It may be mentioned that Rest in Peace (RIP) Talat Hussain accompanied by Arts Council President Muhammad Ahmed Shah, time and again attended the HAZ’s meetings mostly held at the premises of Arts Council, Karachi. He himself presented his creations, his Urdu short stories and extracts from his other writings at the meetings. He had written a long story (like a novelette) titled “Sandooq” that covered the division of the sub-continent and creation of Pakistan. The protagonist of the story (Talat himself) describes the tragic incidents took place during the migration and the process of transfer of huge population from India to Pakistan. The heart-touching description of the same story of “Sandooq” clearly hinted that it was his own autobiography written in a symbolic manner.
Khawaja Muhammad Azam who had nicely designed the flyer of the condolence reference, noted that at the first he had become admirer to broadcaster Talat Hussain in sixties when he knew him as a brilliant announcer and broadcaster. Khawaja further maintained that a well-dressed and well-mannered announcer and actor Talat Hussain was very fluent in both languages whether it was Urdu and English. Khawaja recalling the old memories, stated that for the first time he had seen him at a restaurant located near the Old Radio Pakistan Building.
Later, he added, he used to meet with Talat Hussain at arts council at literary meetings. The members of the Arts Council used to choose and elect Talat Hussain as member of governing body with highest votes. As a conscious poet, Talat Hussain at times presented his poems at the literary meetings. Sarwar Gazali and Mah Jabeen Asif spoke at length on the life and role of Talat Hussain and termed him a great actor and a great human being. President of the meeting, Faheem Islaam Ansari, while sharing his memories that he found Talat Hussain a very decent human being when met with him at a meeting of Karachi Press Club’s Literary Committee. He further said that though he was a famous actor but he remained too modest and humble in spite of all his knowledge and wisdom as he never claimed himself to be a superior one.
Ansaari concluded that Talat Hussain was among a few artistes who equally proved to be a perfect broadcaster, announcer, actor, presenter, and writer. According to a renowned novelist, researcher and short story writer, Mirza Hamid Baig, he (Talat Hussain) was among the exceptions especially in dialogue delivery, there was no match of Talat Hussain. He mentions that (Talat Hussain) was a qualified and degree holder artiste of (LAMDA London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art). He pointed out that he has not only obtained several awards in acting from Pakistan but also was recognized on international level. He had performed in an English film titled “Jinnah” and an another Indian (Urdu) film titled “Sotan Ki Baiti.”
Because of his distinguished performance in a film titled “Import Export”, he was given away the award of “Best Actor” during a Norwegian Film Festival, Mirza Hamid Baig added. Another writer, journalist and editor of Urdu quarterly “Frough”, Tariq Rais Froughe recalled that when an American actor Rock Hudson visited Pakistan, Talat Hussain interviewed him for Pakistan Television.
Meanwhile, late psychiatrist and founder of ‘Nefaaz e Urdu Tehreek’, (UNT) Dr Mubeen Akhtar was paid homage at a condolence meeting. The Urdu Sindhi Adabi Sangat (USAS) in collaboration with other organizations arranged a condolence meeting which and was presided over by Majeed Rehmani. The USAS Chairperson Gulnaz Mehmood, Kaleem Ali Khan, Dr Fayyaz Ahmad, and Majeed Rehmani threw light on the services of late Dr Mubeen Akhtar. The speakers said that late founder of UNT Dr Mubeen had made great efforts to promote to implement Urdu at all national institutions as an official language. The participants of the meeting including Majeed Rehmani, Gulnaz Mehmood, Kaleem Ali Khan, Dr Syed Salahuddin, Riaz Ahmed Joya, Dr Fayyaz Ahmad, Qamar Muhammad Khan, Faheem Burney, Nafees Ahmed and others resolved to name a road after him in Karachi and also fix a day for Dr Mubeen Akhtar’s memory.
