RAWALPINDI: Speakers on Saturday paid rich tributes to renowned poet and journalist Josh Malihabadi and termed him a source of inspiration for the young generation who wanted to excel in education and bring positive change in the society through their writings.

They were speaking at a launching ceremony of a book titled ‘Josh Malihabadi: Malihabad se Islamabad Tek Rodad-e-Safar, Mulazmaten and Qiyamgahein’ written by great poet’s grandson Farrukh Jamal Malihabadi.

The function was jointly organised by Josh Adabi Foundation in collaboration with Rawalpindi Arts Council.

Federal information secretary Barrister Mohsin Shahnawaz Ranjha was the chief guest.

The information secretary said that the awareness of the national language and ideology of the country was the tool for the young generation to face the enemies who wanted to impose their ideology through gun.

He said that Josh was generally known either as a poet of revolution or romance but in reality he was a multidimensional poet.

They told the audience that Josh founded the genre of resistance poetry in Urdu.

Other speakers said that Josh’s poetry stretched over eight decades and that he had written poetry against the backdrop of British colonialism at the height of European imperialism.

They said that the poet was against dictatorship and always promoted democracy in the country.