KARACHI (HRNW): The Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi hosted the launch of civil servant and author Aziz Ahmed Zai’s memoir, “Somewhere in Between—A Memoir,” at the Haseena Moin Hall. The ceremony was presided over by Mehtab Akbar Rashdi. President Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi Muhammad Ahmed Shah delivered the welcome address, while chief guest Rizwan Siddiqui, Ghufran Ahmed, Dr Asim Jafri, Masroor Ahmed Zai, Syed Bilal Mehdi, Dr Syed Rashid Ali Jafri, Shiraz Siddiqui and Aimen Siddiqui shared their views on the book and its author. Saadia Rashid read an excerpt from the book. A large number of personalities from literary and academic circles, along with members of Aziz Ahmed Zai’s family, attended the event.
Speaking on the occasion, President Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi Muhammad Ahmed Shah said that Aziz Ahmed Zai was very dear to them and that his association with Aziz’s father, Anwar Zai, went back many years. He said the warmth and affection of the family had remained constant over the years. Aziz, he added, took pride in his family’s traditions and values, yet the book showed that he had also carved out an identity of his own.
Muhammad Ahmed Shah said that Aziz had presented his experiences, memories and observations with remarkable simplicity and spontaneity. “As you read the book, you feel that what Aziz has written comes directly from his genuine feelings and personal experiences,” he said. He congratulated Aziz Ahmed Zai, his family and friends on the publication of the memoir.
Presiding over the ceremony, Mehtab Akbar Rashdi said that after reading Aziz Ahmed Zai’s book, she felt compelled to attend its launch. She said she had initially wondered why the memoir had been written in English, but after reading it, she realised that a significant part of Aziz’s educational and professional life had been spent in an English-speaking environment, making the choice of language a natural one.
She said the most appealing aspect of the book was its ability to draw the reader forward naturally. She described its cover as highly meaningful, saying that it symbolised family, upbringing, affection and the transmission of values from one generation to another. She emphasised that parenting was not merely about education, but also about developing confidence in children and nurturing their connection with their language, culture and family values. Parents, she said, should understand their children’s abilities and interests rather than impose their own aspirations on them, particularly in an age when children were learning and advancing rapidly through technology and their environment.
Chief guest Rizwan Siddiqui said that family had always occupied a central place in the household of Anwar Zai, and that this tradition had been carried forward by Aziz Ahmed Zai and his brother, Dr Masroor Ahmed. He said Aziz’s parents had played a significant role in his upbringing, while Anwar Zai had always paid special attention to recognising and nurturing the abilities of children.
Rizwan Siddiqui said Aziz had beautifully incorporated his family’s intellectual, literary and cultural upbringing into the memoir. While appreciating the book, he suggested that important events should also be accompanied by dates or references to the relevant period, which would enhance its documentary value and make it more useful for future researchers.
Ghufran Ahmed said he viewed Aziz Ahmed Zai’s personality in the light of his own experience in the civil service. He said one of Aziz’s most admirable qualities was his patience, consistency and sense of responsibility in carrying out his professional duties and ensuring effective service delivery. Aziz, he said, had been an active and committed colleague since his days at the Civil Services Academy and had always performed his responsibilities with honesty, dedication and a strong sense of duty.
Ghufran Ahmed further said that Aziz possessed the ability to work effectively, deal with people tactfully and fulfil his responsibilities with commitment. He also described Aziz as a talented painter and expressed the hope that he would soon hold an exhibition of his artwork. He congratulated Aziz Ahmed Zai on the publication of his memoir.
Dr Asim Jafri said that the cover of the book represented the quiet transmission of love, guidance, values and courage from one generation to another. He said the image on the cover brought together the grandfather, the child and, in an emotional sense, the author himself, giving added meaning to the title **“Somewhere in Between.”**
Shiraz Siddiqui said his friendship with Aziz Ahmed Zai went back 22 to 23 years. He described Aziz as a courteous, helpful and even-tempered person, saying that he had never seen him lose his temper or raise his voice. He said Aziz’s family had always treated him as a member of their own family and that the same warmth and affection continued to this day. “Aziz is not merely a friend to me; he is like a brother,” he said.
Masroor Ahmed Zai said that raising and nurturing the person who writes a book was far more difficult than writing the book itself. He said their father had raised them in a way that encouraged them to record their dreams, journeys and encounters and learn from their experiences. He said he was pleased that the younger generation of the family was continuing its intellectual and literary journey, with Aziz Ahmed Zai’s book representing a continuation of that tradition.
Author Aziz Ahmed Zai said he had not consciously set out to write a book centred on his father, Anwar Zai, but the reality was that every page of the memoir revolved around him in one way or another. “The book begins with his name and ends with his mention,” he said, adding that his father appeared throughout the memoir, sometimes explicitly and sometimes in subtle ways.
Aziz Ahmed Zai said that whenever his father was mentioned in the book, it was impossible to speak of him without also mentioning his mother. He said his mother had shaped his father with love and affection in a way that helped bring forth the personality everyone remembered and cherished today. She had not only instilled love but had also cultivated a love for books and played an important role in establishing a library at home.
He said his parents’ love, upbringing and family values had played a defining role in shaping his personality. Expressing his gratitude, Aziz Ahmed Zai thanked all those who attended the ceremony and shared their affection and kind words, saying their presence had made the occasion deeply meaningful for him.
