KARACHI, Aug 5: Harf-i-Zer-i-Lub, a poetry collection from Nikhat Barelvi, was formally launched on Sunday at the Irteqa Literary Forum. Senior poets Hemayat Ali Shaer and Khalid Ali, both Nikhat’s close contemporaries since their stay several decades back in Sukkur, were present among many others. Critics Dr Mohammad Ali Siddiqui and Afaq Siddiqui also spoke at the occasion and paid tributes to Nikhat — a progressive poet with modern sensibility, who was soft spoken, a faithful friend and a decent person.

The first paper on Nikhat’s poetic diction came from Rauf Niazi who had thoroughly examined the poetry collection and found the Ghazals more impressive than the verses. Shafiq Ahmad Shafiq presented his paper, which was of an introductory nature. In his article, Hemayat Ali Shaer eulogized Nikhat’s poetry as being close to the heart, very genuine, and carrying all the merits of progressive ideology. He recalled the years, some five decades ago, when Sukkur — blessed with the presence of Shaikh Ayaz, Afaq Siddiqui, Hasan Hameedi, Nikhat Barelvi and others — was the hub of culture in Sindh. “The city, from the year 1947 to 1974, was the most vibrant cultural place and dominated in this regard over all other cities in Pakistan,” said Afaq Siddiqui, recalling the Urdu/Sindhi Mushairas, and Indo-Pakistan literary functions held there. Nikhat Barelvi used to be in the centre of those activities.

Mohammad Ali Siddiqui expressed his dismay over the declining taste of good poetry — that poetry itself being dismissed as ”of no value.” He said that Urdu Ghazal, in its grace and finesse, had no parallel in Western literature. The element of ‘half said, half hidden’ in a couplet — leaving for others to complete the meaning — was the most fascinating quality of Urdu Ghazal, and Nikhat’s Ghazals reflected that quality. He also admired Nikhat for his selfless and friendly nature.

Present among the audience was Sabiha Saba, a poet based in New York well known for her poetry collection ‘Chasm-i-Sitara Shenas.’ She had specialized in Bio-chemistry after doing her MSC from Karachi University. Some friends confused her with another Sabiha Saba, also a known poet based in Riyadh. The former Sabiha was requested to recite some of her verses, which she did to the pleasure of everyone.—Hasan Abidi