ISLAMABAD, Dec 1: Omar Khayyam’s significance as a philosopher and teacher had not received the same attention as his scientific and poetic writings.

But most of his overshadowed contributions were highlighted at an event organised by Gallery 6, on Saturday night.

As many as 36 calligraphies for the exhibition had been done by Irfan Ahmed Qureshi, a Lahore-based calligrapher. Mr Qureshi learned calligraphy not only from the country’s renowned masters like Syed Anwar Hussain Nafees Raqm and Sufi Khursheed Alam, but also acquired formal qualifications.

He acquired Ijaza (Masters in Calligraphy) in 1992, followed by a certificate course in seven styles of calligraphy in 1995 and then a Diploma in Calligraphy and Illumination from NCA, in 2007.

Currently he is working as Director Department of Calligraphy and Illumination, Hast-o-Neest Institute of Traditional Studies and Art, in Lahore and teaching at NCA.

Irfan Qureshi briefly presented a description about his calligraphic paintings, which was also a key feature of the event.

Discussing his calligraphic work on the verses of Omar Khayyam, Qureshi explained: “Omar Khayyam is a great name of the 12th century in the field of science, philosophy and poetry. With the passage of time, his reference as a scientist has been overshadowed by his poetry, especially his Rubaiyat. In view of his Rubaiyat, images have been presented so that today’s generation may have a better acquaintance with Persian poetry’s golden past,”

The programme “Omar Khayyam – The Polymath” paid tribute to the Renaissance man on his 881st death anniversary.

The function started with a film about Omar Khayyam, which was followed by a brief talk by key speakers about the philosopher, mathematician, astronomer and poet, who also wrote on mechanics, geography, mineralogy, music and Islamic theology, between 1048 and 1131.Recitals of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam were done in Persian and with translation in English.

A specially prepared mime performance was directed by the famous Bharatnatyam dancer Indu Mitha, and presented by the students and friends of dance school Mazmoon-e Shauq, Islamabad.

The event highlighted how Omar Khayyám had an impact on literature and societies through the translation of his works and popularisation by other scholars outside Iran, including Edward Fitzgerald (1809–83), who made Khayyám the most famous poet of the East in the West, through his celebrated translations and adaptation of Khayyám's rather small number of quatrains in the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam.

Country Director, Henrich Boll Stiftung Britta Petersen, who was chief guest, declared the exhibition open for all. The exhibition will continue till December 5.