Literary icon Amjad Islam Amjad passes away in Lahore
Senior poet Amjad Islam Amjad, satirist Anwar Masood from Lahore and Anwar Shaoor and Shahida Hasan from Karachi were among the senior poets who read out their popular verses right at the end of the mushaira, which continued into the early hours of Thursday morning. PHOTO: ATHAR KHAN
Literary icon, Amjad Islam Amjad, passed away in Lahore. He was 78. The renowned playwright died after suffering a heart attack. Poet, playwright, educationist, columnist and literary critic par excellence, Amjad has given Pakistan some of its most seminal cultural works.
Renowned and perpetually adored plays like Waris, Samandur, Dehleez, Din, Raat, Waqt, Fishaar and Inkaar are just a few of the most vibrantly twinkling stars in the galaxy that is his prolific catalogue. The incessant voyage of his impressive, soul-elevating and award-winning compositions has covered diverse milestones like Shifting Sands, Ham Us Kay Hain, Sahilon Ki Hawa, Phir Yun Huwa, Zara Phir Se Kehna and Itne Khawb Kahan Rakhun Ga and many others.
Apart from being the author of more than seventy books, he is the subject of more than ten more, each written by authors and critics globally-renowned in their own right. The Pride of Performance and Sitara-e-Imtiaz are a few glittering pearls out of the deep sea of his accolades and accomplishments.
Outside Pakistan, he has been honoured by Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with the Necip Fazil International Culture and Art Award. Addressing the ceremony, the Turkish leader is noted to have said: “Amjad Islam Amjad is one of the most important poets in modern Urdu literature.”
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