KARACHI: Lavish tributes were paid to senior poet Sarshar Siddique at the Arts Council for his ghazals, verses, particularly his religious poetry — Hamd and Naats.

Co-sponsored by the Kanpur Academy Karachi and the literary committee of the council, the function was presided over by Dr. Manzoor Ahmed. Sarshar will always remain alive in the history of our time, Dr Manzoor Ahmed said, calling him a ‘true poet’. He had carried with him, the legacy of Hasrat Mohani, Asghar Gondvi, Jigar Moradabadi and others up to our age. If some one was fascinated by Divan-i-Ghalib and would love to go through it ten times, he would surely love to read Sarshar’s poetry at least twice, Dr. Manzoor said. He was not a ‘mushaira-poet’ and was never found hankering for publicity but had several hundred couplets to his credit, particularly his soulful naats, which will keep him alive in the memory of his admirers.

Among others who read papers on Sarshar’s poetry included Jazib Qureshi, Sarwar Javed and Hasan Akber Kamal. Jazib’s paper was focussed on ‘naats’, with the claim that Sarshar had opened new avenues in this genre. Hasan Akber Kamal had much admiration of the poet’s verses.

The first to speak at the occasion was Jamiluddin Aali who briefly recalled his long friendly association with Sarshar Siddiqui, praised his poetry and soon after left.

Among others who offered their adorable remarks for Sarshar Siddiqui included Naqqash Kazmi and Syed Hamid Ali Kanpuri Secretary of the Kanpur Academy.

Sarshar Siddiqui gave a brief account of his special services rendered to promote the Pakistan Writers’ Guild and acquisition of residential plots for writers in Karachi.—HA