South Asia Free Media Association. The well known human rights activist I. A. Rahman (and a free lance journalist himself) was to preside over the discussion session but through mistake, Rahman's flight to Lahore was booked inadvertently by his travel agent at the very same hour.
Rahman of course came to the occasion and hurriedly left with the remark that the wickedness of times made the country shehr ashob (a town full of miseries), and who could do it better to capture in verse the delicate mood of the times than Minhaj Barna. However he did add that one could always read the history of the times in poetry, and that is why poets succeed in having rapport with the people who listen and read their verses.
The tragedy is that those who don't disagree also read poems, and of this wonderful illustration was provided by poet Minhaj Barna in the preface. He said, nothing could be written or approved for publication during the days of former President Ziaul Haq, and he offered an illustration of a lowly official who red pencilled a quatrain in an Urdu daily as the officer said the words in the poem pointed a finger at the President.
'But this is a well known quatrain, written by a poet much before President Ziaul Haq happened to install himself as the President via military coup'. Of course, it was beyond the officer to stomach such logic, so he allowed the objection to remain.
However, there was some discussion as to whether a journalist who chronicles happenings of the day, is also a good poet, though the question looked odd to a participant, who remembered Maulana Hasrat Mohani, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Maulana Zafar, and Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Raees Amrohvi, Maqsud Anwar, and Masud Ashar who wrote excellent commentaries of the moving scenes in the country as well as the world in inspiring lyrical poetry.
However, poet Ahmad Faraz, who presided over the literary function after I.A Rahman had left, Fateh Malik and Kishwar Naheed gave a good job well done certificate to the poet-journalist that his poetry as well as his excellent record in the struggle for gaining freedom of expression has made him a role model for every writer and journalist.
Fateh Malik said that when he was young Barna's selflessness as trade unionist had inspired him. He remembered that Faiz, too, was a trade unionist. Barna's long time companion, Mohammad Afzal Khan, remembered those early days of the journalist's movement when Minhaj Barna was elected general secretary of PFUJ at Dhaka. 'He was a tough nut to crack at negotiations.'
Minhaj Barna read some verses from his book, as well as paid tributes to lawyers as well as politicians who were pillars of strength in the struggle against dictatorship.
Earlier, Ashfaque Salim Mirza gave a resume of Barna's life and his journalistic career mentioning the fact that Minhaj started poetry-writing in 1948 through little known magazine Preet Lari, but he also worked at Jamia Millia, Delhi, and also graduated from there. Later Minhaj Barna joined the Communist Movement. Professor Khwaja Masud presented a bouquet to Minhaj Barna, in appreciation of his poetry.