By Shafique Ahmed Shafique
Name of book: Mulaqat-o-Hekayaat
Author: Amir Hasan Chaman
Publishers: Print Media Publications, P. O Box No1300,Karachi-Islamabad
Pages: 432
Price: Rs 250
The book in hand, “Mulaqat-o-Hekayaat” is a fascinating account of luminaries. It consists of 12 interviews by Amir Hussain Chaman. The author of the book is a poet, short story writer and journalist. He already has three books to his credit and “Mulaqat-o-Hekayaat is his fourth one.
“Mulaqat-o-Hekayaat” is divided into three parts. There are nine long and short writes-up in the first part of the said book which reveal a lot about the author’s literary and journalistic pursuits.
The second one which is the main part of the book begins with Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s interview and after 11 others it finishes on Perveen Shakir’s.
The third part “Kuchch Aur Mulaqatain Kuchch Aur Hekayetain” contains short essays on life and profession as well as author’s relationship with 90 prominent personalities, connected with literature, journalism, public relations, politics, sports, film, TV and radio.
It is very interesting and informative that Chaman has also given short life sketches before the beginning of every interview which have made the book more precious and informative. It may be termed to some extent an effort to open a new window of experiment.
Every interview has been written with a great zeal. Chaman has tried his best to make the interviews thought provoking and unique that is why his interviews to some extent are non-traditional and give a feeling of freshness.
The author has employed his creative efforts to uncover that very inner-war which is on continuously in all men of letters, writers, thinkers, poets and reformers for the bright future and prosperity of mankind.
The author, as claimed has spent one day with the every interviewee and tried to understand the personages interviewed a brilliant effort as the book is a witness to.
It may be said that the interviews with Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Josh Malihabadi, Ehsan Danish, Ahmed Nadeem Qasimi, Ebn-e-Insha, Habib Jalib, Qateel Shafai, Ahmed Faraz, Z.A.Bukhari, and Perween Shakir are markable and praiseworthy. Each interview has different angle. Chaman has honestly tried to note and express all the minor and major aspects of interviewees’ lives. The inclusion of a good number of rare photographs along with each interview has made the book more valuable.