KARACHI: The Arts Council of Pakistan (Karachi) organized a session titled “Manto aur Aaj ki Dunya” on the death anniversary of the renowned writer Saadat Hasan Manto, on Saturday.
The session featured an in-depth talk by human rights activist and poet Harris Khalique, who writes in Urdu, Punjabi, and English. The session was moderated by well-known anchor and journalist Absa Komal.
President of Arts Council, Muhammad Ahmed Shah, senior journalist Ghazi Salahuddin, Noor-ul-Huda Shah, Ayub Sheikh, Dr. Qaiser Sajjad, Sadiqa Salahuddin and other literary and social figures attended the session. On behalf of the Arts Council, its President presented bouquets to Harris Khalique and Absa Komal.
The discussion began with references to Manto’s letters written between 1951 and 1954.
On the occasion, Harris Khalique said that there was no fixed or final continuity in Manto’s work, which distinguished him from other prominent writers.
During Manto’s time, there was a clear division between right-wing and left-wing writers. Those who were considered progressive writers often criticized Manto.
He said that Manto viewed Pakistan and India equally and wrote in the language of a marginalized nation.
The global trends of the 1950s and 1960s still exist today in different forms. Although technology has changed, basic interests remain the same. Smiles and weaknesses are human traits, and the burden of false sanctity should not be imposed.
Harris Khalique stated that Manto understood that the process of partition did not end in 1947 but actually began from there.
Some people believed that they alone authored the narrative of the partition, whereas the region had figures like Sardar Patel and Manto alike.
He emphasized that it is incorrect to view the entire West as a single monologue or uniform ideology. Alongside unity, dissenting voices have always existed in the West.
Similarly, many important personalities have emerged in the neighbouring country.
In Lahore and across the region, several individuals challenge the dominant narrative. A large number of writers and artists continue to present alternative perspectives. The art community should not be confined to a single ideology.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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