KARACHI, May 27: Shahid Ahmed Dehlvi had a unique and multi-faceted personality and contributed tremendously towards Urdu language and literature before and after migrating to Pakistan, said speakers at a ceremony held at the SESSI auditorium to mark the launch of the book on Shahid Ahmed Dehlvi on Tuesday.

Written by Prof Taj Begum Farrukhi and published by the Pakistan Academy of Letters, the book is part of the series of books planned by the Academy to pay tribute to the “greats” of Pakistani literature. The Academy has recently got published a good number of books in the series titled Pakistani adab ke maimaar.

The book by Begum Taj Farukkhi analyses the life and works of Shahid Ahmed Dehlvi, who incidentally was her relative as both belong to the family of Moulvi Nazeer Ahmed Dehlvi, one of the greatest authors of the Urdu language.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Jameeluddin Aali narrated some interesting events related to Shahid Ahmed Dehlvi as Aali said he had been very close to him. Aali, while describing Shahid’s personality, said he had never seen Shahid without a shervani since Shahid belonged to a traditionalist society and strictly followed the code and norms of that traditional culture.

Dr Jameel Jalibi, presiding over the proceedings, congratulated the Academy on remembering Shahid Ahmed Dehlvi and being considerate enough to arrange the launch in such a manner that it fell on the 41st death anniversary of Shahid Ahmed Dehlvi who died on May 27, 1967. Keeping in view the fact that the function had started quite late, Jalibi shortened his presidential address and said that while an ocean of memories was haunting him he would not say much about Shahid who penned some quite interesting books and pieces in an idiomatic and chaste Urdu.

Raghib Muradabadi recited his extempore verses on the occasion. Fatima Hasan, Shahida Hasan, Prof Dr Zafar Iqbal and Begum Taj Farrukhi also spoke on the occasion.

The important feature of the function was that it was attended by a large number of prominent personalities. But for reasons best known only to the organizers the function could not begin on time and dignitaries like Karachi University Vice Chancellor Dr Pirzada Qasim and Dr Farman Fatehpuri and Jameeluddin Aali, who was not well, had to wait for quite long. The faulty public address system added to the chagrin of the audience some of whom could not properly get what was being said.