LAHORE: Two-day Jalib Awami Mela roped in a good number of audience on its opening day at the Alhamra Art Centre, The Mall, on Thursday.

Speaker’s paid rich tributes to the revolutionary poet at the festival attended by people from different walks of life, including writers, intellectuals, students and youth leaders.

The festival is jointly organised by the Habib Jalib Memorial Foundation, Awami Falaahi Party and Youth Parliament. Jalib’s popular poem Dastoor was recited on the occasion, not only in the hall but also on the Alhamra lawns. Talks and discussions on the life and work of the poet were held at Adabi Baithak and Hall 3.

In one of the early sessions, writer and intellectual Dr Kanwal Feroz spoke at length on Jalib’s poetry, saying he should be celebrated extensively as he was a poet of substance. Through his poetry, he said, Jalib addressed the youth and motivated them to shake off the chains of a capitalist and feudal system.

The moving spirit behind the festival, Nasir Jalib, son of Habib Jalib, said the youth played a key role in building Pakistan. He said Jalib always stood with common people and the downtrodden. Nasir also recited his father’s poetry on the occasion.

Sheraz Altaf, a youth leader from Awami Falaahi Party, regretted the duality of the country’s education system and said the expensive schools meant for the elite cultivated complexes in common people.

Another youth leader from Youth Parliament, Rizwan Jaffar underlined the need to understand the message of Jalib and how he fought against capitalism and feudalism through his poetry. He said Jalib was never awed by any powerful personality.

Aziz-ur-Rehamn Chaan from the Pakistan People’s Party also attended the festival.

Journalist Tahir Mir said Jalib wanted to change the system as he believed that under capitalism there could not be a fair democracy. He said student leaders were often mishandled by political parties and they end up becoming either Altaf Hussain or Javed Hashmi.

Ex-federal minister Qayyum Nizami shared with the audience the background of some of Jalib’s famous poems. He said the poetry of Jalib and Faiz was being recited even in Indian universities during the recent protests against the government.

Khurshid Ahmed Khan presided over the last session, where known lawyer Hamid Khan shared the memories of the poet and how his poetry had a wonderful effect on people.

Humanyun Mirza, who specially came from Kashmir to attend the festival, said wherever there would be any act of brutality and oppression Jalib would be remembered.

Jalib’s grandson Makhdoom recited his (Jalib’s) poem Dastoor and won a big round of applause from the audience.

Published in Dawn, March 13th, 2020