KARACHI: GHALIB pencils were issued at a lively literary function yesterday (Nov 20) when the Idara-i-Yadgari-Ghalib sent around the hat and got as much as Rs 3,000 for one pencil.

The function, held at the Adamjee Science College Hall, launched the fund-raising campaign for the celebration of Ghalib’s Centenary in February next and also became its preface by throwing preliminary light on Ghalib’s contribution to our culture and poetry.

At the function, admirers of Ghalib, the most compelling of Urdu poets, displayed as much public emotion as the habitually undemonstrative addicts of subjective Urdu poetry are capable of. The function, presided over by Faiz Ahmad Faiz, had the air of a fraternal gathering and in a befitting tribute to the poet, flowered into an unscheduled Mushaira, with so many poets at hand.

Syed Mohammad Jafri read a poem specially composed for the occasion, and speeches on Ghalib were made by Prof Karrar Husain, Mr Umer Mohajir and visiting teacher of Urdu at the London School of Oriental and African Studies, Mr David Matthews.

Published in Dawn, November 21st, 2018