LAHORE, Sept 9 Speakers paid a tribute to legendary progressive poet and activist Zaheer Kashmiri at a sitting arranged by the Progressive Writers Association (PWA) in collaboration with the Youth Vision at Alhamra Art Centre, The Mall, on Wednesday.

Speaking at the reference titled 'Remembering life and works of Zaheer Kashmiri', Dr Mubarak Ali said in any enlightened society an intellectual could live and write independently, but in a backward society, like that of ours, it was difficult for an enlightened intellectual to survive. This was the reason that many intellectuals living in a backward society turned their heads to the state for benefits. When they got attached with the state, their creativity and independence got affected and such behaviours then culminated into institutions like Writers Guild.

Dr Mubarak said Kashmiri never received any medal in his life and he was given Pride of Performance after his death. “I am sure had he been alive, he would have never received that medal.” His poetry was the poetry of change, he created consciousness among people through his verses, he was not given the status he should have been given, Dr Mubarak added.

Rasheed Misbah, an intellectual, said Kashmiri had status equal to that of Faiz and Faraz, rather he surpassed them when it came to consuming one's energies for the welfare of labourers and peasants. Kashmiri was still alive when it came to his thoughts, he added.