KARACHI: A literary sitting to honour noted poet Umeed Fazli was held on Friday, the Pakistan Arts Council and Bazm-i-Munawwer Badayuni being the hosts. This was the third and final function of the series launched by the Council to ‘acknowledge the exalted’ (Silsila-i-Etraf-i-Kamal).

Presided over by Prof Saher Ansari, the meeting was addressed by Kauser Naqvi, Syed Javed Hasan, Sarver Javed and Dr Sultan Ahmad, representing the Bazm.

Kauser Naqvi and Syed Javed Hasan both spoke highly on the elegies (marsia) of Umeed, quoting profusely from his collections. It was not a ‘jadeed’ (modern) marsia in its form yet very close to the realities of our time, the speakers emphatically said.

The poet’s command on ghazal had helped him to compose such fascinating art form as ‘marsia’, Mr Naqvi claimed. But Syed Javed had a different view. Umeed would compose ghazal and marsia both with equal ease, he said, having done hard work in the accomplishment of both the genres. The use of classical language in Umeed’s marsia, reminds one the master ‘marsia nigar’ Mir Anis, he further said and thought the latter was his source of inspiration.

Sarver Javed read out his paper based on his personal relation with Umeed Fazli, spread over many decades and eulogized his ghazals. Umeed Fazli, a popular poet even before his coming over to Pakistan in 1965, was a much sought after figure in the literary circles and mushairas where his position was most often held supreme.

Umeed Fazli, known for his classical style in ghazals, was very modern in his approach towards the realities of life as reflected in his poetry collection Darya akhir Darya hai. During the decades of ‘60s and ‘70s known for their political turmoil and declining social order, he composed the following couplet to warn the people of the impending crisis.

Janey kab toofan baney aur rasta rasta bichh jae

bund bana ker so mat jana, darya aakhir darya hae

Similarly, how the free opinion of the common people was suppressed during those years was reflected in the following lines:

Aasmanon say farishtey jo utaray jaen

Woh bhi is daur mein sach bolen to maarey jaen

Umeed’s may couplets had attained immense appeal among the people, Sarver Javed said.

Umeed Fazli (born in 1923) has so far published four poetry collections — Sar-i-nainava (elegies), Meray Aaqa (naats) Darya aakhir darya hai and Tabo-Tab-i-Javedaana.

Dr Sultan, son of the noted poet, the late Munawwer Badayuni, in whose memory he founded the Bazm, also spoke on the occasion admiring Umeed Fazli’s poetry.

Prof Saher Ansari, while summing up the earlier speeches, suggested that literary bodies should make a combined effort to publish such poetry collections of the contemporary poets which were out of print and not available in the market. — HA