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| Mushtaq
Ahmed Yusufi delivers a lecture on "Dialogue on Humour"
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Well-known
humorist Mushtaq Ahmed Yusufi entertained the audience with his lecture "Dialogue on Humour",
held at Aga Khan University on 4 June 2003.
This talk was part of the University's
special lecture series, featuring talks by prominent personalities
with the aim of providing students with a broad-based education
to enrich their understanding and appreciation of the humanities
and social sciences. Faculty, staff and the general public also
benefit from this interaction with distinguished personalities.
The lecture in Urdu, was attended by more than 700 people. Listeners were
held enthralled by the wit and natural charm of Yusufi's
oration and the immortal punch lines delivered in form of conversations
with colleagues as well as well-known characters from his book,
such as Mirza Abdul Wudood
and Qazi Abdul Qudsi.
Few writers have dared venture into the genre of Urdu humour and fewer
still have been successful at it. None, apart from Mushtaq
Ahmed Yusufi, have managed to successfully
combine banking career with literary vocation. He joined Muslim
Commercial Bank in 1950 and then subsequently worked for Allied
Bank, United Bank, BCCI and was the chairman of Pakistan Banking
Council. He has written four books, namely, Chiragh talay (1961), Khakam ba dahan (1969),
Zarguzasht (1976) and Aab-i-gum (1990). The first two
books won the Adamjee Prize, while the
last one got the Hijra Award as well as
Pakistan Academy of Letters Award for best book. Yusifi
is also the recipient of Sitara-i-Imtaiz
and Hilal-i-Imtaiz.
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| Mustaq
Ahmed Yusufi signs autographs surrounded by students. |
The
satiric art of humour, in the hands of
an artist par excellence like Yusufi,
is more than a mere tool for eliciting laughter. While his words
can evoke laughter, they can also cause deep introspection. Mushtaq
Ahmed's apt quotation of Arthur O'Shaugnessy's
soulful verse well explains the role of an artist in society:
"We are the music makers,
And we are the makers of dreams
.We are the movers and shakers
Of the world for ever it seems."
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| Mushtaq
Ahmed Yusufi is presented with a souvenir after his lecture
held in AKU. |
Earlier,
Shamsh Kassim-Lakha,
President AKU, while introducing
Mushtaq Ahmed Yusufi, thanked him
for sharing his rare gift with his listeners and readers, enabling
them to hold on to their sanity. For laughter is the least expensive
and most effective medicine.
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