The book by Zia-ul-Islam Zuberi is not something thematic - confined to any particular subject. As the author himself mentions in the foreword it is a collection of some 200 columns in Urdu language. He claims to have written about 10,000 columns in Urdu and English in various newspapers, periodical and magazines, nobody has any reason to doubt his claim.
In addition to the columns there are three articles by his friends namely Dost Muhammad Faizi, Rizwan Siddiqui and Ilyas Shakir, personalities prominent in their own right hence the views cannot be taken lightly. The articles have been divided into four categories a) Personalities b) Sports, c) The West and Islam and d) Pakistani Politics. I found no rationale in such categorisation. For example to the category personalities Parveen Shakir's journey and a friend like Jafar Abidi fit in quite well, but one wonders how to put "From home to grave" in the same compartment.
We are informed that the author's family came from Bombay (now Mumbai) but his language is the standard one - simple and communicative with a flavour. Wherever he uses poetry it fits well. He is among a few people who after settling down abroad decide to come back home. It would have been better if he had narrated his experience abroad and reasons behind decision of coming back home.
Along with the writings there are photographs, both black and white and in colour giving some glimpses of his activities. The drawback with newspaper columns is that they are mostly written on the issues that crop up at a particular time and in process are settled or peter out. Thus there are only a few columns that have some lasting value but that also depends on the mindset of the reader. Anyhow the book is worth reading after all the writer has vast experience in public relations.
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Name of the book : Awaz-e-Khalq
Author : Zia-ul-Islam Zuberi
Publisher : Saeed Publications
Pages : 304
Price : Rs 350.00
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