LAHORE: The 11th two-day Mir Punjabi Festival, being organised by Professor Ali Arshad Mir Foundation, kicked off at the Open Air Theatre, Bagh-i-Jinnah, on Saturday.

The festival had a lot to offer including literary sessions, performances, stalls and last but not the least food-for-thought conversations by various speakers. The festival also had books and handicrafts stalls.

In the session moderated by Dr Sarmad Mir, titled, Ali Arshad Mir Di Shaeri Di Samaaj Naal Jurrrat, the speakers threw light on different aspects of Mir’s life and works.

Writer and playwright Farooq Nadeem read a paper on Ali Arshad Mir. He said poetry could not be written while remaining aloof from society. It was a collective experience associated with the people and understanding of their feelings.

Nadeem said Professor Mir had worked hard for the cause of the poor, labourers and the downtrodden.

“Arshad also worked with Mazdoor Kissan Party. He was a dervish, down to earth and straightforward man who would never go for flattery for any favours or for compromises. That’s why he was transferred 26 times during his educational career as an educationist,” he added.

Poet Raja Sadiqullah stressed speaking Punjabi in one’s day-to-day life. He held Ali Arshad Mir in high esteem, saying Mir’s poetry had great depth.

“He was a man of principles and was a fearless soul. Besides being an educationist, he was also a great activist who always raised a voice for rights of workers and those pushed to the margins of society,” Sadiqullah pointed out.

In another session, titled Ali Abbas Jalalpuri, Wahdatul Wajood and Punjabi Shaeri’ Professor Lalarukh Bukhari said the concept of Wahdatul Wajood was a part of every such civilisation which had injustice.

She threw light on the formation, evolution of different societies and civilizations.

Referring to her father Ali Abbas Jalalpuri, Ms Bukhari said her father had written a book that encapsulated the whole process of formation of a civilisation and that how a society evolved. She said if one looked at Guru Nanak, Bhagat Kabir, Bulleh Shah and other Sufis, they all agreed on one-point agenda of equality of human beings.

The first day of the festival had a poetry sitting and some theatrical performances by students from different educational institutions. Folk and classical singers featured in the music night. Performances were going on when this report was filed.

The singers expected to perform included Goshi Talib, Nooran Lal, Hussain Bakhsh Gullo and Ustad Qadir Shaggan.

Published in Dawn, December 15th, 2019