KARACHI: It looked like an attempt to re-discover Firaq Gorakhpuri by many writers on the second day of the seminar held by Irteqa Adbi Forum and W&DA (Women & Development Association) at Usman Institute of Technology auditorium.

Looking at the number of speakers the time allocated was short, so most writers presented the synopses of their full-length articles. Others spoke verbatim.

Aftab Ahmad Khan, chairman Anjuman Taraqqi-e-Urdu, was in the chair, and poet/fiction writer Anwer Ahsan read his paper on various directions of Firaq’s poetry.

He found the critics of Firaq at two extremes - those who were highly adoring and the others who mercilessly rejected him. He elaborated his theme quoting the poet’s couplets and said that Firaq was a dejected and lonely figure and this condition of Firaq’s person was shared by Urdu poetry itself. Dr Robina Tareen narrated Firaq’s lamentation in his life and also what he thought about himself.

Dr Najeeb Jamal (from the Bahawalpur university) found Firaq’s poetry a “complete beauty” composed with the unity of mind and soul with all the senses engaged in it. He could only narrate some points due to the paucity of time.

Samina Raja, editor of a literary journal, said Firaq was basically a ghazal poet and yet he tried his hands in various other farms - poems, rubaiat etc. Firaq, she contended, was less committed to poetry and more engaged in the “romance of poetry”.

Comparing him with Josh, Faiz and Hafeez Miraji, she said Firaq thought there must be “a Hindu poet equal to the status of Mir, Ghalib and Anis”, and his efforts were directed to that aim.” Akhlaq Akhtar Hameedi in his discourse attacked the detractors of Firaq and defined the influence of Hindi culture and classics on Firaq’s poetry.

Prof Saher Ansari said: “Firaq’s greatness lies in him being a secularist. He was a humane and liberal thinker and with his foresight could see the conflicting forces emerging on the South Indian scene. Firaq was also a literary critic, very bold in expressing his views. He acknowledged the worth of his contemporaries like Josh and Majnoon.”

Dr Mohammad Ali Siddiqui could only read some pieces from his article. “A symbol of “ ganga-jamni tehzeeb”, Firaq could see the dangerous rise of fundamentalism. In his ghazal, he discovered large areas of emotional expression and told us how to discipline our grief to make it worth-suffering through aesthetics”.

Dr Farman Fatehpuri said, Firaq was one among the three great composers of ‘rubaiat’ in Urdu after Amjad Haiderabadi and Josh. Firaq presented the glamour, beauty and sanctity of Indian culture in his rubaiat. But he was certainly the greatest among the ghazal poets of the 20th century.

The last to conclude the debate was Aftab Ahmad Khan who welcomed the speakers, admired their writing and pointed out the notable features of Firaq’s poetry. — Hasan Abidi