A LIBRARY BURNS TO THE GROUND: RIP DR. S.M. MOIN QURESHI

MAHTAB BASHIR

mahtabbashir@gmail.com
ISLAMABAD
0333 53 63 248

He was a quality satirist, a columnist at par, an eminent critique, a devoted researcher, a humble, polite and down to earth creature, an arduous linguist and last but no way the least an author of 30+ reference books on various socio- economic to religio-political issues.

He was Dr. S.M. Moin Qureshi, who closed his eyes for good on Monday, September 20, 2021 in Karachi, to open every Pakistani’s eyes on societal abnormalities. With his death, an era in Urdu literature has come to an end.

It was a scorching hot day of 16th July, 2016, when I chanced to meet this elegant and cheerful person inside the auditorium of Federal Urdu University, Islamabad. I was invited there to attend an Eight days long workshop on “Urdu Correspondence”. I have not been familiar with the Urdu Correspondence as being worked for English Newspapers (Daily Times/ Pakistan Today) for the last 10 years. So I thought to grab this opportunity as being part of Urdu Daily (my first experience from 2012).

I spend 20 minutes sitting inside (the auditorium), having a quick introduction and listening the introductory preamble from Dr. S.M. Moin Qureshi in his own idiosyncratic satirical style and quoted many of his sarcastic writings, I hurriedly made the exit of hall and made quick calls to the members of Federal Education Reporters’ Association (FERA) - an association comprising education beat reporters from Islamabad. As being the Information Secretary of FERA at that time, I requested each call receivers to turn up here because I’ve found this gentleman (Dr. S.M. Moin Qureshi) is not an ordinary soul. First day, I was alone from the FERA with other students from various public sector organizations.

A group photo with Dr. SM Moin Qureshi

Next day, I found the capacity hall with maximum FERA representation. The workshop was arranged by Urdu University Islamabad in association with Anjuman-e-Taraqqi-e-Urdu Pakistan in which Dr. Fatima Hassan also participated.

These eight days flown away like the blink on an eye. During this, especially I alongside FERA members including Tauseef Abbasi (Online/ Jinnah), Zafar Sirpa (President FERA) and others not only learnt phrases, usage of words, correct pronunciation of commonly used words from Dr. Qureshi but also made him appreciating our presence too. I found him pretty jolly at this age (in 60’s) so without wasting my time, I started asking him a number of questions each day. First day, when I asked Dr. Qureshi, “Dr. sb, you have been retired from Sindh Social Security, now how are you spending your life? He retorted, “Bhai Mahtab… I have been retired but I am not tired”, this answer made me tickle. Later, when I got late, Dr.sb asked from the participants “Aaj wo bari bari ankhon wala larka nazar nahi a raha”.

Dr. Qureshi during this workshop also started dictation from the participants. Each day, he dictated us and then he gave us not only marks but awarded the best student with a note of Rs.100. I was the blessed one to grab

Having a treasure of Rs. 100. Dr Fatima Hassan also in the pic.

that 100 Rs note thrice, but Tauseef Abbasi not only declared the best student of the class but also got that award of distinction with Rs.2000 cash prize. .

He was an avid music lover and theatre and movie fan. I remember, one of the last days, during the workshop, he started singing an old Indian song with the lyrics, “Na ye chand ho ga, na taray rahain ge, magar hum hamesha, tumharay rahain ge” and asked: Who is the singer. The melody, the note, the composition looks familiar to Mukesh Kumar’s, sitting in the front row- I prompted, “Mukesh Kumar”, Dr sb. He said, “Majority yahi samjhty hain, or tum bhi usi majority mein se ho. This song is from an old Indian movie ‘Shart” released in 1954 starring Shayama and Deepak. This melodious and melancholic song sung by Hemant Kumar” was enough for my embarrassment.

During those Eight-days he spoke at length about the importance of reading. He often expressed his pleasant surprise at the turn-out in the workshop of each day and admitted that “Islamabadites (students) are the best in learning, understanding and putting up questions”.

Worth a Rs.100 note

On the final day of the workshop 23rd July, 2016, we planned to visit historic places of Islamabad- Buddha’s garden, caves, and well build in ancient times at Shah Allah Ditta. He was more than surprised to visit those ancient palaces in the suburbs of Federal Capital.

While holding his hand at Shah Allah Ditta’s uneven spots, I asked, “Dr. sb, you earlier mentioned you have tied the knot at the age of 18. What’s your suggestion to younger couples of secret of married life”? With his trademark smile, he replied, “Yar… aik hi tareeka hay, pass kar ya bardasht kar”. What do you mean by pass kar, I continued asking. “lafz pass urdu wala bhi hay or English wala bhi, yani Pass on ka matlub hua.. Escape ka button dabaty jao, pass ka matlub hua… ke wohi kamyab hay. Aor bardasht bhi ap ny hi karna hay”, he replied laughingly. I said, yani it’s a win win situation for her? And our laughter vanished somewhere in the caves.

On a serious note, when I asked him the difference between Tanz (satire) and Mazah (humour), he replied, “Tanz main kaat hoti hay, it can rip one’s through. Mazah makes one laugh on the same issue. Yani Mazah hansta hay, tanz dasta hy. “Mazah bhary pait sy nikalta hay jabke Tanz bhookay pait ki paidawar he. Mazah or mazak main farq hona chahiay. Mazah tarz-e-tehreer hay, sinf nahi hay, usloob he, he kept on talking.

FERA family visits Karachi

In 2018, Team FERA visited Karachi. I, unfortunately was not part of it. FERA visited few of Educational Institutions/ Universities. Upon their return, few of FERA members including Zafar Sipra, Zaigham Naqvi, Asim Jilani, Shahid Ajmal, Ch. Aamir, Hira Waheed, Shahbaz Qureshi, Tauseef Abbasi and others visited Dr. S.M Moin Qureshi at his residence. “He greeted us warmly, was pleasantly surprised to meet us all. We had a great time having chit chat and revisiting memories. Later, Dr. sb carried us all to a huge room. It was a mini-cinema. We all had watched a movie. He was a cinema lover. Had a wide range of Indian, English, Pakistani movies collection at this mini theatre at home,” they told this scribe adding he was a jolly good person, down to earth, he will be remembered forever. 

Meanwhile, Tauseef Abbasi and I were regularly in touch with Dr. S.M. Moin Qureshi. His response on whatsapp and messenger was quick. On his birthday September 15, I send him Birthday greetings. It was perhaps, the first and the last time, I didn’t get his response. I thought he is not well, so I didn’t call him until September 20th morning, when Tauseef Abbasi broke the news of Dr. S.M. Qureshi’s departure.

Tauseef Abbasi, while paying tribute to Dr. Qureshi writes, “

استاد محترم جناب ایس ایم معین قریشی علم کا نور بانٹتے بانٹتے داعی اجل کو لبیک کہہ گئے ۔ صد افسوس کہ ان سے تربیتی کورس کے بعد کراچی ڈیفنس ان کے گھر میں صرف ایک ملاقات نصیب ہوئی۔

قلیل دورانیہ کے تربیتی کورس کے 60 کے لگ بھگ کے دیگر شاگردوں میں سے ایک میں بھی تھا۔ استاد مرحوم نے اس تربیتی کورس میں مجھے حاضری ، حاضر دماغی ، نظم و ضبط ، نصاب کی تفہیم ،انفرادی کاوش اور عمومی رویہ کی بنیاد پر بیج کا بہترین طالب علم قرار دیا اور سند تحسین عنائیت فرمائی ۔

Visit to Shah Allah Ditta Caves

ڈیفنس کراچی میں فیرا ٹیم کو اپنے گھر دیکھ کر ان کی خوشی دیدنی تھی۔ اپنے اعزازت دکھاۓ ، بہو کے ہاتھ کے بنے پکوان کھلاۓ اور گھر میں بنے منی سینما میں فلم بھی دکھائی۔

فون پر جب بھی بات ہوتی میرے احوال کے بعد فیرا فیملی کا ضرور پوچھتے آخری دفعہ بات ہوئی تو کہنے لگے توصیف پھر کراچی نہیں اے سب دوستوں کو سلام دینا اور شرارتی آنکھوں والے اپنے دوست (ماہتاب بشیر)کو بتانا میں اسے یاد کر رہا ہوں۔

ڈاکٹر صاحب نےجو علم حاصل کیا تا عمر بطور صدقہ آگے بانٹتے رہے۔ آج جب وه اس جہاں فانی سے جہاں ابدی جا چکے ان کا پھیلایا نور نسلوں کو منور اور ان کے لئے آخرت کا خزینہ بنتا رہے گا۔

اللّه کریم ڈاکٹر ایس ایم معین قریشی کی قبر کو نور سے بھر دے۔۔۔

آمین ثمہ آمین

Dr. S.M Moin Qureshi’s scholarly articles and columns both in Urdu and English have been regularly published in Pakistan’s leading journals and newspapers. He was the patron of promotion of Urdu language. “Urdu is nowhere in the public sector offices yet. Where is Supreme Court’s judgement? Aaj humain Urdu ki tehreek ke sath sath, mazah ki tehreek chalany ki bhi ashad zarurat he”, he told this scribe referring Urdu language usage in Dilawar Figar’s quatrain “Aik University mein kisi Suit Posh sy, Main ne kaha ke aap hain kia- koi sergeant? Kehny lagay ke aapsy mistake ho gai, I am the head of the Urdu Department”.

He has authored about 30 memorable books- all considered to be the reference work in the relevant discipline. The title’s of the books says it all what’s inside it. Wandering & Wondering, Ab Main Likhun Ke Na Likhun, Europe Se Europe Tak, Baal-e-Qarz Muhaal, Har Shaakh pe…, West is West, The Straight Path, From Here to Fraternity, East is East, Hawaas-e-Khasta, Pahaar Talay, Kitnay Aadmi thay, Yun Nahi Yun, Tears for Cheers, Ba Nazr-e-Ghair, Headlight, Khud Khush Hamla, Loot Sale are few of classics.

With his services rendered to Urdu literature, we remember Dr. S.M. Moin Qureshi as an asset of Pakistan. We pray Almighty Allah to give him the superlative spot in Heaven.

First, you dedicated this to all of us, but, now, it is time to reciprocate, though I think, we cannot. Here’s for you!

In a workshop (exam day)

نہ یہ چاند ہو گا، نہ تارے رہیں گے

مگر ہم ہمیشہ تمہارے رہیں گے،

بچھڑ کر چلے جائیں تم سے کہیں،

تو یہ نہ سمجھنا محبت نہیں،

جہاں بھی رہیں ہم تمہارے رہیں گے،

نہ یہ چاند ہو گا، نہ تارے رہیں گے،

مگر ہم ہمیشہ تمہارے رہیں گے۔

زمانہ اگر کچھ کہے بھی تو کیا،

مگر تم نہ کہنا ہمیں بے وفا،

تمہارے لئے ہیں، تمہارے رہیں گے،

نہ یہ چاند ہو گا، نہ تارے رہیں گے،

مگر ہم ہمیشہ تمہارے رہیں گے ۔۔۔۔۔۔۔

FROM PAKISTAN WITH LOVE: SEE YOU ON 26TH OCT, IN SHARJA, UAE, KIWIS!

To

Her Excellency, 
Jacinda Kate Laurell Ardern
Prime Minister of New Zealand

Excellency!

As I am writing you these lines, your (all 33 members) Cricket Team squad is on board to Dubai from Islamabad (safe and sound).

As you are well aware of the fact that your Cricket Board's unilateral and sudden decision well backed by your highness to call off the Pakistan tour over an ambiguous "security alert" appears to be a hasty decision to tarnish the peace-loving country's image of Pakistan around the globe. It also gives an impression that your decisions are not your own. It would seem unfair and unsporting not to engage with the host nation in such matters, to say nothing of ignoring the head-of-state level security accorded to the visitors.

Excellency, all this, mind you, occurred after they (your board officials & team players) publicly expressed satisfaction at the security arrangements and praised facilities and hospitality spending well over a week time.

Pakistani fans are understandably, distraught at the 11th hour cancelation, especially given how Pakistan supported New Zealand politically, and New Zealand Cricket on the ground, twice in the last two years by going ahead with a tour despite the horrific terrorist attack in the Christchurch in which more than 50 people were killed, and then, in a challenging Covid-19 induced bio secure bubble environment.

But while fans can be emotional anywhere, what's intriguing is why New Zealand did not bother to be more forthcoming on the proclaimed alert to the host government. It is likely to create bad blood in bilateral ties beyond cricket and for once, it seems not even YOU could read the pitch. Sad!

Pakistan have been supporting you through thick and thin, but your ‘cold’ and “ambiguous’ response to our Prime Minister was- “there was no issue of a threat but the New Zealand government had received intelligence that the team could be attacked when it steps out to go to the stadium” was nothing but an indication how much your Cricket Board and your government is influenced by others. Your heart and brain is not in the right place- in this regard the less said the better.

Excellency, As our Prime Minister Imran Khan informed you that we have one of the best intelligence systems in the world and that no security threat of any kind exists for the visiting team, let me allow to speak further, “We do not have the best intelligence agencies but we have the best cricket team too”.

Ms Prime Minister, since your action is based upon malafide intentions (for not giving the valid reasons of forfeiting the scheduled matches), I am to convey you, these days all teams are sick and tired of the bio secure bubble (which is why some players are opting out every now and then). So do we stop playing altogether, then? Of course, not. Look at how the game is evolving since Covid-19 started to dictate terms.

Excellency, for this, let's also sometimes spare a thought for the injustice being meted out to Pakistan on the pretext of "security" issues. Can you imagine NZ daring to abandon, say, a tour to India like this? 

In the 2010 IPL season bombs went off around the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore with 40,000 spectators inside, but the fixture still went ahead. No series was cancelled even during the bomb attack in London. Pakistan itself played and completed its tour to NZ after the mosque terror attack there that killed more than 50 Muslims not far from where the Bangladesh team was present. We must call out such contradictions and discrimination for what it is!

Your Cricket Team back departure has not made us failed, in anyway. But you tried to desert us. My hunch is it may have something to do with international geopolitics. Don't forget that AUKUS (The US, UK and Australia have formed a new bloc to counter China but obviously their interests converge on Afghanistan also, and which are contrary to Pakistan's) was formed days ago. England is also likely to pull out. NZ will want to lean on their side. Australia and England are two parts of the Big Three at the ICC dominated by India. We all know where this is going, don't we? May be, you do as well.

Pakistani fan reactions tend to be emotional but I'm not worried about that. However, I'd rather we also look out after our interests and adopt a clear policy of reciprocity in the future.

Am not looking out for something to validate a non-cricketing reason, just expressing a possibility of one, and this is entirely based on the failure of NZ to substantiate the "proclaimed security alert" to Islamabad and their unwillingness to share intel if that indeed was the case. It's not as if Pakistan would have forced them to tour had they shared it.

Excellency, we will find out ‘the gloved hands’ behind this conspiracy as your team’s tour cancellation was an attempt to damage Pakistan’s efforts for peace in the region.

Last but indeed not the least, we will vent out our frustration through our performance in the cricket arenas, as this is the only solution to cope with the pull out (of your team). It was an unfortunate scenario, but it is not the first that such an incident has happened. Pakistan's cricket has always moved forward because we are resilient - and it is the fans who enable us.

May the Almighty help New Zealand when people like you with weak decision-making and dubious credentials are at such important positions.

See you on October 26th, in Sharja, UAE.

Thanking you for your time, efforts and patience.

MAHTAB BASHIR
A Pakistani Cricket Fanatic
mahtabbashir@gmail.com
+92 333 53 63 248

ISLAMABAD

PAKISTAN