Arts Council commemorates Mustafa Zaidi

The Arts Council of Pakistan (ACP) on Wednesday evening paid rich tribute to Mustafa Zaidi, a trendsetting poet who is unfortunate in respect that his untimely and unnatural death is more discussed than his poetic art even today when more than 50 years have passed since his demise.

The ACP organised the event in connection with Zaidi’s birthday that falls on October 10. Many prominent literary figures of Karachi attended the discussion that focused more on Zaidi’s poetry than the tragic end of his life.

A civil servant, Zaidi was found dead at a house in KDA Scheme 1 on October 12, 1970 when he had fallen out of favour with then military government. Some consider his death suicide and others a murder.

The event began with the screening of a recorded video message of the late poet’s nephew Adeel Zaidi from the United States. He thanked the ACP for commemorating his uncle’s contributions to the Urdu literature and read out remarks of luminaries like Josh and Faiz in praise of Zaidi’s poetic talents.

He said Zaidi based his poetry on truth and honesty and fulfilled the aesthetic demands of poetry. Later, Ambreen Haseeb Amber and other speakers spoke on how much Zaidi was influenced by Josh. Amber said that besides Josh, Zaidi was also influenced by Iqbal. She said Na-Aasoodgi (discontent) was the major force that nourished Zaidi’s creativity.

Dr Fatema Hassan spoke on the evolution of Zaidi’s poetry over time from his first collection titled Zanjeerain that was published in 1949 till his fourth and last collection Mauj Meri Sadaf published in 1969.

Dr Fatema also highlighted how Zaidi’s poetry was imbued with the zeitgeist of his age. This point was further elaborated by Firasat Rizvi, who said Zaidi’s vast knowledge reflected in his poetry that drew themes from Indian, Greek and Egyptian mythologies as well as had clear influences of the English and Persian literature.

Rizvi recalled attending the late poet’s Chaleeswan in Rizvia Society where a constellation of literary personalities was present, including Faiz, Josh, Rais Amrohvi and Syed Muhammad Jafri. He said Josh recited a total of eight Rubaiyat in praise of Zaidi on the occasion, which made the congregation burst into tears.

The event was presided over by Zehra Nigah, who read parts of Zaidi’s poem in praise of his German wife, in which the poet admitted his fallibility and credited his spouse for maintaining their relation. Regarding the late poet’s love interests, Zehra said multiple experiences of getting in love enriched Zaidi’s poetry and imparted pathos to it.