Loss of a progressive voice

By: G Abid Jaferi

The Sunday News : Sunday, November 11, 2007

Dr Afzal Mirza a great Urdu poet and short story writer, whose writings appeared on these pages till early this year, left for his heavenly aboard on in August leaving his family and a large number of admirers and students to mourn. A few years ago he shifted to America along with his literary activities for the treatment of his ailing wife who died last year. Her death came as a blow to him.

A Ravian, Dr. Mirza did his M.Sc in Chemistry in 1956 and taught Chemistry at Government College Abbottabad. Later he received a gold medal from Peshawar University in 1963. He was awarded a scholarship to pursue Ph.D in Chemistry from Zagrib, Yugoslavia.
Afzal Mirza belonged to the clan of Progressive writers/poets. His poetry was influenced by Faiz and Sahir Ludhianvi while his short story are reminiscent of Krishen Chandar, Manto, Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi, Rajindar Sing Bedi. His first short story 'Khan Bahadur' was published by the College magazine 'Kaghan.'
He started composing nazms and ghazals during his days at Government College, Lahore. After his first appearance on stage at the college, his presence became a regular feature at the end of every college function particularly mushaira. One was:

 

Tum nein kia kia na wafaoon
ka dilaya tha yaqeen
Tum to do char kadam bhee
na merey sath chaley
Yoon to pehle bhee hooa
kartea hai laikin kam kam
Dard kuch aur siwa hota hai
jab sham dhaly
ahsas-e-bey kasi mujehy aisa
kabi na tha
tanha tha mein par itna bhee
 tanha kabi na tha
iss sheher mein her ik kee
zuban par hey mairee bat;
yoon meira nam khalq mein
 ruswa kabi na tha

With the passage of time his literary activities expanded in all directions, so did his circle of friends which included the literary elite of Abbottabad. He also established a literary society by the name of 'Bazm-e-Ilm-o-Fann' with Sajjad Ahmed Jan as its President and himself its Secretary. This society contributed a lot towards the promotion of art and literature holding its meetings on regular basis.

The years 1956-63 brought Afzal Mirza to the peak of his literary activities. During this very period he organised/staged in the College Hall 'All Pakistan Urdu Mushaira' three times. Another memorable performance of Afzal Mirza during this time was the two Urdu plays he staged, 'Satya Nas' and 'Sarai Key Bahir'. Both plays were appreciated and staged time and again on account of the performance of their cast. The cast included some well known personalities of today who were students of Govt. College, Abbottabad. Another important event was the staging of Ifkar-e-Pareshan. During his nearly 2-3 hours performance he made the audience burst into laughter.
Afzal Mirza earned a great respect and fame on account of his teaching and outstanding literary trends. His 'Salasil' which he rendered at the farewell organised by his students and friends on the eve of his departure from Abbottabad speak volumes of the reverence and love they had for him:

Teer ik seenay main garh
 jata ha
ab to soocha ha kisi say na
 milain gey
jiss sey miltey hein, bichar
 jata ha