Talent Club (a mission with passion)

Be nice to people on your way up because you’ll meet them on your way down.

Background

Talent Club was a project; conceived and launched by Dr. Yasin Rizvi in June 1979 at Lahore. It was an inspiration of European & American Literary Clubs; promoting book reading through correspondence. As the concept was best modified according to our culture and society, it was well-accepted by the young generation especially student community. And when it started membership against a nominal fee; hundreds of members approached from Peshawar to Karachi. Initially, Talent Club was not a pan pal club not it promote friendship by any means rather encouraged young people (like me) in three progressive manners:

motivation to write for its monthly magazine (no formal skill required)

inspiration to buy-n-read books

to publish books of young writers (poetry or prose)

On placing an order for book(s) or personal letterheads (5 pads with club insignia), Talent Club almost always offered reasonable discounts to its members while postage is paid by the club. It offered free counseling and professional guidelines to publish books of young writers (members only). As far club magazine is concerned; all manuscripts/articles/writings sent by members were skillfully modified (where needed) to make them professional and presentable. The magazine published monthly, was dispatched regularly to members through mail.

About Dr. Yasin Rizvi - Chairman

Dr. Yasin Rizvi; M.A, Ph.D (now late) was a learned scholar, writer, publisher, journalist and diplomat. He worked in various government departments for at least seven years. He also worked for many foreign embassies in Pakistan and abroad in the capacity of Press Attaché, Iran, Iraq and Germany in particular. He was author of many Urdu and English books which were offered free to club members at the time of getting membership. Talent Club was not his business but a mission with passion. It was true to be said; Talent Club is actually "One Man Show" and Dr. Yasin Rizvi, in the capacity of club chairman is the sole authority. He often said, "There are many people working in the Talent Club; a Chairman, a secretary, a clerk, a typist, a dispatcher, a correspondent, an accountant and a peon, and all these posts are occupied by one person; and that's me". To justify all the responsibilities, he worked like a machine; dawn to dusk. 

He was a polished man, well educated, well groomed and Hafiz of 10 paras of the Holy Qura'an. He bear a good posture, wearing stylish dresses (preferably safari suite), speaking politely and a person without grudge. He had his own style of working and approaching. Offering a pure personal feel to club members, he always reply them personally by using elegant and decent stationery without compromise. He was a straight forward person. Once, in his hard time, he asked me to lend him some money which I provided without hesitation. Next day, he came again carrying two volumes of coin albums which he had colleted during his diplomatic visits to various countries and asked to keep them as security. I strongly refused but he forcibly leave them on the table, saying, "I will collect them at the time of paying back your debt". I never forget the moments when he very kindly joined my wedding ceremony on August 20, 1982 at Lahore.

My Contributions and Books of Young Writers

It was year 1971, when I start writing poetry at a low spectrum but its flow increased year after year. Around 1975, I was  fully engaged in literary work and wrote poetry and prose on various aspects. My articles got published in newspapers and magazines from time to time. As a part of literary interest, I was occupied by various literary clubs & organizations and took active part in their activities for years. All in the first, I passionately joined Talent Club, Lahore and was among the pioneer members. To acknowledge my participation, contribution and passion, Dr. Yasin Rizvi came to meet me in person and impressed most. In coming days such meetings became a general routine, while we discussed and planned various new aspects to boost the club. Publishing books of young writers was such a decision we made in a meeting and he decided to publish my poetry book as the "first book published under the club banner". All the expenses borne by me while sale of the book was sole responsibility of the club and Mr. Rizvi. To avoid any discrepancy, we documented our agreement duly signed by both. But unfortunately, by violating the agreement, he published another book in conjunction which left an irrecoverable impact on my book following a sudden loss.

First Anniversary of the Talent Club

In mid June 1980 (four months after publicized date), my Urdu poetry book Numa-e-Gham got published. Later, it was mutually decided that the inauguration ceremony will be held on the auspicious of the first anniversary of the club. While the venue was not yet decided, almost every member was urged to held the ceremony at his home town. Lahore, Karachi, Quetta, Rawalpindi and Peshawar were amongst the top claimants. Dr. Yasin Rizvi handled this situation very intelligently and said, "maximum numbers from a city would be the final criteria to select the venue". As a result, Peshawar city scored maximum points and was finalized as the venue of first anniversary of the club. 

Mr. Rizvi encouraged me to go to Peshawar and attend the inaugural ceremony of Numa-e-Gham in person. He very kindly offered his full support in this concern including conveyance and lodging in the hotel. Hence, availing the golden opportunity, I agreed to go but with my two younger brothers as care-givers. To honour his words, he traveled to Peshawar with us in the same wagon while we stayed at Dean's Hotel, where an air-conditioned room was already booked for us. On the same night, on June 30, 1980, two poetry books Numa-e-Gham and Nazish (written by Narjas Afroze Zaidi of Peshawar) were inaugurated at Dean's Hotel, Peshawar. After the inauguration, several confirmed "Talented Members" of the club (including me) were awarded certificates followed by refreshments. The members participated in the ceremony from all over Pakistan i.e Lahore, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi, Kahotah, Jehlum, Noshehrah, Mardan etc. It was a gorgeous and graceful program held in the main hall and everybody enjoyed the ceremony. After the ceremony, a remarkable "mushairah" was arranged in the green lawn of the hotel.

The people of Peshawar were very friendly, loving, caring and their hospitality was unforgettable. They mutually arranged perfect lodging for all guests came from other cities and offered them meals as well. On the next day, they already have scheduled a pleasure trip to Tourkham (Pak-Afghan border). The trip was arranged by the members of Peshawar city and they contributed the whole expenses among themselves. They arranged a comfortable car for me (due to my disability) while other members embarked on a hired bus. Onward to Tourkham, We entered the historic Khyber Pass at Jamrud. There were high mountains, steep zigzag roads, blind turns, streams with crystal clear cold water and waterfalls in our way. When we reached at Tourkham, the caring members picked me up in a borrowed chair and climbed up to an adjoined hill from where a series of mountains and valleys in Afghanistan may be viewed in large scale. It was an unforgettable scenic view, full of natural beauty and high altitude dry mountains. Of course, iIt was a pleasant and enjoyable trip and we enjoyed every moment of it. In our way back to Peshawar we halt at Landi Kotal for refreshments. While my brother was paying for the refreshment, a club member rushed to him and paid the amount instead. He was Jamal Nasir Ali Khattak. I cannot forget his hospitality and concern while he very kindly hired a vehicle and dropped us at Peshawar airport on our way back to Lahore.

Numa-e-Gham and its Future

According to plan, availability of my Urdu poetry book Numa-e-Gham was expected in February-March 1980.  The same information was publicized in the club magazine (February 1980 issue) and members were invited to book their copy beforehand. In the same issue, a second poetry book Nazish was also announced and its availability was expected in March-April 1980. Everything was going right at the path and I was satisfied with the progress.

According to our mutual agreement, no book will be launched in parallel with "Numa-e-Gham" but unfortunately Mr. Rizvi apparently poised my book and published the second book Nazish in conjunction. By violating the agreement, he decided to launch both books at the same time on the auspicious of the first anniversary of the club at Peshawar. This discrepancy left an irrecoverable impact on my book following a sudden loss. It also outcome my second book project "Majburi Kay Gunah" - a socio-romantic novel.

At the time of club anniversary, due to price difference between two books, only 5 of my books were sold. Moreover, Nazish being the local writer of Peshawar got the home-favour as well. Next month when Mr. Rizvi realized that "Numa-e-Gham" is no more a hot cake, he very artfully shifted all books to my home and recommended me to despatch the orders directly from my end. By introducing "Beig Publications", I took every possible step to speed up the sale but when there have a starting fault to ignite the engine, one can never reach his destination in time. It's a mourning fact; I still have hundreds of books in stock, most of them are being effected by paper-worm.

All readers to this page; if interested, can get a free copy of old version of "Numa-e-Gham".
send your request here

Growing Community and future of the Talent Club

Talent Club utilized every possible tactics to bring the young generation more closer. To achieve the goal, various inspiring schemes were maneuvered, more discounts on purchasing books were offered and every registered member were asked to introduce at least one new member from his/her circle. Moreover, as a final shot, personal visits to active members (either sex) were set out by the chairman himself. These methodologies brought positive results and the club community doubled its figure within next few months. During its first year of launching, Talent Club offered a collective concession of more than 40,000 rupees to its members.

Next two anniversaries were celebrated at Flatti's Hotel, Lahore. This historical hotel had well-decorated luxurious halls, elegant and dignified environment, well located and was easily approachable. The number of participants in each function were much higher than ever because the club community was growing day after day. There were excellent arrangements in the hall and separate seats and refreshment tables were provided for male and female members. The functions held with great discipline and respectful manners which marked them highly successful. For many exclusive reasons these gala functions were unforgettable for most members. By using his connections with elites, Dr. Yasin Rizvi got sponsorships on both occasions which helped him to achieve optimal results.

Downfall of the Talent Club

In our society, it is a matter of fact; we almost always expect more than we pay. Similarly, most club members were expecting more than they deserved; paying less and insisting for more. This situation aroused heaps of complaints; of course were hard to considered. It was the first brick slipped down from the wall, when some members blamed him for his activities and favouritism in the club. Furthermore, when methodology to expand the club membership was imposed, some narrow-minded under-matric dwarfs entered the club community. They cunningly effected the moral concept of the club by sending direct letters to female members acquiring their addresses from club directory. More seriously, a male member from Karachi disguised himself as a young girl and send love letters to a male member from Peshawar. Mr. Rizvi took an urgent notice of these horrible instances by canceling the memberships of involved members but the smoke never subsided. Mr. Rizvi never assumed that his club platform would be used for such social iniquities. He was very much dishearted and uncertain about the future of the club. I personally believed; these pessimistic situations diverted his mission and passion and he gradually made himself off the screen.

Not every member know that Dr. Yasin Rizvi was the only working person behind the Talent Club and that it was not his whole time business. It was the last brick slipped down from the wall, when he shifted to Islamabad from Lahore regarding his employment in a foreign embassy. He couldn't spare sufficient time to handle the club matters as effectively as before. So members got suffer, orders of books dishonoured, mails were pending and publishing of monthly magazines were delayed. These circumstances demoralized the serious members (like me) and some of them (not me) introduced parallel clubs or organizations so the majority of Talent Club members dispersed and joined them as well as other literary clubs. There are two examples on the record; Majlas-e-Fikr-o-Saqafat, Lahore. (by Mr. Nisar Chaudhary) and Halqa Adab-o-Saqafat, Peshawar (by Mr. Tanveer Ahmad Nisar).

As Mr. Rizvi had already loose his heart and interest in the club due to ill recognition, he disappeared from the screen very silently leaving an ample room for others. His withdrawal pushed the Talent Club into grave forever. There was no direct contact between two of us. After years, I watched him once on TV; hosting a current affairs program from Islamabad. I never heard about him later. I joined a private school and all my concentration diverted there. After resigning, I launched my home-based computer institute; Pentium Graphics Center & Training Institute. And one day, I received an email from his son, notify me about his death.

My Distinctions at the Talent Club

• First member whose picture was published on the title of club magazine (October 1980 issue)

• First "Talented Member" (certificate was awarded at Dean's Hotel, Peshawar on June 30, 1980)

• First "Award Member" whose book was published under the club banner (Numa-e-Gham)

• Personal friendship (It was rumored among members; "due to close friendship, Dr. Yasin Rizvi cannot refuse to Ajmal Beig")

My Lost Friends (Literary Era 1979-1989)

● Farhat Parveen Karachi ● Sabiha Nafees Karachi ● Shaheen Naqvi Gujranwala ● Zarina Chughtai Faisalabad ● Asmat Naz Multan ● Nargis Afroze Zaidi Peshawar ● Shamshad Nazli Peshawar

● Dildar Ali Qamar Gilgit ● Shafique Ahmed Malik Jacobabad ● Zahoor Anver Nadeem Multan ● Khalid Ahmad Aftab Quetta ● Jamal Nasir Ali Khattak Peshawar ● Asim Sanjrani Dalbandin ● Tabarak Hussain Zaidi D.I.Khan ● Siraj Ahmed Niazi D.I.Khan ● Tanveer Ahmad Nisar Lahore

Open Message

Talent Club members (lost and others) are cordially welcomed to resume moral relationships as previously.
Send your emails with reference to this page to naz54@wol.net.pk