KARACHI: Tributes were paid to Prof Afaq Siddiqui at a meeting held in his honour by Irteqa Adbi Forum with noted poet Hemayat Ali Shair in the chair. Two full length papers, one by Shafique Ahmad Shafique and the other by Rauf Niazi, were presented and discussed. Among others who spoke at the meeting included Prof Hasan Abid, Mr Wahid Bashir, Mr Kauser Naqvi and Mr Jabbar Manzer.

Prof Afaq Siddiqui (born in May 1928), came over to Pakistan soon after partition, completed his education, also adopted teaching profession in Sukkur and learnt Sindhi language, fascinated by Shah Abdul Latif’s views, the moment he landed at Keamari seaport.

Author of six poetry collections and several volumes in prose, Prof Afaq spent around six decades in teaching, learning research and literary activism. But he is better known for his works on the poetry of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai and his translations into Urdu. Afaq’s great contribution to be always remembered in the annals of history was his efforts to bring Urdu and Sindhi languages and their writers closer. Aks-i-Latif, Payam-i-Latif, Sur-i-Latif also a compilation titled Aqwal-i-Sachal Sarmast, and Shair-i-Haq Nawa are some of his prominent collections.

Hemayat Ali Shair recalled that it was none other but Afaq Siddiqui who first introduced Shaikh Ayaz as an Urdu language poet. Siddiqui also motivated poet Akhtar Ansari Akberabadi to publish a special volume of his monthly paper as Sindhi Adab number.

It may also be recalled that Prof Afaq sponsored an Urdu-Sindhi conference, a historic move on his part, to discuss the common literary ingredients of the two languages.

Karachi University had recently published Prof Siddiqui’s biography, thus paying tributes to a writer who had, through sheer hard work, contributed so much to Urdu and Sindhi, both the languages.

Hemayat Ali Shair also read out some pieces from his article on Prof Afaq Siddiqui, published in on Urdu paper. He further said that Siddiqui’s most lovable quality was his sincerity to literature, keeping himself away from literary politics or ‘groh bandi’, His poetry collections — Qalb-i-Sarapa and Reza-i-Jaan amply reflected his faith in equality of all humans and love for everyone.

Also a paper, published in a Sindhi language, by Naseer Soomro was read out by the writer.

An interesting piece of essay from Qaiser Jahan, Prof Siddiqui’s wife, was read out by her and was liked by the audience.

Prof Afaq Siddiqui thanked the Irteqa Adbi Forum. Speaking about his socio-political leanings and preferences in literature, he said, he was inspired by the Progressive Writers Movement and the selfless contributions by the progressives.—HA