PESHAWAR: Abasin Arts Council (AAC) has decided to launch classes of visual and performing arts for aspiring learners.

The decision was made in a meeting of the executive members of AAC. The meeting was attended by literati and artists, who vowed to revive fine arts and promote positive image of the province and country at large.

“The main objective of the initiative is to revive the rich cultural and linguistic traditions of the militancy-plagued province and instill a spirit of national unity and love for fine arts among youth,” said Prof Nasir Ali Syed, a senior writer and member of Abasin Arts Council.

The meeting was held with senior artist Abdur Rauf Rohaila, president of AAC, in the chair. The executive members including Prof Nasir Ali, Prof Nazeer Tabbasum, Aziz Ejaz, Bushra Farrukh, Shahida Sardar, Jahanzeb Malik, Aneesur Rahman and Anwar Rahman attended the meeting.

Artists pledge to promote positive image of province

Mr Rohaila said that his organisation would restart regular classes for imparting training on music, drama, literature and painting to aspiring candidates. “Admission to AAC will be free and students will be given prizes and certificates on completion of month-long courses in the respective fields of visual and performing arts. Classes are expected to get started from May 3, 2024,” he added.

The participants of the meeting said that the initiative was a cherished dream of the local literati and artists as it would provide many young learners with a rare opportunity to bring out their hidden talent.

Meanwhile, an event was held at Pashto department, University of Peshawar, wherein a prolific young Pashto writer Syed Yasir Ali Shah Bacha successfully defended his doctorate thesis titled ‘A critical analysis of symbolism in Pashto short story.’

Prof Samandar Yousafzai of Malakand University and Prof Ruhullah, chairman of Pashto department UoP, served as internal and external examiners while Prof Farkhunda Liaquat, director of Pashto Academy, supervised the research thesis.

The participants of the event termed the decorate thesis by Mr Bacha a valuable addition to research on Pashto fiction. They said that young scholars would learn a lot from the findings of the thesis, especially history of Pashto short story.

Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2024