Left leaning political activist, writer and turned publisher Furrukh Sohail Goindi has facilitated political workers, historians, academicians, students of national affairs and politics by publishing "Mulaqatein Kia Kia" based on 27 interviews conducted by the trend-setter journalist prolific writer / analyst Altaf Hassan Qureshi, Editor / Publisher of popular monthly magazine Urdu Digest during early 1960's and 70's.
During his 50 years trying professional career as an Editor / publisher Altaf Hassan Qureshi had conducted interviews of more than 200 prominent politicians, heads of State and governments, religious scholars, academicians, writers, diplomats, jurists, military leaders since 1961 when he started publication of monthly magazine Urdu digest on the pattern of Reader's digest.
The interviews published in the 'Mulaqatein Kia Kia' include personalities like General Zia-ul-Haq, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Maulana Abu'Ala Maudoodi, Shah Faisal of Saudi Arabia, Suleyman Demirel of Turkey, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Khan of Qalat Ahmad Yar Baloch, Chief Justices A.R. Cornelius, S.A. Rahman, former PM Chaudhry Muhammad Ali, Maulvi Tameezuddin, Qudratullah Shahab, Air Marshal Asghar Khan and others.
These interviews were conducted from 1962 to 1977. However, Altaf Hassan Qureshi's detailed and scholarly explanations with references to the context have made these interviews as a living document that can greatly help the historians, analysts, researchers political activists of various political parties to evaluate current of events of that period of Pakistan's checkered history and the role played by movers, stimulators conductors and handlers of the turmoil that culminated in dismemberment of Pakistan in December 1971.
It is worth mentioning that Altaf Hassan Qureshi was not professionally trained journalist as such. He was guided not by journalistic ethics, and traditions but by the dreams of Islamic renaissance regaining of past glory, unity of Ummah on one platform when there was universal chanting of "Asia is Red" Down with Imperialism" and revolutionary icon Che Guevara's cap, pictures and turnout were in short supply.
Qureshi used his interviews very skilfully as one of the most effective ways to add depth, expertise, and precision to his writings and perception to re-interpret the dreamy and flowery world around him and achieve his idealistic goal. He was creator of his own genre of interviewing, journalism and flowery language dipped in literary symbolism and metaphor.
Though the writer could not correctly feel pulse of his generation born just before or immediately after the Independence and read the paradigm shift in the philosophical, intellectual and socio-economic dynamics and aspirations of the post colonialism/imperialism era, yet there is no denying the fact that Altaf Hassan Qureshi emerged as a trend-setter writer/editor and an institution for grooming rightist journalists who also rose to prominence. He is totally a self-made man from rags to riches, from a telegraph operator to a successful and widely read interviewer and editor.
There are some minor factual mistakes in the book. Maulana Shah Ahmad Noorani, head JUP had signed the 1973 Constitution document. Price of the book should be cut down by at least 40 percent to widen its readership. I would recommend that Mass Communication / Journalism departments of all universities should make the book a compulsory reading by the students. .
POSTSCRIPT: The octogenarian Altaf Qureshi is still deeply involved and active in media and the national affairs. He heads the credible think thank Pakistan Institute of National Affairs PINA, which regularly deliberate upon the serious issues confronting Pakistan and the Islamic world. PINA invites prominent analysts, intellectuals, jurists, diplomats, bureaucrats and politicians of all shades to have their inputs for resolution of the problems.
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Book : Mulaqatein Kia Kia
Author : Altaf Hassan Qureshi
Publisher : Jumhoori Publications
2-Aiwan-e-Tijarat Road, Lahore
Pages : 389
Price : Rs 1490
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