Exit of a ‘Darwaish’: tribute to Manzar Hasan

Dr Sarwar’s letter to the Editor – an obituary for Manzarul Hasan, Editor of The Leader eveninger, his older brother Akhtar’s friend. I remember typing it out for him, and it being printed in Dawn, but can’t find the date. It was some time in 2002 I think. beena.

Fatehyab Ali Khan no more. RIP comrade

Sad to hear that Fatehyab Ali Khan is no more. He suffered a massive heart attack in Karachi on Sept 23 and was rushed to hospital where doctors tried to revive him with electric shocks. He was subsequently kept on a ventilator, until doctors gave up hope last night.

He and his contemporary Mairaj Mohammad Khan were very much present at the Jan 9, 2010 event held in Karachi to commemorate the 1950s Democratic Students Federation (DSF) led student movement, during which he had been a high school student. They were happy to be there; their very presence meant a lot to everyone there. The movement inspired him and others of his generation who were inclined towards left-wing, progressive politics.

PMA info session re floods, Sept 20, 3 pm, Karachi

Dr Sher Shah Syed. Photo: Jamal Ashiqain

ALL ARE INVITED

Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) information session:

Ø Installation of 21 water purification plants for internally displaced persons (IDPs): Experience; Hurdles; Successes - Dr. Waqar Qurieshy, UK
ØLife in IDP Camps, Rehabilitation and Future - Dr. Shershah Syed/ Dr. Kiran Ejaz
Ø Plans for Rehabilitation & SOG - Dr Nighat Shah
Ø PMA Flood Relief Activities - Dr. Samrina Hashmi

Monday, September 20th, 2010,
3:00 pm
PMA House, Garden Road, Karachi (MAP)

Was the Russian Revolution a Marxist revolution?

From Eric Rahim in Glasgow, Sept 8, 2010:

The background to the writing of this article is as follows. I was asked by the editor of the Left, Urdu language journal Awami Jamhori Forum if I would comment on a number of questions which were currently subject of discussion in Pakistani Marxist and left circles. I agreed. The first question asked provides the title of this article. ER.

Was the Russian Revolution a Marxist revolution?

Eric Rahim

The materialist method: a hypothesis for understanding social change

Before you can answer this question, you have to decide what you mean by ‘a Marxist revolution’. And to do that you need to understand the main ideas of the ‘materialist conception of history’. That is the case because the materialist conception is a hypothesis for understanding historical development which involves changes in modes of production (socio-economic systems, e.g. feudalism, capitalism); and change from one mode of production to another involves, in turn, a revolution (peaceful or violent). For this reason much of the following discussion is about Marx’s hypothesis (which he called ‘my materialist method’) of social change or development which involves both evolution (gradual change generated within society) and revolution.

Reference for Dr Ayub Mirza, Sept 26, Bradford

Received from Parvez Fateh:

South Asian Peoples Forum is holding a Condolence Reference to pay homage to the late Dr. Ayub Mirza, former President Pak-China Friendship Association, former President PMA (Pakistan Medical Association),  prominent Progressive Writer, biographer and Revolutionary Politician

You are cordially invited to please join us and pay glowing tributes to the dear departed.

Date: Sunday, September 26^th 2010
Time: 3.00 to 5.00pm
Venue: Touchstone Center, 23 Merton Road, Bradford BD7 1RE

Speakers/ Contributors:
Rahat Saeed –  Deputy General Secretary Progressive Writers Association Pakistan
Dr Amjad Ayub Mirza –  Progressive activist and son of Dr Ayub Mirza
Prof. Nazir Tabassum –  Progressive Writer, SAPF UK Activist
Mohammad Ajeeb –  Former Lord Mayor Bradford, SAPF UK activist
Coll. Ghazanfer Khaliq -  Former Lord Mayor Bradford, SAPF UK activist

PWA 75th Anniversary: 5th Progressive Writers Conference, Birmingham

5th Progressive Writers Conference – Birmingham

Celebrate the 75th Anniversary of Progressive Writers Association (PWA)

Progressive Writers Association UK in collaboration with South Asian Peoples Forum and Indian Workers Association cordially invites you to a public meeting to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of Progressive Writers Association (PWA).

Saturday, 18 September 2010
2.30-7.00 p.m.,
Edward Street Youth Center,
21 Victoria Street,
West Bromwich, B70 8ET

The PWA, established in 1935 in London, heralded a major literary movement against imperialism, colonial rule and for the democratic rights of South Asian people. The PWA played a critical role in mobilising the masses through literature. Most of the prominent writers in the sub-continent, such as Sajjad Zaheer, Sahir Ludhanvi, Munshi Premchand, Minto, Faiz, Bedi, Amrita Preetam, Josh, Jalib, Faraz, to name a few, were in the forefront of our struggle.