It was in 1984 when I used to go to the Awami Press at Lawrence Road to get my diary published. In the same press was the office of weekly English Magazine “Viewpoint”. It was a time when Zia-ul-Haq’s dictatorial rule was at its zenith. Viewpoint used to publish many anti-government editorials and reports at that time. All this stuff was so anti-Pakistan that it was used in current affair programmes broadcast by state-owned All India Radio and in this way would foster propaganda against Pakistan. It was a time when I was the student of communication, propaganda, its types and psychological warfare on media. I would also try to find examples in practical life of the things that I had read in books. Given this particular background, the Viewpoint and its journalists became a centre of my attention specially I. A. Rehman, Shafqat Tanveer Mirza and Hussain Naqi. I already knew them because they had played a significant role in Pakistan’s progressive journalism. Eventually, it became the topic of my Ph.D. thesis.
Viewpoint’s office comprised only two to three rooms. The condition of rooms and the furniture in them was not exceptional. Probably, it was a time for progressive journalists. They had not entered into the new world of American and Western NGOs that emerged after the disintegration of the USSR. Nor were their offices located in the magnificent plazas of posh areas. I remember that time very well when these intellectuals including I. A. Rehman and Mirza Shafqat, who were always clad in simple Chitrali waistcoats would talk on important national issues while smoking and I would listen to them like a silent listener. Even though I could disagree with their perspective but had no words for their commitment to their goals and ideology. And as a student, I would always feel that they were well read, had ability to analyze an issue with their particular perspective. Many intellectuals like Dr Mubashar Hassan and others belonging to the same school of thought would frequent the place.
All of them would joke around with each other and work till late at night. However, they would be very reserved with a student like me. Among them was Shafqat Tanveer Mirza who would openly talk to me alone. Unn main uss waqt bhi mehboobiat nazar aayee. We became friends. He would not only express his emotions and feelings in Punjabi but had in depth knowledge of history of Punjab and its people. From his views, I figured out that he was, though in favour of socialism, but his thoughts weren’t against Islam. He was deeply aggrieved at the separation of East Pakistan and once it actually became a topic of our mutual discussion. He told me with grief that whenever he met people from East Pakistan, he would narrate a line in Punjabi and would translate for them.
Today, when I sat down to write something on Shafqat Tanvir, I quickly took out Page No. 217 of my book “Mukaalmaat”. I had in front of me the interview that he gave at Dawn newspaper’s office on March 22, 1969 which was full of meanings. He had a deep knowledge about Pakistan’s politics, literature and journalism. He had become the witness to the historical events himself. That is why he had a better viewpoint over issues. For instance, have a look at this:
“The progressives could not reap the fruits what they had sown but Bhutto did it. Bhutto changed his mind after the 70s election. While giving interview to Times Correspondent, he said that he would not nationalize the industries. His approach was feudal. Like all others, power was his main goal. In Assembly, the lower middle class was in majority. Feudals (that had joined assembly) had come from Sindh. New feudals from Punjab also made their way to the Parliament. No one was a feudal. Mirza Sahib further said, it should be decided that feudal can’t come to parliament and no patrimony will be tolerated. “Feudals do not believe in institutions. Lower middle class has always strengthened institutions in our country. If judiciary is strong then people would rise against them. Progressive writers have become commercialized. Left wing has been corrupted by the NGOs to a great degree,” Shafqat Tanveer Mirza said.
Sadly, I could not go to his funeral as I didn’t know about it. But what grieves me more is that no one from his school of thought would shed a tear for him because of his veracity and bravery. Probably, this is what happens to selfless and devoted activists. He narrated these lines of Zafar Iqbal to me once...

The writer is the Director, Institute of Communication Studies, University of the Punjab, Lahore.