KARACHI: If on the one hand a sense of loss (due to the demise of some eminent writers and an international political figure this year) enveloped the inaugural day of the 9th International Urdu Conference on Thursday evening, on the other hand the idea that literature is alive and vibrant also had its takers.

The opening session had two keynote speeches, the first of which was delivered by Prof Shamim Hanafi via telephone from Delhi. He said it was an emotional moment for him to speak on the occasion. He began by extending his condolences on the death of those distinguished writers –– Intizar Husain, Fatima Surayya Bajia, Jamiluddin Aali and Dr Aslam Farrukhi. He articulated that the good, and bad, thing about time was that it passed by.

Prof Hanafi said of all the media that were available to the modern world the most effective to convey messages was literature. He said it reduced distances and brought together all those who were related to it. He said a few years back he along with five other Indian writers came to Pakistan through the Wagah border. He said upon seeing Lahore poet Ashok Vajpayee said the city had the same trees as in Delhi and the weather was the same. He lamented the fact that we remained unaware of each other’s locales.

Prof Hanafi said this time of year, cold winds were blowing in Delhi and the season of literary and other events had begun; and one literary event was taking place in Karachi. Emphasising the importance of literature, he said now literature of resistance was being produced. He hoped that a time would come when he’d be again (physically) attending an Urdu conference.

‘Literature is not dead’

Writer Dr Asif Farrukhi was the second keynote speaker. His topic was ‘literature and our world’. He said he’d come to the conference with a heavy heart because, as per an Arabian adage, the passing away of our elders had magnified our stature. He said while discussing his subject he would move from our world to the realm of literature. He said the idea was validated because recently two significant things happened in the world: Donald Trump’s election as US president and the death of revolutionary Cuban leader Fidel Castro. He said Castro was probably waiting for the result of the American polls so that he could leave the world in which people like Trump could become president. He said Castro’s death was also the death of a dream, the dream that had kept Urdu writers on the go, but he hoped that Urdu writers would not lose that dream in tears and rather look for a new star to lead them.

On the situation of contemporary literature, Dr Farrukhi said it should be seen in the light of the environment in which it was being created. He said there was a time when the narrative for national identity was made by literary people and now it was being done by the media.

Addressing Prof Hanafi, he said despite all odds Urdu literature was alive in Pakistan. He said though people, beginning with M. H. Askari, had announced the death of literature, it did not happen. He said we all could die, not literature. He said those who talked about literature’s demise did not read it. He then gave examples of Urdu poets, fictionists and critics to back up his argument.

The second session of the day was dedicated to poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz and global peace. Poet Fahmida Riaz said post World War II was the period of imperialism in which no one sang the song of peace. Faiz sahib became part of the movement that campaigned for peace in the whole world. The movement did not just have poets and writers, but top-notch artist Picasso was also part of it.

Poet Kishwar Nahid bemoaned that the Pakistan government did not send any message of condolences on Castro’s death.

Broadcaster Raza Ali Abidi recalled the days when Faiz used to spend time at poet Iftikhar Arif’s flat in London and where a woman was translating his works into English. He said it was important that Faiz’s message was spreading.

Arif Naqvi said Faiz belonged to the entire world.

Zafarullah Poshni said he did not regret the time he spent behind bars because there he met great individuals like Faiz and Sajjad Zaheer.

Mir Hasil Bizenjo said he had only met Faiz sahib once. He said he was a great poet and political leader (because he spent time in jail).

Human Rights activist I. A. Rehman raised the question whether peace could be achieved without going through a conflict. He said peace could not be attained in our society or anywhere else in the world unless there was equality and respect for human rights.

Poet Zehra Nigah narrated a story about how Faiz sahib felt about his life in jail. She said he cared more for the person who used to give him food through a slit in the door with a piece of paper (one side of a cigarette packet) on which Faiz sahib would write poems. When he got out of prison, that man handed all those papers that he had tied together to Faiz sahib.

The last item on the programme’s list for the day was a performance titled ‘Zikr-i-Yaar Chale’ based on Faiz’s poetry.

Earlier, Ahmed Shah welcomed the guests.

The conference, organised by the Arts Council of Pakistan, will continue till Dec 4.

Published in Dawn, December 2nd, 2016