ISLAMABAD, April 29: “I started reading poetry about five decades ago after getting inspired by the verse of N. M. Rashid and Faiz Ahmed Faiz.”

This was said by well-known poet and intellectual Prof. Aftab Iqbal Shamim while discussing about his literary work in an evening arranged in his honour by Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) on Monday.

While sharing memories of his student life at Asghar Mall College Rawalpindi, Aftab Iqbal Shamim said he was appointed student editor of college magazine and his professors gave him Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s ‘Dast-i-Saba’ and ‘Mawra N.M. Rashid’ for study and assessment.

“These books proved a source of inspiration in shaping my thoughts. In the beginning, I was influenced by progressive movement of writers but importance of art in literature cannot be ruled out,” he said.

He recalled how the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi grew in front of him. Once, the metropolitan city of Islamabad was just a cluster of villages, he added. Renowned novelist Mustansar Hussain Tarrar noted that his prose was also influenced by Aftab Iqbal Shamim,

“I believe in quality rather than quantity in literature.”

Writer Dr Waheed Ahmed said that the contribution of Aftab Iqbal Shamim cannot be ignored, particularly, in the promotion of Urdu poetry.

“Aftab is undoubtedly a leading contemporary poet of Pakistan,” he added.

Literary person Ali Muhammad Farshi said that diction and style of Aftab Iqbal was a major factor in the promotion of Urdu poetry in Pakistan.

He said Aftab Iqbal’s poetry was timeless, and he had adopted modern style, followed by a new generation of poets.

Earlier, heated arguments were exchanged between Ali Muhammad Farshi and a columnist Aftab Zia over the issue of recitation of Quran.

Mr Farshi while addressing the participants said that Quran was not recited at the beginning of the event due to which he took the impression that perhaps no one knew the Holy Book.

Aftab Zia strongly reacted to these remarks, due to which both exchanged heated words. However, in the end Mr Farshi apologised.