‘Jeen lai marna painda ay’

Islamabad: It is so traumatic to write about the person who has always been so kind to you in life and suddenly he is not there anymore. Munno Bhai (Munir Ahmed Qureshi) was the voice of poor and downtrodden in the society.

In a country in which the ruling elite and the policy makers are focused on the welfare of those already prosperous, he was the voice, a bold, loud and clear voice, for the poverty struck masses, which never wavered come what may! Munno Bhai (Munir Ahmed Qureshi) has passed away.

The last time we were together was in an evening arranged by renowned women rights activists, poetess and writer, (Aapi) Kishwar Naheed at her place. As usual it was a select gathering.

Aapi Kishwar would never let an opportunity to go if ‘comrades from Lahore’ were in town. And that was early last year. Like the typical evenings arranged by Kishwar Naheed, there were many a renowned personalities of literature present besides Munno Bhai, including I.A. Rehman, Ashfaq Saleem Mirza, Hassan Abbas Raza, Shakeel Jazeb, Haris Khaleeq and many more.

And one can understand as in which direction the discussion would flow! It was all about literature and poetry. And when Munno Bhai is around, everyone would naturally be eager to listen to his views, especially his poetry.

Though Munno Bhai will be presenting his latest thoughts, eventually he would be pressed with the demand to recite his famous ‘Ehtesaab kay Chief Commissioner Sahab Bahadar’! And we believe that those sitting in the seats to exercise accountability at any level have read or heard this poem by Munno Bhai and have actually understood it, their approach and attitude will transform completely.

Once Munno Bhai is finished, the flood gates will open and every poet in the room will try to take the lead to present his or her latest creation! It was all so lovely and invigorating. Taking away the worries and stress of life for some time!

Many may be aware as to how Munno Bhai got his name but there still be a vast majority who may not know that it was Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi who gave this name to Munir Ahmed Qureshi for the first time.

“When he (Munno Bhai) started writing and his first creation was published under his name of Munir Ahmed Qureshi, we were all discussing it because it was a big occasion for him. On that occasion Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi suggested that as he was called ‘Munno Bhai’ at home, that should be the name he should choose for himself as a writer and poet. And that’s how Munir Ahmed Qureshi became ‘Munno Bhai’,” Kishwar Naheed said.

A fatherly pat on the shoulder, a deep, penetrating look and a warm acknowledging smile would be all I will get whenever I will approach him to pay my respect on such occasions. Well, Munno Bhai is not amongst us any longer but so have been so many others! What is necessary for us to keep their thoughts and ideas and their wisdom and ideologies alive It may hurt but the fact remains that how many of the young men and women, the students know about all these legendary writers and poets?

All those iconic personalities, Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Ibne Insha, Munir Niazi, Ahmed Faraz, Perven Shakir, Akhtar Sherani, and Jaun Elia, to name just a few are remembered only in literary functions with a very thin audience present.

The least we can do is to include their writings in our text books at all levels. We will miss Munno Bhai for the rest of our lives. But his words and verses will remain with us and for the generations to come!