KARACHI: The five-day ‘Second International Urdu Conference’ was inaugurated in Karachi on Tuesday evening with many prominent writers and poets in attendance. The event, held at Arts Council, will also be hosting a music festival simultaneously. 

Organizers at the opening ceremony said they were under a lot of pressure to postpone the event in the face of the prevailing security situation in the country. ‘Even though we planned the event months before and went ahead with it, many of our friends from across the country in India did not manage to get clearance from their ministry for the gathering,’ informed Mohamad Shah, secretary Arts Council.

However, Dr Gopi Chand Narang, an Indian scholar of Urdu language and literature, managed to address the gathering via telephone from New Delhi. ‘My heart is with the people of Pakistan in Karachi and I hope the condition in your country improves soon,’ Narang said to the sound of a rousing applause. 

‘Urdu is unlike any language in the subcontinent and can tie the bond between India and Pakistan,’ he said, adding: ‘It’s a tragedy that so much blood is being spilled in our parts of the world. But Urdu is a language of love and peace, and has the power of bringing us closer together. There can be boundaries between countries, but literature knows no boundaries.’

Professor Sahar Ansari said literature and wisdom was the answer to terrorism. Citing an anecdote, Ansari said: ‘A man was found lurking in the streets with a lamp in his hand and asked what he was doing. The man replied that he was looking for a human among the many ghosts and demons among us. We live in times where all the world hears about us are the terrorist acts, but we need to let them know that we are a people of rich tradition and heritage, with a progressing Urdu literature.’ 

Writer Intizar Hussain said before he left from his hometown in Lahore to attend the Urdu conference in Karachi, he was asked with disdain whether this was the time to debate the language, especially when there’s a war going on in the country. ‘I said this exactly was the right time to talk about Urdu literature. We need to assess and highlight our literature in these difficult times.’

Dr Kulsoom Ashraf from the Bangladesh University, who flew to Karachi especially for the event said: ‘It’s unfortunate that Bangladesh always remains behind whenever we talk about Urdu. The language is not only limited to India and Pakistan,’ Ahsraf claimed. ‘If you go to the Dhaka University today, you’ll be surprised to know that many Bangladeshi parents are sending their children to learn and earn degrees in Urdu literature,’ she said.

Earlier, eminent writer Iftikhar Arif explained how Urdu language had progressed over the last sixty years after Pakistan’s independence. ‘We also must acknowledge the valuable contribution made by many Indian Hindus in the service of Urdu,’ Arif said. 

Other stars of Urdu literature who attended the occasion included Mushtaq Ahmed Yusufi, Zara Nigah, Lutfullah Khan, Fatima Suraya Bajjiya, Hajrah Masroor, Dr Mustufa Karim, Dr Saleem Akhtar, Dr Masood Ashar, Agha Nasir, Kishwer Naheed, Fehmida Riaz, Asghar Nadeem Syed and Nasser Malik.

Tentative programme schedule

17 November:

Jashne Faiz (Celebration of the poet Faiz): The event will be presided by Zehra Nigah and conducted by Arshad Mehmood. Faiz’s poetry will be recited by Khalid Ahmed. The talk will be conducted by Agha Nasir, Iftikhar Arif, Kishwer Naheed, Shabnum Shakeel, Salima Hashmi and Arshad Mehmood. Letters of Faiz will be recited by Arifana Aziz.

18 November:

First session (11am-1pm): Urdu novel writing

The session will be presided by Intizar Hussain, Masood Ashar, Dr Hasan Manzar, Dr Mustufa Karim, Amar Jaleel. Speakers include Dr Shamim Hanfi who will talk on ‘Focus of Urdu novels in modern times’; Dr Irtiza Karim ‘Quratulain Haider’s influence on Urdu novels’; Amar Jaleel in ‘Common topics in Urdu and Sindhi novels’; Masood Ashar on ‘Influence of international fiction books on Urdu fiction’; Dr Mumtaz Ahmed on ‘Urdu novels after independence of Pakistan’

Second session (1:45pm-3:45pm): Poetry

Dr Jameel Jalibi, Shehzad Ahmed, Fehmida Riaz, Dr Kulsoom and Dr Shah Mohd will conduct the session. Speakers include Shehzad Ahmed who will talk on ‘Influence of science in latest Urdu poetry’; Kisher Naheed on ‘Contemporary Urdu poetry and our socio-economic situation’; Dr Hilal Naqvi, Muslim Shamim, Dr Amir Sohail, Dr Nazir Tabbassum, Dr Ali Kameel,  Dr Kulsoom Abulbashar, Ahmed Fawwad.

Third session (4pm- 6pm): Remembering the Urdu greats who are no more

Possible speakers include Ahmed Javaid, Javed Saba, Dr Naumanul Haq, Naqash Kazmi, Shahid Rasaam, Dr Javed Manzar, Saba Akram, Nasim Durrani, Umrao Tariq, Nasir Ali Syed, Huma Baig, Ali Iftikhar Jaffri, Daniyal Tareer, Fayyaz Wayed. 
 
19 November:

First session (11am-1pm): Urdu language and literature, and its use in broadcasting.

Second session (1:45pm-3:45pm): Urdu language and literature in the international arena

Third session (4pm-6pm): Remembering the Urdu greats who are no more 

20 November:

First session (11am-1pm): Literary criticism in Urdu.

Second session (1:45pm-3:45pm): Novel writing in Urdu

Third session (4pm-6pm): Poetry

21 November:

First session (11am-1pm): Place of Quratulain Haider in Urdu fiction and its role in setting a new trend.

Closing ceremony (4pm)
 

Music festival

17 November:

Recital of Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s ghazals by Farida Khanum, Mehnaz, and Ghulam Abbas

19 November:

Farid Ayaz and others.

20 November: 

Ustad Hamil Ali Khan, Humera Channa, Tarannum Naz, Salamat Ali, Ustad Nafees Khan, Ustad Bashir Khan

21 November:

Rahat Fateh Ali Khan