KARACHI: Considering that writers usually take inspiration from the places they belong to, Aamer Hussein`s body of work is exemplary in itself as it picks up influences from the multiple cultures he was, and is, exposed to. This was apparent in the conversation between writer and critic Aamer Hussein and Prof Nomanul Haq, organised at the Institute of Business Administration on Wednesday.

Considered to be one of the most creative voices to have gained prominence in the short story genre, Aamer has five short story collections to his credit that have been translated into several languages. His work has garnered many fans and followers, and also inspired many an amateur writer to blatantly mimic his style of writing.

The multicultural and multidimen-sional upbringing that Aamer was exposed has greatly enriched his litera-ture which is why his latest foray into writing in Urdu did not surprise many.

`The first time I wrote in Urdu I wrote by hand, and contrary to what many believe I did not think in English,` he said, while sharing his writing process.

This culminated into a selection of his Urdu writings later published in the literary magazine, Dunyazad.

`I tried to translate my Urdu stories into English but was unsuccessful in doing so,` he added.

Proñcient in four to hve languages, Aamer was a deserving candidate to speak about the gradual decline of Urdu, a subject of much concern for Prof Haq.

The surge in the use of Roman Urdu requires immediate attention, said Prof Haq, and this issue was raised in front of an audience that comprised distinguished names from the Urdu literary world, including Fahmida Riaz, Dr Fatema Hassan and Afzal Ahmed Syed, as well as the youth that is credited forthis very trend.

According to Prof Haq, there is a need to standardise Roman Urdu because without it, the language may extinguish.

This is a timely debate keeping in view the Supreme Court`s decision directing the government federal and provincial to adopt Urdu as the official language of the country.

Aamer shared his journey of how he came about to honing his Urdu language sl(ills, a journey which began much later in life, and credit for which he gave to his love for Urdu and Persian literatures.

Thematically in his writing, as well as in his personal sphere, Karachi holds a special place for Aamer. He shared how each time the city revealed a new side to it. `The Karachi that I have found over the years is a multilayered one. I do not have a sense of loss or yearning for the past, as I have found recovery within discovery,` he said.

Aamer`s love for Karachi has resultedin his visiting it time and again. Apart from the fact that it is his birth city, and that he leaves behind dear friends, he shared another interesting detail contrasting the two cities he calls home. `In London people have become quite apathetic while here I see a determination among the people to overcome their struggles.

For Aamer, looking back is more of a creative inspiration because so much of history is lost. `History is not necessarily a place of romance, but it is where many questions remain buried for which we need to find the answers.

He also spoke about the necessity to expose oneself to different ideologies, philosophies, languages and cultures.

For him attaining multiple visions is an important quest to have a more clear vision about life.

`Any hegemonic structures that restrict this need to be broken and remade,` he said.