Eminent fiction writer and journalist Shaukat Siddiqui passed away in Karachi. He was 83. He belonged to the third generation of modern fiction writers comprising Qurratul Ain Haider, Hajira Masroor, Khadija Mastur, Jogender Paul, Ram Lall, Ashfaq Ahmed and Intezar Husain etc-etc.
HE WROTE THREE NOVELS: Khuda Ki Basti, Jangloos and Char Deewari and had three collections of short stories to his credit.
However, his novel "Khuda Ki Basti" one of the best sellers of the early 60s was also produced as a TV serial and, my goodness, its popularity was unprecedented.
Shaukat Siddiqui earned his reputation as a progressive writer. He worked as one of the senior office bearers of Pakistan Writers Guild, founded under the patronage of the Field Marshal Ayub Khan. He contended, as Jamiluddin Aali always does, that the Guild provided a haven to the progressive writers as exemplified by its awards to Shaheedullah Qaiser a Bengali fiction writer, Abdullah Husain for his Udas Naslain and Shaikh Ayaz's collection of poetry in early 60s.
However, the criticism of the Guild as the cover organisation for the defence of Ayub Khan's Martial Law still continues unabated. However, a Minister of President Ayub Khan, General K. M. Shaikh had also accused the Guild of harbouring Communists which bears out Aali and Shaukat Siddiqui's contention. It means that there are, as always, two sides of the coin. One read the script as one likes.
Shaukat Siddiqui always enjoyed the respect of being the most well-known progressive fiction writer of his times. His novel 'Khuda Ki Basti' was translated in many languages. Its English translation may done by Professor David Matthews, former Head of the Urdu Department of the London University, who has also translated a Marsia of Mir Anis, possibly the best attempt of its kind.
Shaukat Siddiqui was also a well known journalist having worked for the Times of Karachi, and Morning News. He became editor of Daily Musawat, the organ of the Pakistan Peoples Party. His political writings imbibed progressive canons.
Shaukat Siddiqui is one of the few writers who became the subject of a Ph. D. dissertation by Mariam Husain while living. Jamiluddin Aali is another writer who got a Ph. D. dissertation from the University of Karachi, which decided to reverse its rules to allow dissertations on the living writers.
Shaukat Siddiqui, being a progressive writer and journalist, made many enemies for his views but the credit must be given to him for remaining unbending and true to his salt. This is what makes him a praise worthy peer.
His novel 'Jangloos', based on the socio-economic problems of the Seraiki region of the Punjab, was derided by the feudals and appreciated by all those who thought it to be the authentic portrayal of the region. He wrote this novel after a thorough study of the region. One is surprised at the minutest details about the life of the region collected in a scientific manner. I had the benefit of knowing him for the last 40 years. I have shared the pleasure of hearing from him the immaculate way of writing a novel specially if one didn't have the first hand experience of the life of the landscape. He became very popular with the Seraiki intellectuals who accepted him as one of their well-wishers. I can vouchsafe for his popularity in the Seraiki region and many TV serials - one or two penned by Amjad Islam Amjad - followed the trend of the feudal-tenant relationship in the Seraiki region.
Shaukat Siddiqui once confided in me that, Amjad Islam Amjad's 'Waris' was more or less based on 'Jangloos' with slight variations. Some TV reviews of the time openly confirmed this view and Amjad Islam Amjad had to face this criticism for sometime. This novel was serialised in Monthly Sabrang, Karachi and Shakil Adilzada, Sabrang's editor, also thought that the accusations were based on undeniable facts. Perhaps Shaukat Siddiqui became the highest paid fiction writer for his monthly instalments in Monthly Sabrang.
Shaukat Siddiqui got an early fame with his short story 'Teesra Aadmi' in 1952. The success sealed his career as more of a writer than a journalist even though he remained an important member of the journalistic community to the last breath. One could say that he died in harness because he recorded his political comment for the BBC on the day he died.
I am happy that Mehmood Sham, while speaking at the Governor House meeting on the launching of Legends Trust on the day when Shaukat Siddiqui, was buried in the Defence Society's cemetery lamented that neither Governor nor the Chief Minister of the province attended the funeral or condoled the death of a veteran even on the day when Veterans Trust was being given a go ahead signal. An apt remark at the attest moment.
Writers like Shaukat Siddiqui are not born daily and the readers of his work will always enjoy the company of his writings - a fact which keeps writers writing regardless of the fact whether society appreciates their writings or not.
Writers like Shaukat Siddiqui know it for sure that while their bodies could be buried deep, their works would continue to remain alive.