PAL hosts 88th informal session of ‘Chai, Baatain aur Kitaabain’

ISLAMABAD, Jun 10 (APP):Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) hosted the 88th informal session of its weekly literary series Chai, Baatain aur Kitaabain here on Wednesday. The session was moderated by Munir Fayyaz.

Renowned writer, short story author, and broadcaster Ali Tanha delivered a detailed talk on the form, artistic requirements, and standards of quality fiction writing. He described the short story as an independent and distinctive literary genre with its own identity and technical characteristics.

He emphasized that merely narrating events does not constitute a short story; rather, it requires artistic awareness, creative insight, and stylistic skill. He further noted that producing fewer but high-quality works is the true hallmark of a successful writer.

Highlighting the significance of artistic creation, he said that art is a noble calling that places great responsibility on the creator.

Acclaimed poet and novelist Akhtar Raza Saleemi spoke on the structure of the novel, its artistic essentials, and the tradition of great novels. He stressed that while comparing Eastern and Western literature, indigenous literary traditions and cultural contexts should not be overlooked. He also shed light on the historical development of the Urdu language and literature, stating that Urdu literature enjoys a distinguished place in world literature due to its intellectual depth and creative diversity.

Writer and critic Akmal Shahzad Ghumman remarked that the ultimate judgment regarding the literary value and standing of a work rests with time and its readers. He described literature as a continuously evolving process and said that a writer’s foremost responsibility is to produce quality work.

Speaking on global literary trends and their influence, Munir Fayyaz referred to notable Western short stories and novels. He also discussed the historical evolution of the English language and traced the background of the short story and novel as literary forms.

Prominent writer Muhammad Daud Kaif shared his views on the artistic and intellectual dimensions of fiction and discussed contemporary trends in short story writing.

Pashto writer Muhammad Arshad Saleem, associated with the Department of Education at Bacha Khan University, highlighted changing literary trends in the context of classical and modern literature. The participants also discussed the decline in fiction writing and emerging literary trends in response to a question raised by Zulfiqar Ali Bukhari.

The session was attended by a number of writers, scholars, and literary enthusiasts, including Ali Tanha, Munir Fayyaz, Akmal Shahzad Ghumman, Akhtar Raza Saleemi, Muhammad Daud Kaif, Muhammad Arshad Saleem, Mehr-un-Nisa, Zulfiqar Ali Bukhari, Asif Saleem, Alishba Nawaz, Yousaf Khan, and Khalid Mahmood, among others.