Whether in war or in celebration, Lahore has embraced many ups and downs of history. Today, let us speak of that gathering, which was nourished by love and the blood of creation. That gathering, in just a short span of one month, transformed into the “Halqa Arbab e Zaouq” and grew into a mighty tree. It has been 87 years, and this circle remains a caring mentor and skilled guide for newcomers in the world of literature. If we call it a creative workshop that shapes the galaxy of Urdu literature, it would not be an exaggeration.
The story of this passion began on April 9, 1939, when the walls and doors of Lahore witnessed the foundation of “Bazm-e-Dastaan Goiyan” by a few literature enthusiasts at Syed Nasir Ahmed Jami’s house. Under the chairmanship of Hafiz Hoshyar Puri, in that first session, Naseem Hajjazi began his literary journey with his short story “Talaafi,” while Shah Muhammad Akhtar, Tabish Dehlvi, Muhammad Fadil, and other friends shed light on thought and art. Initially, this gathering was fragrant only with prose. When the idea of including poetry in the assembly arose, on April 29, 1939, this gathering donned a new and majestic guise—the “Halqa Arbab e Zaouq”.
Behind this change of name was the vision of modernist poets like Qayyum Nazar, Yusuf Zafar, and N.M. Rashid. Historical records show that Miraji, a nomadic poet of Urdu poetry, although formally joined later, was present at this turning point—proofs of his presence are preserved in the history of art. Thus, discussions on poetry, ghazal, novel, and critical essays began, offering new perspectives to students of literature.
The first significant chapter in the Halqa’s history is linked to Miraji. In 1941, when he became secretary, he established a new tradition of critique and review. That same year, he compiled and published “1941’s Best Poems,” a landmark document for the circle. If one looks at the names listed in that collection, the entire literary sky shines brightly. Figures such as Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Ahmad Nadeem Qasimi, Jashn Milh Aabadi, Akhtar Shirani, and N.M. Rashid, among others, are featured. Faiz’s famous poem “Bol Ke Lab Azad Hain Tere” was first showcased through this collection.
The evolution of the “Halqa Arbab e Zaouq” is in fact a journey of the modern Urdu literary movement. Initially supported by stalwarts like Sufi Tabbasam, Muhammad Din Taseer, and Shahid Ahmed Dehlvi, later periods saw luminaries like Iqbal Hussain, Muntashir Hussain Tarard, Munawwar Bhai, and Ashfaq Ahmed enrich its grandeur. Whether it was Sadequat Hassan Manto’s boldness or Naser Kazmi’s melancholy, Bano Qudsia’s observations or Amjad Islam Amjad’s fragrance, the circle has woven every hue of the flower into its garland.
Today, as we stand on the threshold of its 88th year, under the leadership of Secretary Javed Aftab and Joint Secretary Shahzad Faramosh, this convoy is embarking on a new journey. Its first session will be held on May 3, 2026, at Pak Tea House Lahore, with Dr. Khurshid Razavi presiding. Critical contributions will include Nazir Qaiser’s poetry and Manzar Ijaz’s ghazal, and a special session will remember Miraji. Dr. Najeeb Jamal and Dr. Javed Raaj will speak, sharing their insights.
The presence of esteemed personalities like Nazir Qaiser, Khurshid Razavi, Ghulam Hussain Sajid, Nasir Baloch, Amjad Tufail, and Aamir Faraz signifies that the flame of literary critique is not extinguished but still burns as brightly as it did on the first evening in 1939. I also remember former secretary Shaziyah Mafti’s commitment to the circle, who, along with Joint Secretary Salman Rasool Ashraf, successfully maintained its continuity last year.
Mirza Hamed Beg, in his article, mentions that Dr. Inam Sajad gave the circle its distinctive monogram in 1969—an emblem that has since become an aesthetic symbol of that era.
The Halqa’s fragrance was not confined to Lahore alone; its branches extended to Sahiwal, Faisalabad, Multan, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Karachi, Peshawar, and other cities. Even beyond borders, its lamps have continued to shine in Delhi, and today, branches of the circle are nurturing Urdu literature in Canada and America.
In 1973, however, it faced a wave of ideological tumult. The mingling of politics and literature took such turns that the Halqa split into two. Eminent members like Shahrat Bukhari, Iqbal Hassan Iqbal, Anjum Romani, Ibadat Barelvi, Ijaz Hussain Batalvi, Munir Niazi, Ahmad Mushtaq, and Sajad Baqar Rizvi felt that creative delicacy was being sacrificed for political debates. Consequently, a literary group was formed with the support of Javed Shaheen, Saleem Shahid, Younis Javed, and Sohail Ahmed Khawaja.
On one side was the Y.M.C.A. boardroom, where Yusuf Kamran and Muhammad Azim upheld the tradition of the circle, and on the other side were the historic tables at Pak Tea House, where under the leadership of Sohail Ahmed Khawaja and Shabbir Shahid, literary gatherings flourished. This period even saw an electoral contest between Inam Sajad and Sohail Ahmed Khawaja, which invigorated the democratic spirit of the circle.
Eventually, a third faction appeared under the name “Center of the “Halqa Arbab e Zaouq” ,” led by Amjad Altaf and Mubarak Ahmad. The Halqa was partitioned again around 2013, then reunited. These ups and downs, these divisions, are proof that the Halqa is not a lifeless organization. Factions formed, faces changed, places shifted, but the scales of “Critique of the Soul,” which began in 1939, never tilted.
In just three years, we are approaching its 100th year. Even now, the importance of the “Halqa Arbab e Zaouq” stands as a lighthouse guiding new ships in the sea of literature. Memories still linger at Pak Tea House, waiting for lines by Inam Sajad, Miraji’s poetry, and Naser Kazmi’s ghazals. Personalities may rest in dust, but their creative warmth can still be felt in the circle’s gatherings.
The Halqa remains an expression—a gathering that never ends, because as long as there is human sentiment, the assembly of enthusiasts will continue to thrive.
