PESHAWAR: Old Edwardians, parents, teachers, students and music buffs gathered here on Sunday evening to celebrate the advent of spring season by conducting a musical concert and poetry session.

The Edwardes College, Peshawar, Urdu literary society organised the event on its main lawn. Senior Urdu poet Professor Nazeer Tabassum chaired the function while Bushra Farrukh graced the occasion as chief guest. Noted folk singer and music expert Saeed Paras performed and a group of students also tuned to enchanting steps of traditional waziri atanr (local dance).

The Vice-Principal, Professor Javed Hayat, senior faculty members, male and female students and their families attended the ghazal concert.

Addressing at the event, Mr Tabassum said that welcoming the spring season with music and poetry had been an old tradition. He said Peshawar valley had been the origin and abode of varieties of flowers down the ages. “I always find it a great honour and privilege to come to Edwardes College, Peshawar, because we find tasteful students and a decent environment to receive us. I believe music and poetry are the best options to welcome the spring season and also to get together for sharing fond memories,” he said.

Kashmala Jan, a student, while sharing her views said she imbibed a new spirit from the wonderful event – a medley of music and poetry. She said she and her colleagues attended such an event for the first time where the old Edwardians and parents along with students had gathered to mark the arrival of spring season with fine tunes and romantic poems.

Mr Paras, a music teacher at a local school, sang poems of Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Ahmad Faraz, Ghalib, Bahadur Shah Zafar along with some popular Urdu, Punjabi, and Pashto songs. He was given a round of applause by the charged participants. He also played some tunes on his harmonium which compelled a group of students to perform the traditional dance.

Muneeb Gul, another student from Swat, said that such events had helped youngsters get an inspiration to think positive.

He said music and poetry were both agents of recharging young minds and also proved fruitful for them to experience a magical spell.

“Celebrating advent of the spring season, we feel a spiritual trance which gives us a new strength and also we relate and re-connect ourselves to our land. Drama, music, and poetry and other such cultural activities beautify life on the campuses,” Mr Gul commented.

Shireen Arbab, member of Urdu literary society, said that peaceful and tolerant atmosphere could only prevail on the campuses where space for exhibiting cultural activities for students was created. The Edwardes College would hopefully continue to maintain its high academic standards and suffocation free environment on its beautiful and historic campus, she said.

Professor Jamal Khan, head of the Urdu department, Edwardes College, Peshawar read out a message against use of drugs on behalf of the provincial Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) and shed light on hazards of drugs on human health. He advised young students to keep themselves away from indulging in unhealthy activities including drug addiction. He said those who had adopted positive lifestyle would never resort to using drugs. “Let’s us pledge today that we shall always stand united for a drug-free society. Let us sing together to maintain peace on our soil,” he vowed.

Professor Nasir Iqbal and Professor Attaullah Jan also expressed their views on the issue.

Later, an Urdu mushaira was also held in which Professor Nazeer Tabassum, Professor Syed Zubair Shah, Bushra Farrukh, Qasim Khan Qasim and a few others read out their spring-laden poems.

Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2017