KARACHI: Adab aur Naqd-i-Adab, a collection of forty literary essays by Dr Ahmer Refaai, was launched at the Arts Council of Pakistan on Saturday. Presided over by Justice (retd) Haziqul Khairi, the ceremony was addressed by Khursheed Khawar, the chief guest, Noor Mohammad Pathan, resident director of Edara-i-Adabiat-i-Pakistan, Prof Afaq Siddiqui, Dr Syed Nawazish Raza, Muslim Shamim and others.

Dr Refaai is a language teacher in Hyderabad and is well-known for his work on Jigar Moradabadi.

Dr Nawazish Raza, in his paper based on an incisive study of the present book, explained the writer’s approach to literature and the literary values which he admired. The speakers praised the writer for his studies and analytical knowledge, yet differed on his bias against progressive literature.

It was Afaq Siddiqui who reminded the audience that the writer belonged to Shibli school of literature and preferred the Maulana over Sir Sayed and Hali. His low opinion on modern poetry and utter contempt for the progressive literature was deeply-rooted in that view, and advised him to revise his opinion after having a closer study of Aziz Hamid Madni and his valuable paper on modern poetry.

Muslim shamim, secretary-general of the Progressive Writers’ Association, spoke well about the book, but also expressed his resentment about the author’s remarks on progressive literature without enough proof.

The function was organized by Dr Refaai’s son, Najmus Saher Nagmi, under the banner of Saibaan-i-Adab, who in his brief inaugural remarks asked the director ‘Adabiat’ to persuade the high-ups to adequately award highly researched literary books.

Senior poet Hussain Anjum, Editor monthly Tulu-i-Afkar, did the compering.—Hasan Abidi