KARACHI, Sep 3: Eminent poets and writers paid tribute to Rehana Qamar, a US-based Pakistani poet, at a seminar hosted by the Idara-i-Adbiat Pakistan to evaluate her works and creativity.

Noted scholar Dr Manzoor Ahmad, who chaired the function, said that any literary history of Urdu writers and poets, even hundred years after, would certainly carry her name.

Rehana Qamer, a young, prolific poet and author of five collections, was appreciated and admired by writers in major languages from various literary centres, Abbas Tabish from Lahore and Nasir Soomro from Peshawar being among them. Those who read out papers eulogising her ghazals included Sajjad Mir, Mobin Mirza, Pirzada Qasim and young poet and critic Ambarin Haseeb Amber.

Agha Noor Mohammad, Director of the Idara, introduced Rehana. She had left for US to establish her business but at the same time continued to compose ghazals and hold mushairas for the promotion of Urdu and Pakistan’s culture.

Dr Manzoor Ahmad found her poetry full of pathos which he defined as ‘khush afsurdagi’. Another quality of her ghazals was her expression of love, but at the same time she appeared a bit assertive, and conscious about her person, he observed.

Dr Ahmad, a keen observer of literary events, said that much poetry was published by Pakistanis at home and abroad. There must be some reason behind this overflow or excess of poetry, he said, and advised some researchers to go through this bulk of poetry and trace out the source behind it. A comparative study of poetry with other literary genres was much needed, he added.

Pirzada Qasim praised Rehana’s poetry, love being its basic theme.

Mobin Mirza said Rehana was entirely different from other women writers. Her approach of life was that of a modern woman, emotional yet realistic, bold in love, but in no way submissive, he observed.—H.A.