‘History written by literary people is most reliable’

Urdu poet Iftikhar Arif honoured with lifetime achievement award


​ Our Correspondent December 31, 2019

ISLAMABAD: Noted Urdu poet, scholar, and littérateur Iftikhar Hussain Arif was honoured with a ‘lifetime achievement award’ for his life long struggle and matchless contributions to Urdu literature and language.

The award was presented during a ceremony organised by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) at its offices on Monday. A large number of friends, literacy colleagues, members of civil society and media gathered and paid tribute to Arif.

While narrating his life-long struggle, Arif lamented the limited space and resources which literary figures, poets and writers had in the modern Pakistani society.

He added that the literary class has few options but to become employees of large corporate owners of various media outlets such as newspapers or television channels who prioritise their business interests.

“I have had two master’s degrees, but I had no job early on in my career and used to work for Rs10 per day in a radio programme,” the poet recalled, adding that he was lucky to have good teachers such as Aslam Azhar and Saleem Gillani who guided and taught him about the profession at the time.

Talking about censorship and media curbs on progressive writers, Arif said that he could only write or say what he could afford or have limits.

“There is a lot to say or write which I could never get published,” he said, adding that he is not a hypocrite, unlike some others who are apologetic behind the closed doors and but later get the credit for being revolutionary activists.

“I never wrote a poem or poetic verse on any request or for someone special, nor asked to write,” he added. In the context of oppression and injustice, Arif said that he often used the word ‘Karbala’ in his poetry as a metaphor against injustice and tyranny in society.

“There are three types of history; one which is being written by the today’s journalists, the second which will be written by a historian and the third which will be written and preserved in literature.

The only reliable, trusted and sustained history is the third one which a literary person will write,” said Arif.

He later recited some of his popular poems.

Paying tribute to Arif, renowned Urdu poetess Kishwar Naheed, said that his poetry reflects how worried he was for the oppressed and marginalised segments of society.

Narrating stories of different literary events of close friends, she said Arif always care about his literary colleagues and friends, doing what he could to help them promote their literary work.

Arif’s biggest credit, she said, was to preserve his respect, honour, and dignity throughout his life and never compromise on his principles and ideology.

SDPI Executive Director Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri said that sustainable development is defined as enjoying the quality of life by every individual in the society, and quality of life can only be better explained or defined by a literary figure in his writings and poetry.

He said the work and contribution of Arif to Urdu literature and poetry remains relevant today.

“Arif’s writings and poetry reflect the truth of society, which I always ask my researchers’ to not just focus on writing but to present the facts and truth which could help better diagnose the situation,” he added.

Noted progressive writer and scholar of philosophy Ashfaq Saleem Mirza said that Arif is a self-made man who, from his childhood, learnt to survive in difficult times.

He said that Arif has been an attractive and appealing personality due to his behaviour and unique style of poetry. Arif’s collections of poems, including ‘Barhwan khilari’, ‘Abhi Kuch Din Lagin Gy’ and ‘Aik Khwab ki Doori Par’ reflect the societal attitude and behaviour, he said.

International Islamic University, Islamabad (IIUI) Professor Dr Najeeba Arif said that Iftikhar occupies a central place amongst literary circles and that society as a whole has been the main subject of his literary work.

She said that Arif’s migration from Lucknow in India to Pakistan was unlike other migrations, it epitomised a migration from one ideology to other, from one century to the next century and from one society to another.

Ahmed Saleem, another renowned progressive writer said that Arif has the expertise and skill to delve deep into the literature and meanings of the words.

Arif, he said, never complained about the lack of acceptance and recognition of his literary works.

Acclaimed short-story writer and critic Hameed Shahid, while narrating the childhood stories and lifelong struggles of Arif, said that a child who could not even buy reading glasses and had limited resources to buy new books had been awarded the President’s Pride of Performance Award, Sitara-e-Imtiaz, Hilal-e-Imtiaz.

“This shows Arif’s passion and love for the literature, even in difficult times,” he said. 

Published in The Express Tribune, December 31st, 2019.

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