Launching ceremony: Zafar Samdani’s poetry compiled in book

Speakers pay tribute to noted journalist by reading out his poems

LAHORE: The launching ceremony for late veteran journalist Zafar Samdani’s book ‘Sard Allao’, an anthology of his poetry, was held at the Human Rights Commission Office on Friday.

Poet and journalist Munnu Bhai, famous Urdu poet Amjad Islam Amjad, actor and director Naeem Tahir, HRCP General Secretary IA Rehman, former senator Ehsanul Haq, Dr Mehdi Hassan and other notables were present at the book launch. A large number of students from Beaconhouse National University were also present.

Speakers at the event paid tribute to Zafar by reading out verses from his poetry.

Munnu Bhai said Zafar was a bold journalist who stood for journalistic values and ethics.

IA Rehman said the noted writer had been his friend since 1963 and was the jack of all trades, writing on almost every topic ranging from poetry, politics and economics to business, literature and sports. Dr Mehdi also recalled Zafar had been his friend since the 60s.

In 1965, Zafar was working for Pakistan Television while Dr Mehdi was associated with APP. At around 10am, the news of war between Pakistan and India broke and they both took a van of PTV and went to the front for coverage despite having no experience or training on covering war0like situations.

The actions, Dr Mehdi said, depicted not only Zafar’s trust and level of friendship with him but also his boldness in journalism.

Amjad Islam Amjad said the poetry of Zafar written in the 60s was still relevant that expressed his vision, depth in thinking and imagination.

Zafar’s son Urooj Samdani told The Express Tribune that his father started working at PTV in 1964 and initiated the news section there.

He said his father did not publish his poetry, but his family collected the poems after his death in 2006 and gave it a form of a book to be published a decade after his death.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 17^th, 2016.