‘Munnu Bhai was a great human’

LAHORE : Speakers at a reference held at South Asia Free Media Association (SAFMA) here Friday remembered columnist, playwright and poet Munnu Bhai as a great human being and talented person and paid glowing tribute to his services for the nation.

A documentary on the life of late Munnu Bhai was also played while SAFMA Secretary General Imtiaz Alam also announced naming the foundation’s lounge after late Munnu Bhai. Munir Ahmed Qureshi popularly known as Munnu Bhai, a columnist at Jang, was born in Wazirabad in 1933. Since his father was a station master in Pakistan Railways who was posted at different railway stations, Munnu Bhai grown up in different cities of the country and joined journalism profession in Rawalpindi in 1954. He was also patron-in-chief of Sundas Foundation—an organisation which supports children suffering from thalassaemia and other blood diseases for which he had dedicated his life.

Veteran journalist and peace and human advocate IA Rehman said late Munnu Bhai was a self-taught man and the state, unfortunately, did not benefit from his talent. He said everything of late Munnu Bhai was different be that his poetry, drama or columns and added he was a socialist of a different kind too. He hated violence and remained non-violent throughout his life, he added. IA Rehman lamented that the state only used to condole the death of talented people like Munnu Bhai and never benefited from them during their life.

Speaking on occasion, Imtiaz Alam said, late Munnu Bhai fought against the powers of terror and evil through love and affection and added his work for children suffering from thalassaemia and other blood diseases through Sundas Foundation and his columns and plays, in general, manifested all this.

Munnu Bhai, who also served as president of SAFMA, was a lovely person motivated to highlight injustice and deprivation in society through his poetry, drama and columns. He said he had a charming personality and everybody loved him. He said Munnu Bhai loved the romance of a just and fair society and was a practical person.

Muhammad Yaseen from Sundas Foundation said Munnu Bhai had devoted his life for the children suffering from thalassaemia and other blood diseases and never got any financial benefit from Sundas Foundation rather dedicated awards and prizes he received from government and other organisations for the welfare of these kids.

He said the foundation had purchased a piece of land for a hospital which would be named as “Munno Bhai Hospital.” Dr Sughra Sadaf, Director Punjab Institute of Language, Art and Culture (PILAC), said Munnu Bhai lived his life and never compromised. She added he was against dividing humanity. Political activist Dr Lal Khan said Munnu Bhai had his unique style and gave a new dimension to poetry.

Actor Hamid Rana who rose to fame through Munnu Bhai’s play “Sona Chandi” said he was known to the world just because of Munnu Bhai. He said he and many others were indebted to Munnu Bhai as he taught them lessons for life and added forgiveness was his hallmark.

Legendary actor Khalid Abbas Dar shared his fond memories with late Munnu Bhai saying they met for the first time at Radio Pakistan and the lovely relationship continued until his death though the bond still continued through his family. He said he never saw anyone in his life writing better sentences than Munnu Bhai.

Veteran journalist and human rights activist, Hussain Naqi recited some Punjabi poems and read out excerpts from the book of Munnu Bhai. Dr Pervaiz Tahir, drama writer and poet Asghar Nadeem Syed, Punjabi poet Baba Najmi, noted director Shireen Pasha, Munnu Bhai’s nephew Dr Ahmed Bilal and others also spoke on the occasion.