KARACHI, May 13: Paying tribute to subcontinent’s great romanticist Hasrat Mohani on his 61st death anniversary on Sunday, people from political and literary backgrounds speaking at a conference lamented that the young generation was unaware of his political, journalistic and literary services.

“Not a single textbook in the country refers to Hasrat Mohani’s contributions, which is something that needs to be looked into by historians,” said Iftikhar Arif while speaking at the annual Hasrat Mohani Conference organized by the Arts Council in collaboration with the Hasrat Mohani Memorial Library Trust.

Mr Arif recalled the greatness of the poet and at the same time noted how the young generation was unaware of the contributions of the freedom fighter. “Hasrat Mohani had a difference of opinion based on principles with Sir Syed, Gandhi, Jinnah, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad but it’s sad that today’s generation is unaware of the political stature of this great man.”

Dr Syed Jaffar Ahmed said Mohani was a literary giant and an exceptional journalist who believed in setting his own agenda.

“He found it difficult to detach his journalistic writings from whatever was happening around him and his work became a reflection of his times,” noted Mr Ahmed.

He lamented about the lack of attention given to the ‘radical’ poet as he gave a detailed sketch of the poet’s life and the ups and downs he faced.

Born Syed Fazl-ul-Hasan in 1875 in the town of Mohan, India, the poet continued to be a great influence on romanticism in Urdu poetry long after his death in Lucknow on May 13, 1951.

However, many a times his literary works have overshadowed his contribution as a journalist and a fierce freedom fighter, an opinion shared by some speakers.

A frail but passionate Mairaj Mohammad Khan gave one of the most heartfelt speeches at the event. Struggling to breath, the veteran politician noted how Pakistanis ‘tend to ignore those freedom fighters who gave up everything’ for the country’s creation. “In our society, anyone who raises his voice against poverty, intolerance and vice ends up under an undeclared ban. People who stood by their principles and lived by their own rules find no space in our history,” he said.

Noting how Mohani ended up in jail and made personal and professional sacrifices, he said: “Mohani could have compromised easily but he did not. Today when we talk about freedom of media and journalist ethics, I feel that Mohani’s name should be there on the top.”

Masood Ashaar, who had arrived from Lahore, began his speech with a question as to why Mohani was being remembered in Karachi alone when his works reach out all over Pakistan. “It’s about time people get to know more about him,” he said.

In a critical appraisal, Prof Sehar Ansari noted that Mohani ‘meant what he said’ and there was nothing two faced about the poet.

“In times likes these when we have corruption and vice and hatred all around us, it is very important to have a personality who can serve as a guiding light. Mohani is one such person whose example we need to follow,” he commented.

On his poetry and romanticism, Prof Ansari noted that Mohani set his own manifesto when it came to penning down versus about the beloved.

Earlier, opening the session, President of Hasrat Mohani Trust Ahmed Abdul Bari Farangi Mahli said: “Growing up, I had heard so much about Maulana that at times I feel that I know him personally.”

Reading excerpts from his father’s diary, Mahli summed up Maulana’s personality and said: “He was an exceptional man, with rare traits. Though he was a man of words who was an exceptional poet and journalist, he was a good trader too. Despite his staunch religious beliefs, he was not one to indulge in intolerance or bigotry. He was a communist and a communalist at the same time.”

On the occasion, Inam Mohani, the grandson of the poet, shared details about the Hasrat Mohani Trust and launched its website on the occasion.

He requested to philanthropists to step forward and donate a computer, a scanner and a printer along with a fax machine and some other office items for the trust.

A message from MQM chief Altaf Hussain was read out by Sindh Minister Shoaib Bukhari.