29 September 2004	Wednesday	13 Shaban 1425

ISLAMABAD, Sept 28: A poetry evening, attended by poets from the Northern Areas and the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, was held at the National Art Gallery on Tuesday.

The event was organized by the Pakistan Tourism Department Corporation (PTDC) in collaboration with the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) in connection with the International Tourism Day.

Noted poet Ahmed Faraz was the chief guest on the occasion. It was a unique opportunity for Khushi Mohammad, Prof Hashmat Kamal Elami, Jamshed Khan Dukhi, Zafar Waqar Taj, Mir Aslam Hussain Sahar and Zeeshan Mehdi from Gilgit and Skardu to recite their verses.

Sahar and Dukhi through their verses highlighted the natural grandeur of the Northern Areas and the lack of awareness among the countrymen of the heaven-like beauty this part of the world possessed.

From the mighty Himalayas to the snow-covered peaks of K2 and from the beauty and culture of its people to the ever-singing streams and birds of the area, the world and even the countrymen had indeed cared very little to know about "this Switzerland of ours," they said.

According to the poets, each stone of the land of mighty and rugged mountains had its own story, each stream its own rhythm, each bird its own song and each peak its own pride.

For Dukhi, who is also the general-secretary of Arbab-i-Zauq- o-Adab, his lands was still deprived of its identity. Kashmiris said the land belonged to them while the Indians claimed otherwise. But, he said, one fact remained undisputed: the area had always been deprived of development due to apathy of policy makers. Dukhi also highlighted the poison of sectarianism polluting the matchless land with evils unknown to the locals till recently.

He held the so-called champions of Islam responsible for shattering the peace of a land where, he said, people stood for humanity and universal brotherhood and love. He was much appreciated when he said "Deen Walon Ne Bhi Dunya Se Muhabbat Ki Haen" (the champion of religion have also loved the world).

Sahar on the other hand lamented that despite possessing the treasury of the K2, the nation was still poor. Because, the nation had never valued their assets. Budding poet Zeeshan Mehdi was much appreciated by Ahmed Faraz for his couplet "Hamari Zendagi Logo Mein Reh Kar Bhi Akeeli Hai/Hamara Rasta Bazaar Se Aage Naheen Jaata".

In his poems, Mehdi tried to criticize the prevailing inertia in the nation's thinking, behaviour and even our dreams and our inability to break the centuries-old chains of taboos.

Director-General PNCA Raja Changez Sultan recited his English poem "Himalayan Odyssey", depicting a unique picture of a land where nature stands naked for the eyes of the beholders.

He also depicted the mighty and gigantic peaks and un traversed terrains which belittled human beings. Poets from the twin cities who recited their poems and couplets included Ihsan Kibria, Mehboob Zafar, Sarwat Mohiuddin, Tariq Naeem and Aisha Masud.

Lamenting the lack of awareness among Pakistanis of the beauty of the country and the natural assets, Ahmed Faraz said he had been mesmerised by the beauty of the Northern Areas after he visited the area. Therefore, he said, he had written one of his poems on the area.