KARACHI: Shahr-e-Adab Kanpur, the doctoral thesis of Prof Dr Syed Saeed Ahmad, published in a book form was launched at Arts Council on Tuesday.
Prof Dr Hanif Fauq, who presided over the deliberations, observed that the book was not the history of Kanpur, but it only provided some background knowledge of the city, especially because of its cultural value and political movement.
Paying tributes to the researcher, Dr Saeed, for his dauntless efforts for the study, Prof Fauq said that no work of research had ever been taken as the last word. He said that some other writers would be encouraged through this study to dig out further treasure of knowledge regarding the city. However, he contended that it would not devalue the great contribution made by Dr Saeed. He also expressed hope that a few lapses found in the book would be removed in its next edition.
Prof Mohammad Sabir, who had done his PhD in Turkish language from Istanbul University and had acquired deep knowledge about the area (Kanpur being its part), described the contribution it had made in the politics and industry, especially the printing industry in the subcontinent. As against the city of Lucknow University, acknowledged as a great literary and cultural centre, Kanpur was known as ‘Kala Pani’ for its humming trade and industry, for its populous labour colonies and the urban commoners.
While supporting Dr Saeed’s study, he mentioned the notables like Hasrat Mohani, who continued to publish his journal Urdu-e-Moalla (1904-1924) and Munshi Daya Naraen Nigam, the editor of Zamana, and many other authors and the publishing houses.
Poet Sarshar Siddiqui, who represented the Kanpur Academy, said that the city with its great political history was still alive and throbbing in Karachi. He said that those coming from that vigorous and dynamic city of Kanpur had brought with them the same spirit of learning to Karachi. However, he regretted that the heroes of the independence movement were being forgotten.
Prof Ali Haider Malik admired the book and said that despite the big size of cities of the subcontinent, these were more rich in cultural than many other countries, only because of the dynamism shown by their people.
He praised the efforts of Dr Saeed and was almost furious to recall that a practice of ghost writing and cheating had entered into the domain of researches. Some so called academicians had employed pen-pushers to write theses for them. Others preferred to copy a published work, already awarded a doctorate, to earn another doctorate on the same study. Denouncing such practice, Prof Malik said that it must be curbed.
Ahmad Zainuddin, in the beginning readout an exhaustive paper on the book and left almost nothing for others to speak about. He also quoted couplets from the verses reproduced in the book, which was compiled in 10 chapters and carried detailed account of the struggle for independence in pre-partition era.
The meeting was addressed by Naqqash Kazmi as well, while Aniq Ahmad did the compering.—Hasan Abidi
