KARACHI, June 19: Featuring the prized collection of the Anjuman Saadat-i-Amroha, a four-day exhibition began at Shah Wilayat Public School in Federal B Area on Sunday night. Loaned mostly by families hailing from Amroha, the exhibits include rare and old copies of Quran, hard-to-find books, yellowed hand-written volumes, paintings, diagrams showing family trees and specimens of calligraphy.

The exhibition was opened by the federal minister for housing and works, Syed Safwanullah.

A 26-volume hand-written book on world history was among the 500 books on display that attracted the greatest number of visitors. It was written by Syed Shakir Hussain Naqvi. One wishes the caption accompanying the volumes had mentioned when the book was written.

Three-hundred-year-old copies of Quran occupied the same room. There was a copy of Quran whose each line began with the letter “Alif.” Another copy was written by Syed Yaad Ali in 1242 AH.

Organizers said that two old copies of Allama Iqbal’s famous poem, “Shikwa” and “Jawab-i-Shikwa” – published separately – contained some stanzas which were subsequently removed. Interestingly, no books by Jaun Elia, one of the major poets of Urdu literature, were on display.

Well-researched books and exegeses by notable religious scholars, such as Maulana Syed Zafar Hasan Amrohvi, occupied one room.

A gallery on the ground floor of the school displayed at least 27 works by Sadequain. Calligraphic works done in Sadequain’s style were mounted on the walls of the hall in the middle of the school.

Earlier, speakers shed light on the contribution of Amroha-born scholars and men of letters towards the enrichment of Urdu literature and language.

The housing minister, Syed Safwanullah, said that he learnt about Amroha through luminaries like Messrs Sibtain, Rais Amrohvi and Syed Taqi. He recalled that literary gatherings were held at Syed Taqi’s place on a weekly basis. It was there, he said, that he acquired whatever knowledge he had about literature and disciplines of science. He paid tribute to the Anjuman Saadat-i-Amroha for organizing such a wonderful exhibition which, he said, would go a long way towards acquainting the youth with their past.

Noted scholar Farman Fatehpuri spoke about the artistic genius of Sadequain. He was full of praise for the works of famous lexicographer Naseem Amrohvi. He recalled that Mr Amrohvi did great excellent work with the Urdu Lughat Board. He also praised Mr Amrohvi for writing a commentary on Allama Iqbal’s poetic works in Urdu and Persian.