KARACHI: Rich tributes were paid to the distinguished humourist and satirist, the late Mushtaq Ahmed Yousufi, at an event held at the Arts Council of Pakistan on Tuesday to honour his memory on his 101st birth anniversary which fell on Wednesday.

Eminent poet Iftikhar Arif, who spoke through a video link from Islamabad, presided over the session. He said Yousufi sahib was a difficult man. He wouldn’t allow anyone get close to him easily. If he found anyone unlike his mizaj, he would distance himself from them. The writer’s creative journey could be divided into two phases: the pre-Aab-i-Gumm period and the post-Aab-i-Gumm phase. [Aab-i-Gumm was his fourth book.]

Mr Arif said Yousufi sahib loved his children and grandchildren but couldn’t discuss books with them. He had a good relationship with his wife. She knew when he needed food and what dress he wanted to put on. He was a well-dressed man. In the last stages of his life, he had begun to wear shalwar-qameez, otherwise all his life in the UK and Karachi, he’d always wear a suit to attend an event.

The poet said Yousufi sahib was one of the greatest Urdu prose writers. He had his distinct style. Ghalib was a great poet but also a great prose writer.

Legendary humorist remembered on his 101st birth anniversary

“After the inception of Pakistan, a host of quality prose writers came to the fore but Yousufi sahib was different from all of them. His four books [Chiragh Taley, Khakam Badahan, Zarguzasht and Aab-i-Gumm] established his stature as writer. Usually, it’s seen that as one grows old, creative ability begins to subside. But poet N M Rashid and Yousufi sahib are two individuals whose works that they produced after being septuagenarian was remarkable, especially Aab-i-Gumm, which can be counted among the top four or five books written in Urdu in the last 100 years,” he said.

Earlier, poet Dr Fatema Hassan talked about how Yousufi sahib with a group of friends would regularly hang out at the seaside. She said he was very close to the critic Mushfiq Khwaja, and when Khwaja sahib passed away, Yousufi sahib felt distressed. She also read a paper on the writer’s life and work.

Publisher Hoori Noorani said her publishing journey began with Yousufi sahib. After her father’s death, when she took up the publishing business, she had deal with the works of two writers — Qurutulain Hyder and Yousufi sahib. At the time he lived in London and the communication used to take place through letters. She found out that he knew a lot about publishing.

Poet Ambreen Haseeb Amber, after narrating her first meeting with Yousufi sahib at a book launch, said when she once tried to interview him, he replied those who’d come up with something ‘new’ should be interviewed, not the ones whose work is already out. But he did give the interview.

On his writing prowess she remarked, “There’s an evolutionary growth to his creative journey which culminated in Aab-i-Gumm. He is such a fine writer that he blurred the line between humour and serious writing. He created a genre that served as a bridge between reality and fiction.”

Painter Shahid Rassam shared his memories of the writer.

Yousufi sahib’s daughter-in-law Wasima thanked the council for arranging the event. Shakil Khan moderated the programme.

Published in Dawn, September 5th, 2024