Professor Ejaz Ali Arshad's book Yadoon Ke Darmiyan

Dr. Noor ul Islam Nadvi
The book "Yadon ke Darmiyan" (Among Memories) by Professor Ejaz Ali Arshad, a teacher of teachers, is a collection of memoirs of academic and literary personalities with whom he had a close relationship. These include some teachers and some contemporaries. He has presented a picture of these personalities as he saw and observed them. However, in writing the articles, the concession has been made that only those events and circumstances are written that have come directly into the experience of the writer.
The personalities whose articles are included in the book under review include Ahmed Jamal Pasha, Nasser Zaidi, Hosh Azim Abadi, Naqi Ahmed Arshad, Bahzad Fatimi, Dr. Shaikh Ayaz, Syed Trab Hussain Firdausi, Syed Ashoor Kazmi, Professor Mumtaz Ahmed, Shah Mehtab Ahmed, Allama Israr Jameei, Manzoor Usmani, Shahid Ali Khan, Muhammad Abu Khayam (A Khayam), Parveen Shir, Qazi Abdul Wadood, Maulana Shah Hilaal Ahmed Qadri, Aleem Saba Navedi, and Sareer Jamal Mazhari. These articles highlight some aspect of the life of the related personality. Among them, there are several characters who demand to be known, learned, and followed. The author believes that this feeling was the reason for the publication of the book, which presents a comprehensive and authentic introduction to the educational, literary, intellectual, and cultural achievements of these personalities. They were the ones who were the identity and recognition of our cultural and social tradition. They were not just an individual, but an era, and they valued and protected the moral, cultural, social, and traditional heritage.
It is not necessary to review each article separately, nor is it possible in this brief article, as the articles are both long and short, but the purpose is one, and that is that personalities are hard to come by, and the people mentioned are important. They were the custodians of some cultural and social tradition. Their memories should be kept alive and learned from.
Professor Ejaz Ali Arshad is at a position in the field of knowledge and literature that his name is presented as a reliable reference. His academic, literary, and journalistic services span nearly half a century. He is the owner of a multifaceted personality, and every aspect is bright and radiant, with depth in knowledge, breadth in thought, and universality in vision. His writings represent the cultural, social, literary, and intellectual awareness of his era. Undoubtedly, such a personality is a guiding light not only for their era but also for future generations.
The author has presented forgotten memories in an interesting way. Perhaps this is why he wrote in the introduction that memories of the past have never been a torment for him. The greatest quality of the style of expression is that after reading each article, there is a desire that the pen had moved further and the article had been a bit longer. The last article, titled "Mahfil-e-Deedam" (The Gathering I Saw), is based on memories associated with Patna University. It includes moments spent at the university, from the days of student life to becoming a teacher and then retiring. It is narrated in a very effective and charming style, which includes sincerity and love, pain and impact, and passion and thought. Every word of the article testifies to the love for the alma mater.
The book is cautious in introducing personalities and has maintained balance and moderation in commenting on thought and art. The language is refined, lively, and harmonious with literary taste. The style has seriousness along with essayistic and humorous touches.
Undoubtedly, this book is not only an acknowledgment of the academic and literary services of the predecessors but also evidence of the author's commitment to moral and cultural tradition and a means of introducing the new generation to the predecessors. It is useful and worth reading for scholars, writers, teachers, students, and the new generation. The 144-page book has been published by Arshia Publications, New Delhi, and is priced at Rs. 250. It can be obtained from Maktaba Jamia Limited, Jama Masjid, Delhi, Educational Book House, Aligarh Muslim University, Book Emporium, Sabzi Bagh, Patna, as well as bookstores in Hyderabad, Mumbai, Aurangabad, Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat, and other places.