January 10, 2008	Thursday	Zilhaj 30, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Jan 9: Speakers Wednesday applauded Dr Najiba Arif for her unique literary work, observing that she had set high standards of analysing things and had a potential of proceeding ahead.

They were speaking at the distribution ceremony of Dr Najiba Arif’s book - Raftas O Ainda - consisting of critical essays.

International Islamic University (IIU) Rector Dr Manzoor Ahmad presided over the ceremony in which National Language Authority (NLA) Chairman Prof Fateh Mohammad Malik was the chief guest.

Pakistan Academy of Letters Chairman Iftikhar Arif, Shabnam Shakeel and Dr Inamul Haq Javed expressed their views on the book, while Anjum Khaleeq conducted the proceedings.

Dr Manzoor termed the book a serious one and noted that it contained essays that could be stretched to form a full-scale book.

He said Dr Arif had written well about Iqbal’s thought. Modern era is an evolved form of the past. The conflict of civilisation gives birth to a situation in which people holding one ideology cannot tolerate others thus they cannot live together, he added.

The IIU rector, however, said in the modern era the people try to understand others’ views, even if they did not agree to it.

He said Iqbal was not against the Western civilisation. “There are many aspects in western thought which gives us a way forward to better future and progress, though there are some aspects which should be ignored,” he remarked.

He said Najiba Arif wrote articles with high seriousness.

Prof Fateh Mohammad Malik said Dr Najiba Arif was a unique and prominent writer among the new writers. She has discussed tendencies as well as the personalities.

In the chapter of tendencies the articles like Cultural Formation of the Modern Era and Islam, In the light of Iqbal’s Thought, The Mystic Tendencies in Urdu Prose and The Feminist Movement in Pakistan can be quoted as examples. In these articles she has set high standard of analysis and interpretation, appreciation and criticism.

Iftikhar Arif said that Dr Najiba Arif formulated her own clear opinion on all the genres of literature and presented them precisely. Her critical expressions carry laudable examples of vivid and pleasant prose.

He said that in this book of the essays of conceptual nature her command over the western and eastern literature and related subjects and arts was evident.

Shabnam Shakeel said that Mumtaz Shireen was the only known women critic in the beginning who won appreciation for her works on Manto and Ismat. Then silence prevailed for a long time after which a new literary scenario emerged in which the women who were already known for their poetic or prose creations stepped into his field. She said this step was taken consciously.

Dr Najiba Arif said it was hard to claim the essays included in her collection as critical. “The words which I have written are neither intended to correct the literature and poets nor to point out the shortcomings of their creative process. My only aim has been to convey those moments of joy and literary pleasure, knowledge and perception through which I have gained access to these works while reading,” Dr Arif noted.

Dr Inamul Haq Javed said the originality of Dr Najiba’s articles lied in the fact that she had written facts with depth and analytical criticism. She is a serious student of literature and literature is a serious issue for her.