There are some personal collections that deserve to be preserved.
KARACHI: The University of Karachi, the University of Punjab and the Hamdard University all have libraries where many well-known writers have donated their personal collections of literature. Those who have donated their personal collections to the University of Karachi include Ahsan Marahravi, Maulvi Bashiruddin Ahmed and Abulais Siddiqui, Dr Ishtiaq Hussain Qureshi, Mirza Ali Azhar Barlas, Hameedudin Shahid, Dr Sohail Bukhari, Dr Shaukat Sabzwari and Dr Riazul Hassan. Dr Muhammed Ayub Qadri’s personal collection was admired by many scholars for its specialised collection on Rohilkhand literature. Hats off to his son Muhammad Saeed Qadri who donated his father’s personal collection to Bedil Library in Sharfabad, Karachi.
There are many personal collections waiting to be preserved for the generations to come. Dr Jamil Jalibi, Dr Farman Fatehpuri, Dr Aslam Farrukhi, Prof Dr Zafar Iqbal, Prof Sahar Ansari, Dr Tahseen Firaqi, Ikram Chughtai and Afzal Haq Qureshi are just a few names of high stature whose personal collections deserve to be preserved. I request the federal government to look into this matter.
Jawed Ahmed Khursheed
Published in The Express Tribune, October 1st, 2012.
