The News International, Thursday, December 3, 1908
Looking through the memory window
By Mohsin S. Jaffri
R eflecting on the past could only be hy opening a window in the mind and looking through. The view hecomes a projector playing on a vast screen, frame by frame, moments, events and faces, some clear and some less visible but connecting up in a sequence. It cannot be called history in view, becanose what is being recalled is a selection of such events that may have a special significance to the process. Naseem Ansari’s Jawab-e Doust is some such view throughs a window that he has opened to reply to Aawaaz-e Doust, of a friend Mukhstar Masood. Yes, in doing so, the history of the period comes alive. It has to happen this way, because the memory lane remains buried in history, and where else.
The view becomes a projector playing on a vast screen, frame by frame, moments, events and faces, some clear and some less visible but connecting up in a sequence. It cannot be called -history in view, because what is being recalled is a selection of such events that may have a special significance to the process
To describe Naseem Ansari’s style of writing: I am going to coin a phrase ‘read-friendly because this what pushed me into going through the book in a short period. The other important character of Ansari’s style of writing is the continuity of thought process. Historical events are precise, neither too lengthy a description to pull the reader on a different platform and nor too short to let the guessing game begin. Similar is the case with perception of his environment; he avoids statements and judgements thus the reader feels at ease to let his own mind mix a little with the writer’s views.
Naseem Ansari’s Jawab-e Doust is divided into four major sections. The first chapter sets the platform in Aligarh. Now, those who have been to Aligarh University would agree with me that this was the name of an Institution and not just a place for academics as universities usually are Whatever the chain of events, until India was divided. Aligarh University, remained the centrifugal force. The next two chapters spread over the most eventful periods of the subcontinent’s history from 1945-47 and 1947-56
The next chapter, Maghrib Ki Wadian, is authors arrival in the UK. It begins, as usual, with some historical background of the time
جواب دوست
JAWAB-E DOUST
By Naseem Ansari Published by Aaj Kutubkhana A-16. Salni Heights, Block 15, Gulistan-e Jauhar, Kasachi-15290 Price: Rs 55 Pp: 165
period and then a very interesting conversation, in his first job, with a senior surgeon, while preparing to assist him. There are some very interesting ulservations, especially for me, because of my association with the English lifestyle for over thirty years before I returned to Pakistan (Pahwnhchi wahein pay khak jabuan la khameer tha).
Return to Aligarh is described in Sharahe Aarzoo, Talashe Sahar and Wafa Kay Taqazay takes up some discussion on the University’s role, background and how it was being viewed under circumstances changing
The chapter, Jahan-e Nau, is author’s experiences in Libya. A close look at the Arab culture results in presentation of a wider perception of the Arab world.
The last chapter, Izhaar-e Tamanna, may be described as ‘a pain of our times’ or it may well be the ecstasy of existence’. The end piece is discussion with consciousness when truth becomes fully naked; reminding us of the fallacy of hiding behind self erected barriers, building pedestals to sit upon. Quotes from Iqbal are like opening a window for a breath of fresh air.
The book makes an interesting it is to some extent an historical reading: it autobiography, perspective and a viewpoint on political events, all being viewed. through the window of time
What is most surprising is that while reading, one forgets to agree or disagree when history comes to play in support of the author’s perception of the time period. The descriptive nature is such that acceptance is inevitable.
The author, Naseem Ansari, takes the narration into his own environment with linkages in history of the time. The descriptive style is simple but engrossing, the character of a literary elitist writing. It’s the Urdu of Mir, simple and floating rather than that of Ghalib, deep and enduring
The mathor, Naseem Ansari is by profession a renowned surgeon. His education at Aligarh sowed the seeds of literature and an aesthetic approach to creative writing. The book needs to be read to he appreciated,