ISLAMABAD, Sept 3: Islamabad paid its tribute of tears and love to the late Begum Sarfraz Iqbal, (who died last month due to a heart ailment in America), its well-known citizen, whose name was synonymous with literature in the city. Few literary references in the city have seen an array of speakers dilating in glowing terms about her love for writers and poets; and of her silent, philanthropic and social work for the “low” and the down trodden. You could see the entire spectrum of Islamabad’s population-mix there: members of parliament, ministers (both former and present) religious leaders, lawyers, doctors, journalists, members of bureaucracy, (both old and new), besides poets, scholars, writers, artists, teachers, students and people from so many other walks of life.

Memories of her being an ardent admirer of the late Faiz Ahmad Faiz at a time when it was considered a crime to be seen even shaking hands with him (because of the wrath of the Establishment) were recalled by speakers. They also talked of her book Damam-i-Yousuf and forceful columns in newspapers.

“Today’s function is, perhaps, also giving me a peculiar kind of satisfaction,” said poet Ahmad Faraz,” because one feels so elated that “some one whom one liked and who liked us was liked by so many”. He said that by losing a person like her one also felt sort of satisfied that after losing such a grand person one cannot perhaps lose any further.

Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri said that he was impressed by her love of humanity and her consideration for the poor. He talked of her literary activities in general, and mentioned that she was a real literary star of Islamabad. He recalled that on a visit to India, where she also met the former Indian Prime Minister, I.K. Gujral, she spoke of the role of writers in building friendship. However, she strongly objected when (one remembers the usual Indian jargon in particular circles on such occasions when they talk of removing, what is termed as, the wall between the two countries) some one mentioned something wrong about the international border between the two countries.

Syed Nayyar Hussain Bokhari, MNA, talked of the traditions in literature that Islamabad is coming up with and the role that Begum Sarfraz Iqbal played in building them.

Senator and religious scholar Maulana Samiul Haq spoke of meeting with her when her professor daughter teaching in Australia in connection with a book on Islam invited him. The Maulana’s daughters, who also accompanied him, told the Senator that on the dinning table Mrs Iqbal was insistent on not leaving any food in the plate lest it be wasted (as part of the practice of our Holy Prophet). She also told her daughter to bring out the great message of Islam in her book, he said.

The Maulana also mentioned about the “international terrorists” who are afraid of the peaceful followers of Islam.

Dr Firdaus Ashiq Awan, MNA, from Sialkot, said that when on coming to Islamabad she wanted some one to know some one here she was told by a senior journalist to contact the late Begum Sarfaraz who would immediately welcome a person from the town of Faiz. She said those who capture people’s hearts never die. Former minister of state for foreign affairs Inamul Haq alluded to her being a flower whose fragrance was found in her personality, in her manners and in her books.

Octogenarian Prof Khawja Masud said “long life is a blessing but it is also a situation where your see many good people leaving from this world”.

He said Mrs Iqbal had three qualities that have been mentioned by philosopher Bertrand Russell in his autobiography which included longing for love, search for truth and love the down trodden. He said she worked for the needy but never projected it, a quality that we greatly need in our people. — Mufti Jamiluddin Ahmad