WHEN I was in my graduation studies, a great lady teacher used to teach us literary criticism.
Once, a topic came up that was not directly related to the subject but was relevant to our post-colonial studies.
She shared the white colonial attitude toward our libraries and intellectual traditions, quoting Macaulay’s infamous words from his Minute on Indian Education, where he claimed that “a single shelf of a good European library was worth the whole native literature of India and Arabia.”
I mentioned one of my favorite critics, Zulfikar Ghose, who powerfully exposed the true face of colonial thinking in his essay Orwell and I.
Surprisingly, our teacher mockingly remarked, “The problem with Ghose was simple—Mujhy Kyun Nikala Wala Scene Tha Iska.”
It was disappointing to see a respected critic being reduced to a taunt, merely because he challenged the dominant narratives and wasn’t accepted by the literary establishment.
Unfortunately, this tendency has always existed in our literary culture: to sideline powerful, independent voices and glorify mediocre ones who fit the established mold.
If we turn the pages of Urdu literature, we come across numerous writers and artists who were underrated.
The literary establishment consistently favored decadent narratives and undeserving figures instead of giving space to true intellectuals.
Consider Sagar Siddiqui, the tragic poet of the streets, whose verses reflected deep emotional and social insight, died in poverty and neglect despite his talent.
Miraji, whose modernist approach was ahead of its time, but he was often misunderstood and marginalized.
Saadat Saeed, a brilliant critic and poet, remains lesser-known despite his profound contributions.
Similarly, Khalida Hussain, a master of psychological short stories, was not given the place she truly deserved.
Intizar Hussain often overshadowed writers like Asim Butt or Anwar Sajjad, whose experimental fiction could have expanded our literary landscape if given the recognition they merited.
Whenever someone critiques this herd mentality, people quickly dismiss them, saying, “You are just jealous.”
What a strange situation!
When someone holds up a mirror to society, they are labeled as negative.
Yet, that person may be driven by a sense of responsibility to enlighten others, showing them that they are running after futile discourses and juicy words that do not impact practical life.
Those who claim to speak of revolution ask them: will they help you and your family find stability?
They won’t.
They won’t do for you that they would do for their own blood relations.
They won’t stand by you in your hardships.
You have to face everything alone.
That is the bitter reality of this harsh world.
The mission of the literary establishment has long been to produce average minds—people who can play with words, rather than thinkers who lead others toward independence and real growth.
As a result, the next generation repeats the same pattern.
In short, this game must end.
It’s time we produce a generation of intellectuals who create opportunities, speak the truth, and are respected for what they truly deserve not just for conforming to the system
—The writer is a contributing columnist based in Hyderabad Sindh. (mangriogul@gmail.com)
