A session was dedicated to the memories of the gems of Urdu literature on the last day of the Urdu conference. The speakers paid their respects to Jameeluddin Aali, Shahida Ahmed, Fathayab Ali Khan, Raees Farogh, Ali Haider Malik and Jamal Mian Farangi Mahli. PHOTO: IRFAN ALI/EXPRESS
KARACHI: The ‘Bayad-e-Raftagaan’ session held on Friday, the fourth and last day of the eighth annual Urdu International Conference, was graced by a number of significant faces from Urdu literature.
The memorable session, organised by Arts Council of Pakistan, was solely dedicated to the memories of the gems of Urdu literature. The speakers paid tribute to Jameeluddin Aali, Shahida Ahmed, Fatahyab Ali Khan, Raees Farogh, Ali Haider Malik and Jamal Mian Farangi Mahli.
Reminiscing the golden days of his life with Aali, critic and poet Professor Sahar Ansari said that Aali had innumerable qualities. Ansari added that Aali's personality was not only restricted to one end but instead he was an open-minded person with various approaches to life.
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Aali also established a forum called 'Writers Guild' which had some prominent names linked to it. Ansari said that it was one of the best platforms of the time, where even Ayub Khan marked his presence.
Baari Mian Farangi Mahli talked enthusiastically while speaking about his late father, Jamal Mian Farangi Mahli, and his relation with Mohammad Ali Jinnah. Baari said that, since his childhood, his father had a very good memory and learned the Quran at the age of nine. Baari added that his father stood firm with Jinnah during the Pakistan movement.
Afzal Ahmed Syed shared his memories of the poet, Raees Farogh. "I met Raees Farogh and found him to be a great man," Syed said. He added that Farogh had a different relationship with his fans.
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"He was always more like a friend to me and of course a great human," he said. Syed added that he was lucky that he got to spend time with Farogh, from whom he learned some really inspiring things.
Talking about the life of Fatahyab Ali Khan, senior journalist Mujahid Barelvi said that Khan was a brave man who raised voice against the martial law of Ayub Khan. Barelvi added that he was among those famous student leaders who were from the leftist movement.
Author A Khayaam spoke about the famous fiction writer Ali Haider Malik and said, "He [Malik] wrote most of his fiction [stories] on modernisation." Khayaam added that Malik never wanted to be praised and instead he had a big heart of praising others.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 13th, 2015.
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