The Government College University’s (GCU) Bokhari Auditorium echoed with applause when students from various departments performed at the Annual Heritage Concert 2011 on Friday.
The evening opened with a performance by, Qasim Adil, who sang a pop song, followed by Stephen Ashiq’s tabla performance. It included performances by Ravians in Urdu, Punjabi, Balochi, English and Pushto languages. The event was organised by the Nazir Ahmed Music Society (NAMS) and continued for four hours. The concert also encompassed various genres of music depicting the sub-continental musical heritage.
The NAMS president, Hasan Maqsood’s dance performance on a Punjabi folk song Chhalla energised the audience, while a recitation of Iqbal’s poetry by Saad Farooq was heard in rapt.
Some of Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s poems were also read by a few students. Mateen Akmal, the university’s sports assistant director, also gave a performance.
GCU vice chancellor Prof Ikramul Haq (Sitara-i-Imtiaz), made a brief appearance towards the end of the event.
Dr Haq said that every person possessed unique abilities, only achievers identified and perfected them. “GCU provides all kinds of opportunities to its students to exhibit and polish their talent.” He said that education was as important for musicians and sportspeople as for anybody else. He said that sportspeople and artists were the true ambassadors of a country and must be highly educated.
Shafique Ajmi, the GCU NAMS adviser, said that the university had a proud tradition of producing great musicians including Khwaja Khursheed Anwar, Balraj Sahni, Tariq Farani, Ustad Sharaft Ali Khan, Waris Baig, Rustam Fateh Ali Khan, Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan, Jawad Ahmad, Hadiqa Kiani and Ali Zafar.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 30th, 2011.
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