Arey Larkay!

AUTHOR: Mushfique Khwaja 1935-2005 - The private critic


By Dr Muhammad Reza Kazimi

``Visitors should kindly trouble to call only after prior intimation.`` This calligraphed cardboard sign dangled from his door; yet beyond this forbidding sign one found a vibrant literary salon. It was here that I first met people like Lutfullah Khan and Iftikhar Arif. It was not however at his residence that I first met Mushfique Khwaja; it was at the Ghalib Library in the late seventies where Moinuddin Aquil did the honours.

These were politically the most traumatic times for Pakistan. Even writers were polarized but Ghalib Library became a daily rendezvous for writers with the late Mirza Zafrul Hasan playing host. After closing time we walked down to the Chowrangi, led by Mushfique Khwaja, which was then the largest market for secondhand books. This was the first thing he taught me. ``Never pick up the book you really want. Pounce upon a book you can do without, after hard bargaining pick up your real choice as an afterthought.`` This trick worked a number of times, but now all the book stalls are gone.

We would then walk back again, now only him and me, stopping at the sugarcane juice counter just opposite the Ghalib Library. We resumed our walk, he turning left to go home, and I stopping to take a bus to Hyderi. Since we met daily at Ghalib Library there was no need for me to visit his house and confront the signboard. One morning he invited me over to show me a new or rare book. He was a bit downcast and on my prodding told me he had become diabetic. I sympathized but walking back I realized that I also had the same lifestyle so I decided to undergo a test, and behold; my sugar rate was higher.

Mushfique Khwaja`s contribution to literature was in two different directions. The first was critical scholarship. Readers who are privy to only the finished product have no idea of the skill and labour involved in producing authentic catalogues and editing authoritative texts. He first published Jaiza-i-Makhtutat-i-Urdu, the pioneering descriptive catalogue of Urdu manuscripts. One volume was published before I met him and he completed two others when I was in contact with him and they still await publication. Among the classical texts he critically edited was Khush Ma`rka-i-Zeba, a very creditable production, but his greatest achievement in this genre was his edition of Ahmad Din`s Iqbal. This was the very first book on Iqbal, but the author on noting that the poet was not pleased, put the whole lot to the torch. In due course a second edition appeared, and went out of stock. Mushfique Khwaja was able to retrieve a rare copy that had survived the conflagration. How much Mushfique Khwaja was able to weld the texts of both editions was a marvel.

His critical scholarship was best represented in his Tahqiq Nama. Here we met Qazilbash Khan Ummeed, Jafar Ali Hasrat and Qudratullah Qudrat, all of whom had a positive impact, but were elusive and shadowy figures across the horizon of Urdu poetry. He brought them to life in comprehensively researched papers. A number of such articles also await publication. As a poet his output was creditable, but beyond one volume, Abiyat, he did not take this vocation seriously.

The second direction was writing satirical columns on literary themes. His dry as dust scholarship ensured his reputation but could not bring fame, but those columns which made him a celebrity he wrote pseudonymously, so even these did not bring him direct fame. His Khamabagosh columns were read avidly, even by those whom he lampooned, I got off lightly being the subject of only two columns.

Mushfique Khwaja both indulged in and enjoyed literary feuds and could carry his readers with him. In the early sixties when Josh Malihabadi and Shahid Ahmad Dehlavi were engaged in a mud slinging contest, they were once invited together to a literary seminar in Nawabshah. Mushfique Khwaja proposed that they be seated on different trains. Why on earth, asked the hapless host, could they not travel together? Mushfique Khwaja replied: ``If they make up during the journey, who will be responsible for the loss to Urdu literature?``

The Khamabagosh columns actually grew out of the book reviews he wrote for the Urdu and Qaumi Zaban. Instead of writing staid and circumspect reviews, he debunked publications, identified plagiarized passages, punctured the esteem of poetasters, and did all of this in a disarmingly entertaining manner. Apart from his vast and valuable collection of over 30,000 books, he had a unique collection of letters addressed to him. He got me to compile them by showing the tip of the iceberg, and I grew accustomed to calling writers by their accession numbers rather than by their names, but I had to shift and was glad to give up this travail.

Mushfique Khwaja also trained me in literary journalism; the most daunting part of which was drafting (and signing) rejection letters.

For Takhliquee Adab, he trusted only me to transcribe for the calligraphers the letters of Askari to Aftab Ahmad. We had to ensure in those Zia days that no blasphemous passage slipped through. We had to keep these passages from the eyes of the calligrapher. On another occasion when Nasrullah Khan sent in a manuscript, the calligrapher was literally tearing his hair out. I stepped in and undertook to transcribe the whole book to make the handwriting legible. When I met Nasrullah Khan, I introduced myself as the subsidiary author of his book. Acknowledging my penmanship, Nasrullah Khan conceded my part as a co-author.

In time, being highly opinionated myself, I had a few stormy sessions with Mushfique Khwaja mainly over the senseless Shad and Safir controversy. Later on, in a column (August 10, 1989) he poked fun at Safir for claiming to write 950 books. I stepped on his toes by writing unsparingly of his friends. I deeply regret this now, but I had never expected to survive Mushfique Khwaja.

It was during my internship with Takhliquee Adab that I began to subscribe to the notice he had put up. Visitors came calling just when we were trying to meet a deadline, and being inherently polite, he bore well with them, but ultimately the magazine suffered.

Just as Mushfique Khwaja never invited Anwer Sadid and Salim Akhtar together, I never invited Mushfique Khwaja and Mujtaba Husain to the same sitting, as because of the right and left ideological divide they heartily disliked each other. I did not subscribe to Mushfique Khwaja`s Josh-Shahid Ahmad theory as I knew both of them very well. In 1989 the worst year of my life, I was very casually told at a nephew`s wedding that Mujtaba Husain had died in a car crash. I think I took the blow well, and kept my composure when I reached home in time to see Mujtaba Husain`s last speech being featured on the national news.

The next morning I could think of nobody but Mushfique Khwaja to talk to. He recognized my voice over the telephone, but then I became speechless. Mushfique Khwaja with complete understanding took a long pause and then simply said: ``He died on impact. He didn`t suffer.`` Now that avenue of communication has gone out of my life.

Not only had Mushfique Khwaja edited the complete poetic works of Yagana, he had also edited the poetry of Yagana`s bete noire Saqib Lucknowi. Last year when I was invited to speak on Saqib, I asked Mushfique Khwaja for one of his unpublished ghazals to quote in my speech. I forgot about it, but he didn`t, and dictated to me a whole ghazal which I duly cited, mentioning him as the source.

When I met him after reviewing his Kulliyat-i-Yagana on these pages (March 23, 2003), he asked me to edit the literary criticism of Yagana. I was fired with enthusiasm, but now recalling that I was his contemporary in disease, I can`t take up a project I am not likely to complete. This means of course, that he won`t receive me across the bar with his usual wry smile, but by shaking his head as when on an odd occasion, I was late with an article.

---

Mushfique Khwaja: Profile

Real name: Khwaja Abdul Hye

Born: December 19, 1935, Lahore

Died: February 20, 2005, Karachi

Education: MA Urdu, University of Karachi, 1958

Career: Assistant Secretary, Anjuman Tarraqi-i-Urdu 1957-1973; Editor, Urdu and Qaumi Zaban 1957-1973; Editor, Usloob/ Takhliqee Adab 1980-1987

Publications: Khush Ma`rka-i-Zeba by Sa`adat Khan Nasir, Lahore, Taraqqi-i-Adab 1970-1972 • Jaiyza-i-Makhtutat-i-Urdu, Lahore, Markazi Urdu Board, 1979 • Abiyat, Karachi, Maktaba-i-Naya Daur, 1979 • Iqbal by Ahmad Din, Karachi, Anjuman Tarraqqi-i-Adab, 1979 • Tahqiq Nama, Lahore, Maghrabi Pakistan Urdu Academy, 1991 • Kulliat-i-Yagana, Karachi, Academy Bazyaft, 2003.

my pleasure! :)

Ras:

...thanks...but no thanks!

...so much has been written and will be written about faiz sahib by people eminently more qualified than i that i will decline this invite...also....the one time i went to interview him prepared... in lahore a year or two before his death...an overtly protective alys....armed with doctor`s orders...refused me my wish...she’d only allow me to take some portraits...

rgds

t

sorry no archives; hence full cut n paste instead of links

Mushfiq to all

By Professor Amna Kamal

On the night of Monday, February 21st, one of Pakistan`s most eminent literary personalities Mushfiq Khwaja breathed his last in a hospital in Karachi. His shocking demise left Pakistan`s literary scene poorer.

Mushfiq Khwaja was a guiding light to the intellectuals and writers of today. He was an acclaimed critic and researcher as well as a brilliant writer. His passion for research and literature was something inborn, but he took great pains to develop this passion into a lifetime of achievements.

As a student, he used to see his classmates indulge in light activities and hobbies but he used to sit away and think. After completing his masters in Urdu Literature, he started to work towards bringing out a literary journal. He had to go through many tough experiences in achieving his aim. These experiences later on proved to be of great benefit to him.

When I was doing my masters in Urdu Literature from Karachi`s Islamia College in 1953, I had the opportunity to study under illustrious figures like Dr Syed Sajjad and Syed Abul Khair Kashfi. These people were mature, forward looking thinkers who used to employ formal as well as informal methods to impart ideas and concepts to their students. During one informal sitting, Kashfi introduced a young man to us as Mushfiq Khwaja and urged us all to take part in the writing competition he was holding on Ghalib under the auspices of the college`s Bazm-e-Adab. I was enthusiastic despite the little time left for the submission of work. English teachers Karrar Hussain and Mustafa Zaidi (who used the name Taigh Allahabadi then), who were great enthusiasts of Urdu literature as well, performed the duties of judges in this competition. Through Mushfiq Khwaja`s hard work and effort, this competition was highly successful. A week later Mushfiq Khwaja came to tell me that he thought I had done a commendable job on Ghalib, he had kept my first prize safe and will hold a sitting to present it to me. At that time, we sat down to talk for a while. Then, I gathered that this young man had exceptional powers of concentration. Since then my association with him began and he always respected me like a sister.

When we entered practical life, this association was largely restricted to telephone conversations. Mushfiq Khwaja took leaps ahead in the field of research and as a critic. I used to consult him for guidance in matters of literature and research.

Meanwhile, his wife Amina Mushfiq became my colleague at the college and the bond was strengthened. Through Amina, I got to know that Mushfiq Khwaja`s house had become a necessary stop for the visiting researchers, critics and writers from India and Bangladesh -- formerly East Pakistan.

This circle later spread to include the literati from Canada and US as well.

In 1985, I visited Mumbai privately. Mushfiq gave me a letter to deliver to Kali Das Gupta Raza who was a renowned Urdu/Persian scholar and owner of a huge collection of books. When I entered Raza`s house in Mumbai I couldn`t help noticing it looked more like a library than a house. Mostly Persian books adorned the shelves. His whole family was very cultured and book loving. When I introduced myself and told them that I had brought him a letter from Mushfiq Khwaja, everyone got up on their feet to pay their respects to his name. I was surprised to note that the magic in Mushfiq Khwaja`s writing had transcended borders to captivate people.

Raza who shared Khwaja`s passion and knowledge about Ghalib, said at that occasion that Mushfiq Khwaja`s Jaiza-e-Makhtootat-e-Urdu was a fundamental and most important work in Urdu criticism.

Mushfiq Khwaja assumed the responsibility of Idara-e-Yadgar-e-Ghalib at a difficult time when both Faiz Ahmed Faiz and Mirza Zafarul Hassan, the founders of the institution, had left this world. Ghalib Library, run by the Idara was then the venue for many sittings and functions but activity there used to slow down the pace of work which was a source of dissatisfaction for Mushfiq Khwaja. So he handed the responsibilities of holding events to someone else and concentrated chiefly on his research. Risala-e-Ghalib, that he brought out during that time, was an excellent magazine containing highly acclaimed essays on criticism and literature. It used to publish irregularly but became a prized possession for scholars and literature enthusiasts.

As principal of Sir Syed Girls College, I often tried to cajole him into presiding over the college`s functions, but he always excused himself by terming it a time consuming activity and said if he got busy with public appearances, he would never find time to do any literary work.

He had an excellent library at home and used to guide people from all walks of life. Every Sunday his house was open to all the people who were lovers of literature. People belonging to all walks of life came to work under his guidance. Among them were businessmen, bankers, lecturers, educationists, government servants as well as students and journalists. Mushfiq Khwaja used to advise all of them according to their requirements.

I recently met Rafiq Ahmed Naqsh who was a regular visitor to Mushfiq Khwaja`s house on Sundays. A literature enthusiast and expert proofreader, Rafiq Ahmed has been researching on Urdu literature under Mushfiq Khwaja. He tells me that Khwaja insisted upon getting his recent work on Yas Yagana Changezi proofread 18 times before he finally approved it for publication. He was a perfectionist with immense attention to detail.

His father Khwaja Waheeduddin was also a literary figure. His diary is a very valuable literary document that Mushfiq khwaja was working on to get printed before his death.

He was never one to care for the recognition of his services or any gains in return. His passion was his work, which led him to pay little attention to his health. He left the world too soon. Many research and criticism projects are left unattended because of this untimely loss.

t,

Why don`t you write about your meetings with Faiz?

Many people on CHOWK will love to hear about him.

Ras

THANKS

:)

t - just came across your ilog. Reminded me of this really good documentary on the history of Urdu that was playing on Discovery (India) some time ago. It was hosted by Tom Alter who is incidentally playing Maulana Azad on the Bombay stage to perfection - I dont know if they have any plans to take it on the road but if you can catch it I believe it is well worth it. I missed my chance and I`m still kicking myself over it.

I bet you can find the video somewhere on the net. Lemme see. I think it was called ``The Story of Urdu`` and it gave a short history before moving on to Urdu in the 20th century and how it affected the independence movement and the mini-renaissance that followed.

Ras:

a few times...both here and over there

rgds

t

t,
did you by any chance get to ever meet Faiz Ahmad Faiz?

ras

am, stuka, tahmed32, rahul:

hope you understand for me words flow
when am passionate about some thought
without passion words incarcerated
remain in some celestial temple
unshakeable, and yes unprintable;)

* * *

la`ooN kahaaN say ab maiN woh jazba e ish`q
woh wariftagi e junoon jisnay saath youN
choRh dya jaisay kabhi oos say shana`saee
thee hee nahiN aur ab tO mudaat guzri hay
woh eh`d e wafa oosko yaad hay na mujhko

la`ooN kahaaN say ab maiN woh jazba e ish`q...

lve and rgds

t

ps: yogiraj...thanks for visiting this board...
pps: tahmed am still looking for links to Mushfiq Khwaja`s articles...will reply later

t.

In Balasaheb`s language, history is assessed in what we called as Bakhar.

Two great historians come to my mind.

One, I will would not reveal the name. He wrote book how Haidar Ali (For historically challanged, and I mean every one on chowk, Tipu Sultan`s father), was far better than Shivaji. No local support, alien religion...still could establish a kingdom.

The whole family suffered because of the book. Just like he criti.. Islam or muslim.

Second was S. M. Matey. He wrote a criticial piece on Geeta.

He pointed out ...Two sets of questions was posed by Arjun. Two sets not one. Geeta gives answers for the first set. Never second.

The second set is very obvious. Conseq..of war on woman, child.. and whole depleted ..remaining society. No answer in Geeta.

The guy is dead long back. Family lives. Wonder O wonder. This was the book I had to study for my exam in my school day.

Well you can critisize Geeta, (of cousrse never Koran.. never acceptable) and live.

The books and articles are in language called Marathi. There is a society in city called in Pune where you could get/validate this data.

Yogiraj Patil

temporal,that travelogue would be great. Have u seen Mohafiz(In Custody)?

t: do you have any pieces of mushfiq khwaja`s works (humor, particularly) in electronic form that you could post on chowk? i did not find much on the internet.

also, i agree with naqshbandi for once and with stuka - it would be great if you could write a travelogue of your visit to india in the 1980`s. who knows, one day some future mushfiq khwaja may be saying: ``Aray larkey: meray computer kay filing system maiN ja kar janaab temporal sahib ki daastaan ko print kar kay lao!!``

Temporal:

I second Naqshbandi`s suggestion. Take time off poetry and write from memory. I would love to hear of that trip, especially as it would be telescoped by the changes today. That would be Indira`s time in India and Zia`s time in Pakistan.

Re: # 4
t - my Hindi is as good as 10 years of schooling could make it. My Urdu is as good as a lifetime of love can help it.

I hereby add my pleas to those of your acquaintance who would like to see the interviews in print. Ismat Chughtai! No, I never met her in person. I look forward to your introduction.

Mushfiq Khwaja, our renowned researcher, has done what a Yagana Academy could have achieved if its scholars could have steered themselves clear of all those prejudices which have inhibited a work worth Yagana`s stature.

The complete anthology of Yagana Changezi is a good example of immaculate editing. The kind of good taste which the very presentation of this Kulliat (complete works) exhibits should serve the future researchers of Urdu. Nothing has been left to chance and all of Yagana`s collections of poetry starting from Nishtar-i-Yaas to Ganjina has been presented in a chronological order ensuring that no overlapping of verses occurs so that Yagana could be studied exactly according to the progress of his poetic career. This is the kind of work which only Qazi Abdul Wudood or Masood Husain Rizvi could have undertaken without having the assured success of their mission. Yagana Changezi`s Rebirth