Some lines about Maqsood Hasni

Prof Niamat Ali

Abuuzar Barqi Kutabkhana

June 2017
 Some lines about Maqsood Hasni

Maqsood Hasni was born in 1951, at Islam Pura Tehsil

and Distt. Kasur. His father, Syed Ghulam Hazoor Shah,
was a Punjabi Sufi poet. He got his early education from
his father. He got his master degrees in Urdu, Political
Science, Economics and History from the Punjab
University. He passed his M.Phil (Urdu) from Allama Iqbal
Open University. He got his Doctorate in linguistics from
USA Along with this bright academic career; he has a
very long and vast career as a journalist. Hundreds of
his essays have been published in various journals and
newspapers.
As a poet, short story writer, humorist, linguistic, critic,
researcher, Ghalib expert, Iqbal expert he wrote
nineteen books. He tested his mettle in poetry in
different languages and dialects (Urdu, English, Punjabi,
Gojri, Pothuhari, etc.) He has a long, bright career as an
educationist comprising twenty three years.
Researchers and Critics Views of Maqsood Hasni is
counted among those researchers, creative artists and
critics who have the trend of breaking traditions with
logic and reasoning. His voyage of researches and
criticism has been passing through evolution for the last
two decades and it involves the changing circumstance
and contemporary demands.
The angles of his researches and critical thought have
been extending. In view of it, not only awareness is
gained about the factors and the traditions of research
and criticism that has developed in the sub-continent,
but help is also obtained in understanding the new
models of inter- national researches and criticism along
with the modern thought. He has shattered the idols of
tradition worshipping and has adopted the trend of
evaluating the literary pieces with new references and
from different angles which has blessed the literary
pieces with respectable status. The attitudes and facts,
with which Maqsood Hasni is linked with respect to his
research and critical references, are directly related
with social and cultural values. His research and critical
approach seem the real reflection of human life, no part
or aspect of which is meaningless or absurd. Differences
can be made with reference to his research and critical
work, but the importance and utility of the bases and
aspects, with reference to which he has worked in the
field of research and criticism, cannot be denied. He left
behind the presumption and commenced his voyage of
research keeping in view life and the alive facts. He has
falsified the unreal and conceptual aspects, ideas and
thoughts. He has presented logical and strong arguments
in this regard that cannot be ignored. We cannot keep
our eyes off the scenario of modern ideas in which he
has evaluated the masterpieces of international writes.
In this regard, he has been criticized again and again. But
he never compromised on principles and this very fact
has blessed his research and critical work with newness
and recognition. As a creative writer, he has tested his
mettle in different genre which, along with others,
includes short-story writing and poetry especially. His
work in these two types needs no introduction. As a poet
and short -story writer, he has made the suffering of
man the subject of his writing and tried to show the
different shades and angles with reference to class
distinction. His story-writing and poetry are linked with
uncountable directions and aspects of human sense and
social and cultural life. His study as a creative writer
makes the reader conscious of such a litterature as
carry the surging emotions of love and peace in his
heart. He wants to see the world as beautiful as it can be.
Therefore he looks like a voyager of dreamland who
laughs at the deficiencies and inequalities of men keeping
in mind the romantic concepts. These things seem
opposite to each other but the fact is the same. Along
with fantasies, he is attached with the miseries of man.
As a literature, his relation never breaks with fantasies
and facts. In short, Maqood Hasnis English poetry is an
addition to English literature about which it is said in
Continuum: It is a literature of myth and legend, kings
and kingdoms, chivalry and romance; it is a literature of
voyage and discovery, colonization and empire, war and
retribution; it is a literature of tradition and transition,
diversity and assimilation, promise and compromise.
What the present critics think about Maqsood Hasni and
his creative work can be viewed in the scenario of their
opinions. Their views have been collected from the
letters, essays, newspapers, journals etc. written with
regards to his books. I have tried my best to arrange
them in apple pie order. In the scenario of these
comments, the status of Maqsood Hasni as a critic,
creative artist and researcher becomes evident.
(1)Oot Say The Oot Say, is the name of his poetic
collection. Its study shows that the poet has kept nothing
hidden rather expressed each and everything openly and
in a clear cut way. He voices each thing not from behind
the screen but in an obvious way. He expresses his
thoughts with extreme sympathy, pathos and passions.
Evidently the poems are short and sentences brief, but
intrinsically, the poems and sentences are very lofty and
stalwart. They are not lines but red roses, delicate the
touch, charming to see, refreshing to smell. But in their
effectiveness, they are just like flickering flames, the
burns of miserable hearts, and the fire bombs for the
world of oppression and suppression. (Prof Dr Farman
Fateh Puri. Karachi, letter write on 5th June 1991)
( 2 ) Lisanyat-e- Ghalib (Ghalibs Linguistics) As Mark
Aronoff and Janie Rees-Miller opine: Literature is a
special kind of herbal behavior, and hence of interest to
linguistics, Maqsood Hasni developed a special interest
in Ghalibs linguistics. The opinions of some renowned
scholars are as under: (A) Even the first glances of your
writing Lisanyat-e- Ghalib makes us realize that you
have a special taste for linguistics and you have a deep
insight in Ghalibs linguistics. Its study helps us estimate
your literary taste, far reaching sight and tiresome
effort of research work. And it showed the future of
literature and research is safe in the hands of and
critics and intellectuals like you. Dr. Abou Suluman Shah
Jehan Puri, Letter: 19 July, 1999) (B).Maqsood Hasnis
book Lisanyat-e-Ghalib is very extensive and useful in
this regard. This research rises from Ghalibs text. It can
be regarded as Galibs fortune to have an industrious
text expert like Maqsood Hasni. (Prof. Dr. Syed
Moeen-ur-Rehman Letter: 14 Nov, 1998) (C) In
Lisanyat-e-Ghalib Maqsood Hasni has studied Ghalibs
linguistics with reference to his poetry. It sis a new
aspect of understanding Ghalib that is so colorful with
respect to its scenario. (Adeeb Sohail, Qami Zuban Oct
1999)
(3)Sheryat-e- Khayyam Maqsood Hasnis work is
praiseworthy, first of all, with the respect that he has
discussed some new aspects of Umar Khayyam.
Secondly, it is not less than an uphill task to keep the
stream of criticism continue even when one is living in
suburbs of centers. Maqsood Hasni has in
Sharyat-e-Khayyam translated umar Khayyams
Rubies (Quadrats) into three lined stanzas. (Tanveer
Abbas Naqvi column Sr-e-Sham Lahore)
(4) German Shaery Kay Fikri Zaviya (Intellectual Angles
of German Poetry) (A). I had to study the German
Shaery Kay Fikri Zaviya with deep attention. Your way of
argumentation amused me very much. Your style is very
charming that one can go through the whole book
without any tiredness. (Dr. Muneer-ud-Din Ahmad,
Germany. Letter: 23 June, 1993) (B) Hasni has written
about peace, dignity of man, life and human values by
presenting pieces from German poetry. Another
remarkable action he has done is that along with German
poetry he has presented examples from Urdu and other
local languages. In this way, the reader finds it easy to
make the comparative study of the poetry in the two
countries: Pakistan Germany.
(Dr. Sabir Aafaqi (Review) TAjleeb-e-Noa February 1994)
(5) Urdu Maen Nai Nazm A).You have comprehensively
encompassed the new poems in Urdu. I appreciate your
critical approach. I congratulate you on the publication of
this thought provoking book. (Asharperbhat, India letter
9th Nov, 1993) B) You have worked very diligently. You
have a strong grip on the subject and your statement is
sustained by arguments. You have highlighted all the
positive and negative aspects with respect to this new
genre. I think nobody else has discussed the topic so
extensively before you. Congratulations! (Dr. Abou
Sayeed Noor-u- Din, Dhaka, Bengla Desh. Letter: 26 Jan,
1993)
(6) Urdu Shaery , Fikiri-o-Lasani Raviyyay (Intellectual
and linguistic attitudes in Urdu poetry) The Urdu Shaer,
Fikri wa Lasani Raviyyay is the exhibition of complete
grip of the competent writer on the ideological and
practical criticism. The evolution of criticism is it
distinctive quality. Prof. Hasni has multiplied the
importance of this book by bringing into action the
moral, psychological, social, aesthetical and formative
criticism. It can be asserted without the fear of any
refuel that the wealth of Urdu criticism has made
progress by the addition of this high leveled writing.
(Prof.Ghulam Shabbir Rana Commentary
Mah-e-Nau1998)
(7) Asool aur Jaezay (Principles and Criticism) Asool
aur Jaezay is the latest writing of Maqsood Hasni. The
main characteristic of this book is that he never parts
with honesty. Secondly, so much material has been
collected in this middle level book that it has become a
treasure of information for the new learners. And it
provides an honest guidance to the critical minded men.
(Dr. Baidal Haidery Kabeer Wala, Letter: 17 June, 1998.)
(8) Supnay Agley Pehar Kay (Dreams of the Early Time)
Maqsood Hasni is such a young writer as ever showers
fire from his pen. He has performed his role by bringing
into the boundary of his writing the uncountable
problems wide spread in the society. His essays and
poems have the same tone and that tone is very live. The
originality in his thought can be seen with all its
energies. Maqsood Hasnis effort in writing prose hyko is
praise worthy. His hyko will prove the milestone between
the prose- poem and hyko. In brief, Maqsood Hasnis
effective voice and his progressive mind shall affects the
persons having the poetic taste. (Dr. Akhtar Shumar,
Editor Magazine daily Aftab Lahore 6Sep, 1989)
(9) Tehrikat e-Urdu Adab (Movements in the Urdu
Literature) Tehrikat-e-Urdu Adab written by Maqood
Hasni on Urdu literature and the movements in the Urdu
literature is a book of permanent reference for the
research students. (Dr.Wafa Rashdi, Quomi Zuban July,
1997)
(10) Baigumi Tajarba (Wife Experience) Baigumi
Tajarba written by respectable Maqsood Hasni has
come before the world in the form of humor and satire.
What is the matrimonial experience? This book is, in fact,
the solution to all the problems. I was wonder struck
after reading it that a such being exists among as has so
much knowledge, experience of world, observation, and
study in him. (Mehar Kachailwy weekly Aurat Mirpur
Khas Sindh 18 Nov, 1993)
(11) Ghalib aur Us Ka Ehad (Ghalib and His Age) Ghalib
aur Us Ka Ehad passed before my eyes. For writing this
book, the writer went through more than fifty books. The
book gives us an estimation of the hard work made by
the writer in composing it. A lot has been written on
Ghalib. In this case there was no evident need to write
this book. But the deep study of the book falsifies the
idea. This research book by Maqsood Hasni contains
interest. And it opens new facts of Ghalibs poetry for a
common reader. (Prof. Dr. Khawaja Hamid Yazdani
Lahore. Letter: 21 Apr, 1994)
(12) Sooraj Ko Roak Lo (Stop the Sun)
Sooraj Ko Roak Lo Maqsood Hasnis poetry is the
poetry of a peculiar creative minded poet of the present
age. The triangle of self, environment and universe is the
base of his thought provoking and creative trends. He
knows the art of feeling the problems of life. Rare
images, metaphors and symbols have blessed his poetry
with freshness and vigor. His poetry, no doubt, is a sound
voice of the preset age. (Dr. Gohar Noshahi Muktadra
Quomi Zuban Islam Abad. Letter: 18Sept, 1991)
(13) Sheryat e- Shark -o- Garb (Poetry of East and
West) Sheryat e-Shark-o-Garb Provides with a sense
of Maqsood Hasnis critical and creative evolution. And
this thing blesses him with a distinctive position among
other researchers and critics of his age. Sheryat-e-
Shark-o-Garb is a combination of such essays as
awaken our insight. The new themes, their novelty and
their vastness can be well estimated by the variety of
their headings. (Dr .Wafa Rashidi,Mahnama
Nawa-e-Pathan. August,1999)
(14) Takhliqi WA Tankidi Zaviay (Creative and critical
Angles) Takhliqi wa Tankidi Zaviay is a combination of
eighteen essays written by Maqsood Hasni on the
subjects of literary creativity and literary criticism.
Hasni has penned down different aspects of literature. I
agree to the thought presented by the writer. He
presents his thoughts in his own words. He never walks
on the path of arts with the borrowed crutches. The
names of well known scholars are seldom found in his
writings. Without the prop of other scholars supporting
thoughts, he makes his point clear to the reader with the
might of the own words and it is the climax of art.
Worthy to be applauded. (Dr. Wafa Rashidi Karachi. June,
1994)
(15)Sitar-e-Bunti Ankhein (Stars Weaving Eyes) I also
accept that creation is creation and translation is
translation .But a translator can translate one thing in
hundreds of ways. It is possible if the translator has
knowledge, insight, intuition and language and he also
roasts idioms in the stale translation may look like a
creation. So the work has been performed by Maqood
Hasni very well in his book Sitar-e-Bunti Ankhein which
is a translation of Turk poetry. (Dr.Baidal Haidery Kabeer
Wala. Letter: 19 June, 1998)
(16) Zard Kajal (Yellow .) Zard Kajal is a
combination of Maqsood Hasnis short stories. Its study
opens a number of social knots. And the reader feels
easy when he understands the comparison of some
social conditions and concepts of the East and those of
the west. The writer has tried to propagate the trend of
realism with the indication of the new trend and moves
instead of the old concepts. (Seikh Altaf-ul-Allah, Sanam
International Lahore. Feb, 1993)
(17) Munir-ud-Din Kay Afsanay (Short Stories of
Munir-ud-Din) In the book in hand, Maqsood Hasni has
presented the critical study of the short stories by
Munir. He has neither mental miserliness nor lack of
diligence. It is the peculiar characteristic of Hasnis
personality. That why his each new piece of work is
welcomed with pure heart and sincere passions. This
time this welcome is being made an organized way.
(Prof.Amjad Ali Shaker. 30 Dec, 1993)
(18) Jis Hath Mein Lathi (The Hand that has a Stick/Lathi)
I received three books from you. Jis Hath Mean Lathi,
Tehkiq aur Tankidi Zaviay, Galib aur Us ka Ehed. I am
thankful for that. All three of these books are very
useful, and directly effective. The style of writing has
widened your circle of readers. (Akbar Hamidi, Urdu
Department, Islamabad College. Letter: 24 Apr, 1994)
(19) WO Akaili Thi (She was Alone) Maqsood Hasni is a
well known name is the present age short writing. Wo
Akaili Thi has fifteen short stories. Most of the short
stories had already been published in different journals
before 1997. At that time, Hasni Sahibs pen name was
Qazi Jarar Hasni. In the short stories, like every
sensitive writer, the sorrow of the present age can be
found. He has pasteurized the anxieties wide spread
around him. It is no doubt a praiseworthy task. (Weekly
Family Magazine Lahore. 28 Apr to 4 May, 1992) In the
light of the above mentioned arguments and comments, it
comes crystal clear that Maqsood Hasni can boast of a
high status as a critic, researcher and creator. He
shatters the old moulds of measuring the beauty and
quantity of some piece of writing and formulates new
meters for the measurement of literary writing. He is no
where seen impressed by the western thought or
approach. He is the originator in his field. He can be
regarded as the pioneer of a vast coming era. The circle
of his readers and critics will go on widening with the
passage of time. In the coming years he will become a
bright star in the limitless sky of literature. His repute
with not remain confined to Urdu but will spread to all
the world languages. He will never die in Urdu Adab. He
has devoted all his life to literature and he can be rightly
called the martyr of Urdu literature. His work on Galib
finds no peer near him. He has become a living example
of: Ranjah Ranjah ker di ne maen aapay Ranjah hoei And
in Galibs own words: Aisa kahan say laoon keh tujh sa
kahain jisay

Abuuzar Barqi Kutabkhana

June 2017