Karachi: Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi paid tribute to Renowned Urdu Writer and humorist Mushtaq Ahmed Yousufi at Haseena Moin Hall. The event featured prominent figures including poetess Fatima Hasan, Shahid Rassam, Ambareen Haseeb Ambar, and Hoori Noorani, who shared their thoughts on Yousufi’s literary legacy. Notable poet Iftikhar Arif presided over the ceremony via video link, while Shakeel Khan performed the duties as moderator. Iftikhar Arif expressed his gratitude to President Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi Muhammad Ahmed Shah for organizing the event in honor of Mushtaq Ahmad Yousufi. He highlighted two distinct phases in Yousufi’s life: before and after his seminal work “Aab-e-Gum.” Arif mentioned his intention to write about these phases and praised Yousufi’s impeccable sense of dressing. He recalled that he had often mentioned during Yousufi’s lifetime that he considered him among the most popular prose writers in Urdu literature. Arif emphasized that Yousufi’s journey up to “Aab-e-Gum” was unique. Noon Meem Rashid and Mushtaq Ahmad Yosufi are treasures for Urdu prose writers. Arif acknowledged that he had learned a lot from Yousufi, noting that his humor was distinct from all others and said that he was a punctual and honest individual. Fatima Hasan shared fond memories of Yousufi. She recalled that Anwar Maqsood, Zehra Nigah, and Ahmed Faraz, often went on picnics together when Yousufi was alive. She described her relationship with Yousufi as akin to family and praised Ahmed Shah for maintaining the bond with Yousufi both during his lifetime and after his demise. She noted that Ahmed Shah established the Josh Malihabadi Library with Yousufi’s collection of 10,000 books. Fatima Hasan expressed that Yousufi would never truly be separated from them because his influence continues to connect all of us. Poet Dr. Ambareen Haseeb Ambar remarked that Mushtaq Ahmed Yousufi’s name would always remain alive, highlighting his immense passion for helping others to progress. She recalled that when she scheduled an interview with Yousufi, who modestly remarked that interviews are for those who have done something new. She noted that humor was an inherent part of Yousufi’s personality, and meeting him always felt that way. Despite his declining health, he remained true to himself until the very end, displaying his mastery of language. Yousufi’s character was infused with humor, and he will always be remembered as a creator for future generations. Hoori Noorani shared her experiences as a publisher, stating that her journey began with Yousufi, though sadly, he passed away a few years later. She recalled that when “Aab-e-Gum” was about to be published, Yousufi was residing in London, and he was involved in every detail of his books, from proofreading to cover design. She noted that while the initial publishing process involved traditional calligraphy, “Aab-e-Gum” was the first to be composed on a computer. Noorani expressed that she had learned more from Yousufi than even from her father, as he was intolerant of mistakes and was very strict during the proofreading stages. She credited Yousufi for her success as an editor. During the event, Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi, Arts School Principal Shahid Rassam read a paper based on memories of Mushtaq Ahmad Yousufi, celebrating the indelible mark he left on Urdu literature.
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