December 14, 2006

There is a need to improve the quality of written and spoken English in the country, and poetry is one of the best means of understanding and developing a language


Language is one of the most vital components of any culture, and to celebrate language and, more specifically, poetry, the English Speaking Union of Pakistan hosted a function recently. The event was the prize distribution ceremony for the All Pakistan English Poet Laureate Competition, and was complemented by a recitation of the winning entries by the poets themselves.

It was a pleasant surprise to witness punctuality among the guests, and the programme began with only a slight delay. The poetry competition was divided into two categories: poets under-18 and poets above-18. There were a large number of students and parents at the venue.

The evening commenced with a welcome speech by Abdullah Hussain Haroon, President of the English Speaking Union of Pakistan. Speaking at length about the increasing importance of English, he termed it ‘a language of understanding’. He outlined a brief history of the usage of English, dating back to the time of the British Empire. He stated that English is universal in the sense that it acts as a common bond that breaks barriers between nations.

Haroon also noted that English was drifting away from its original moorings; it is no longer a language of the West, he said, because the East is fast on its way of becoming the largest English-speaking region of the world. Keeping this fact in mind, he stressed the importance of a timely improvement in the quality of written and spoken English in our country, and suggested poetry as one of the best means of understanding and developing a language.

Abdullah Hussain Haroon’s speech was followed by a short speech by M.H. Zoomkawala, a member of the executive committee of the English Speaking Union, who gave the necessary details about the poetry competition and set the stage for the prize distribution. The first position was shared by three poets: Moeen Farooqui, Shireen Haroon and Zeba Hassan Hafeez for their poems.

The first prize in the under-18 category was awarded to Hashsham Ahmad from Happy Home School, and the second prize was awarded to Ahmed Ali from Foundation Public School. Adrian Husain and Salman Kureshi were the judges, and since Salman Kureshi could not be present at the occasion, Adrian Husain commented upon the standard of the work submitted. He was deeply impressed by the work given by the senior poets.

Husain was, however, much more critical of the poems in the ‘under-18’ category and lamented, “Those who had entered their poems for the competition were clearly unaware what good writing entailed or that poetry was a highly specialised discipline which called for more than earnest or sentimental jottings.”

All in all, it was an enjoyable evening; one that contributed to the worthy cause of improving the status of the English language in Pakistan.

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