GUJRAT: Renowned novelist and fiction writer Abdullah Husain visited the University of Gujrat (UoG) on the World Book Day on Wednesday.

A literary gathering was held at UoG celebrating the World Book Day organised by the Directorate of Media and Publications in collaboration with the Hayatian Literary Society. The main objective of this gathering was to promote reading among students.

Husain was the chief guest and famous scholar, literary personality and former chairman of Academy of Letters of Pakistan Chaudhry Fakhar Zaman the guest of honour. UoG Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Nizamuddin presided over the occasion.

Husain said authors and books had always played a greater role in uplift and progress of a society. He said importance of books could not be diminished in the modern era although many electronic devices were available in the market for quenching the thirst for knowledge. He said eternal writings always depicted a true picture of social conditions of society and books were great source of knowledge. He said a formal book offered a different kind of satisfaction in the form of spiritual serenity. He was of the view that fiction was a heightened and sublime reality.

Talking about imagination, he said it helped in becoming a good writer increasing sensibility and perception. He also shared his memoirs about Gujrat. About his writings, the novelist said he had to face difficulties of language while writing his first novel and had to travel far and wide for verifying realities of history.

Fakhar Zaman said the novels and fiction of Abdullah Husain were precious assets of Urdu language. He said Husain had widened the horizon of Urdu fiction. He was of the view that a great writer had a deep impact on generations of readers.

Dr Nizam said Husain had become a legend of Urdu novel and his powerful fiction had thoughtful impression upon the minds of the young generation. He said creative writings were appreciated all over the world but in Pakistani society general reading habits were not deep-rooted. He suggested mobile book libraries could help promote reading and study in society.

Sheikh Abdul Rashid as moderator said books were an important part of cultural life. He said decreasing reading habits were a social flaw and tragedy. He said Abdullah Husain was a “writer of writers”.