THIS IS MY STORY–95
MY JOURNEY THROUGH THE ERA OF AYUB KHAN TO THE TIMES OF IMRAN KHAN.
GHULAM AKBAR…………….
The Launch of Mussawar
Work on the launching of Mussawar started around the second week of August 1968. And the first issue was to appear on September 06—a day that had, and still has, special meanings in my life. I had barely two weeks at my disposal to finalise the overall ‘personality’ of the magazine, its contents and off course the staff that would produce it.
I wanted the educated middle class to be among my readers. The quality of ‘film or entertainment’ journalism’ till then had been quite ordinary. In fact bizarre freakish and disgusting. I had Mumbai’s Filmfare in mind. Was determined to go beyond if I could:
The most indispensable and quintessential requisite in this respect was ‘a team of quality writers and journalists.’ I did not need a large team because I was a prolific writer myself. And I had the experience of producing Sunday Anjam and subsequently Sunday Mashriq with just two ‘support writers’.
The key slot in my team was filled with unexpected case. Enayat Sahib, whose office in Lahore was just across our office on Nisbet Road near Gwalmandi, called me for a meeting that day in August 1968. After a cursory discussion regarding my plans asked: “Have you heard about Nazir Naji?”
“Yes,” I replied. “He used to write in Akhbar-i-Jahan before joining Akhbar-i-Khwateen.”
“What is your opinion about him?” Enayat Sahib asked.
“No opinion,” was my reply. “I haven’t read him, nor worked with him.”
“He is an upcoming journalist with reasonable writing skills and aptitude for hard works,” said Enayat Sahib. “He can prove to be a useful member of your team.”
After a short pause I replied. “If you have such a positive opinion about him, I’ll be glad to have him.”
Enayat Sahib hadn’t been wrong about Nazir Naji. He had writing skills. He was fluent. He understood journalism. And he could meet deadlines. It didn’t take me long to make him my deputy. On the reporting side I had Ashiq Chaudhry who was later to have a long career in Daily Jang. Nazir Naji brought in Irshad Hussain Kazmi who was professionally a lawyer, but gifted with great writing skills, sharp wit and biting humour.
Among those whom Enayat Sahib sent to me for consideration to join the Mussawar team was Zia Shahid who till then was a name that regularly appeared on the pages of Altaf Qureshi’s popular monthly URDU DIGEST.
My very first meeting with this illustrious publisher /editor was quite pleasant.
“I have read with great interest your translated stories in Urdu Digest, “I told him,” but I intend to accommodate only original material in Mussawar. No translations. I think by now you should be able to write good mystery stories yourself.”
“I can try,” he replied.
“I can make some useful suggestions in this respect. Last year, the Middle East was a theatre of war. And the conflict goes on. It will be a good idea to publish stories featuring spies agents and counter-agents in the background of the Arab-Israel conflict. What do you think?” I asked.
“A good idea. When do you want me to start?” he replied.
“I will make the announcement in the first issue,” I said. “You can start from the subsequent issue.”
“I will be back next week,” he replied.
