‘Urdu has no parallel as far as marsias are concerned’

Urdu also has the distinction of promoting hamds, naats, manqabats and salaams, says Iftikhar Arif.

ISLAMABAD:

The Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) organized a Mehfil-e-Musalma here on Friday in connection with Muharram.     

Known literary figure Iftikhar Arif, the chief guest, said Urdu has no parallel as far as marsias are concerned. Moreover, he added, collections of marsias appeared in a number of Pakistani languages after 1947.

“Not only that but the tradition is being followed by the younger generation,” he said.

Urdu also has the distinction of promoting hamds, naats, manqabats and salaams, he added.

PAL Chairman Abdul Hameed said the great sacrifice of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) is a luminary example for everyone to follow.

He said the tragedy of Karbala made deep impacts on literature, not only on Urdu but other Pakistani languages as well.

“It is noteworthy that marsias written in various Pakistani languages have focused on human values and tradition,” he said.

A number of poets presented their poetry at the event, including Arif, Ehsan Akbar, Anwar Masood, Wafa Chisti, Shakeel Jazib, Shahab Safdar, Tanveer Qadri, Saeed Doshi, Aftab Zia, Abid Sayyal, Ali Ahmed Qamar, Husnain Bukhari, Saqib Akbar, Moshin Skeikh and Arsh Hashmi.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 24^th, 2012.