A large number of prominent and young writers and poets from far-flung areas like Hangu, Swat and others areas are expected to participate in the festival. DESIGN: CREATIVE COMMONS
ISLAMABAD:
A two-day Urdu literature festival will kick off at Comsats Institute of Information Technology on Friday. The afternoon session will be held at Islamabad hotel.
The festival, being organised by Perveen Shakir Trust, will provide an opportunity to writers, intellectuals and academics to discuss the challenges being faced by Urdu language. Prominent personalities including Mustansar Hussain Tarar and Talat Hussain will also attend the festival. Poetry and short stories will be narrated in an interesting way. Talat Hussain will recite the poetry of Noon Meem Rashid. A gazal evening will also be arranged where famous singer Sara Raza Khan will perform.
“The main objective of the festival is to promote Pakistani literature and young writers,” Mazharul Islam, a noted writer and concept director of the event said sharing the salient features of the event at a press conference here on Wednesday.
“We want to give confidence to young writers, promote Urdu literature and creative values in society”, he added. The cultural heritage and legacy of our legendary writers should be transferred to the new generation. He regretted that English literature is being given more importance than Urdu. The festival aims to highlight the challenges to Urdu language and literature and devise concrete measures to cope with the situation.
A large number of prominent and young writers and poets from far-flung areas like Hangu, Swat and others areas are expected to participate in the festival. We have tried to ensure participation of writers from marginalised sections of the society.
He said that a young writer, Haleema Bushra, hailing from Hangu, will be given a special award as an appreciation of her work in Urdu literature. Another student from the Peshawar University will also be given a gold medal.
Perveen Shakir Best Fiction Award will also be given to Rosie Dastagir, a British writer of Pakistani origin, for her novel “A Small Fortune”.
Pakistani literature translated in Italian language will also be displayed at the festival, he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 29th, 2014.
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