ALKHOBAR, 7 May 2004 — Well-known Pakistani poet Shaukat Jamal’s second book, “Shokh Beyani” was launched here under the auspices of Bazm-e-shair-o-sukhan. Poet Naseem-e-Sahar of Jeddah presided.

Poets Dr. Abid Ali, Waqar Wamiq, Iqbal Qamar, Javed Akhtar, Dr. Nadvi, Mansha Tahir and others appreciated Shaukat Jamal’s literary work saying his satire reflected his deep understanding of the society and its problems. His knowledge of the Urdu language is rich and sophisticated yet its use is easy to understand.

The book launching ceremony was followed by a poetry session (mushaira).

Talking to Arab News, Shaukat Jamal, who lives and works in Riyadh, said he wrote both serious and humorous poems but writing humor is more difficult, he adds.

Shaukat Jamal said there were a few humor writers in the Kingdom. “People love humor but unfortunately, humorists/satirists are not taken seriously. Even our fellow poets do not give us the respect we deserve.”

Professionally, Shaukat Jamal works with computers. Very soft spoken and serious looking, he appears to be quite the antithesis of humor.

He has lived in the Kingdom for 30 years now and that is reflected in his writings, e.g. “Bahrain jakay miltey hain ab woh raqeeb sey, rasta jo bungeya hai samandar key beech mey.”

Shokh Beyani is a collection of humor and parodies rich in satire. Sometimes the punch-line is obscure until the very end and only then does the reader realizes the piece is funny: Upon being stopped by a dacoit he writes: Usney jab dekha key may laachar hoon, mujhe sey bola, “muflis o nadaar hoon, bus yehee pistol hai aur aasra koi nahi.”

Like all good humorists, one of Shaukat Jamal’s target is his wife. But by using her as a subject he familiarizes the readers with the Saudi lifestyle (boley woh mere samnay aakar niqab mey, tasweer chaap dejeye meri kitab mey).

Shokh Beyani is also very well presented. It makes you smile, but at the same time forces you to contemplate on the poet’s deeper message about the ills in the society.