I AM the grandson of the famous and revolutionary poet Josh Malihabadi who died in February 1982 and was buried in the old graveyard of Islamabad in sector H-8. Many years after his demise in the 1990s, I had submitted a written request to the then chairman of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to name the H-8 graveyard road in Josh Malihabadi’s memory. No action was taken on the matter.

After some years, the two roads adjoining the graveyard were named after Patras Bukhari and Faiz Ahmad Faiz. There is no doubt that both are great personalities, but the fact is they are not buried in this graveyard.

Later, I sent an application to the CDA official concerned as well as the CDA board to name any suitable road after Josh Malihabadi. The CDA board recommended that a road be named after Josh in sector D-12. The CDA also submitted a summary for cabinet approval to the interior minister, but the file is still pending.

In the 38 years since Josh’s death, many roads have been named after his followers and admirers, but Josh still awaits such a dedication. I urge the highest authorities in the land to look into the matter and direct the quarters concerned to do the needful.

Farrukh Jamal
President, Josh Adabi Foundation
Rawalpindi

Published in Dawn, December 27th, 2020