KARACHI: A book of Sindhi short stories titled Pathar Manjh Pasah (Soul in Stone) by journalist and writer Hasan Mansoor was launched at the Arts Council of Pakistan on Friday evening. The author died last year on March 5.

Speaking on the occasion eminent writer Noorul Huda Shah said journalists’ expression is usually harsh, but Mansoor’s stories have nafasat (exquisiteness) in them. The metaphors and similes employed by the writer are delicate (naazuk). His stories because of their expanse (phailao) and reach will make him an important storyteller. His death was untimely.

Dr Tauseef Ahmed Khan said it’s been a year since Mansoor left our mortal world. It wasn’t his time to go but he did. He was a wonderful human being. His friends and colleagues had formed a reading circle at the Karachi Press Club in which he used to participate actively on a regular basis. The marked feature of his personality was that he was an avid listener and would never get angry with anyone. A friend named Mahmood told him (Dr Khan) that once he had a fierce debate with Mansoor which assumed an ethnic colour, but Mansoor did not misbehave. A couple of days later Mansoor apologised to Mahmood which goes to show how non-confrontational a man he was.

Dr Khan said as far as journalism was concerned, Mansoor was committed to his profession. A year after Benazir Bhutto was assassinated, his mother died. His friends wanted to extend their condolences to him. When they went to meet him, he had already gone to Larkana (immediately after his mother was buried).

Mansoor started his career as a computer operator at Awami Awaz, after which through hard work became a journalist working for newspapers such as Dawn and foreign agencies such as AFP.

Dr Shershah Syed said it was in 1990 that he returned to Pakistan from Ireland after completing his course. Initially, he didn’t have a job so he spent some time at the Jinnah Hospital where he got to hear some eye-opening stories and realised how little importance was given to the health of women and children. Subsequently he joined Unicef and went to Thar and Thatta for workshops for which he asked Aslam Khwaja, Mansoor’s friend, to get him a man who was familiar with the region and its language. He introduced Mansoor to him for the purpose and they immediately hit it off.

Mansoor as a newsman used to write on maternal health. When he was with Dawn as a reporter, health was his beat; and oftentimes he used to call him [Dr Syed] to inquire about health-related issues. His contribution as a health journalist was huge. Dr Syed said he met the author the last time at a press conference at PMA House.

Rauf Nizamani said Mansoor began his professional life from Sindhi newspapers and moved on to work for English dailies. With the passage of time he was able to write quality English, and sometimes used words to know the meaning of which his friends would consult dictionaries. He was committed to his profession and never faltered in his role as a media man.

Talking about his short stories, Mr Nizamani said the writer used urban diction to put his message across. “He has discussed urban environment in his tales.”

Dr Ayoub Shaikh said Mansoor always talked about the people. They were the focus of his attention, so he wrote stories about the masses.

Aslam Khwaja, who is instrumental in publishing the book, said the author’s friends should try and publish his Urdu and English works as well.

Javed Sauz anchored the book launch and also read excerpts from the book.

Published in Dawn, March 6th, 2021