The Government College University’s Urdu Department hosted a ‘Patras-Faiz Seminar’ to mark the death anniversary of author Prof. Ahmed Shah Bokhari ‘Patras’ and to pay tribute to noted poet Fiaz Ahmad Fiaz on Monday. GCU Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr Muhammad Khaleeq was the chief guest at the seminar attended by Faiz’ grandson Ali Madeeh Hashmi, Faiz’ daughter Muneeza Hashmi, Patras’ son Haroon Bokhari, noted critic Dr Saadat Saeed and GCU Urdu Department Chairperson Dr Shafeeq Aajmi.
Addressing the seminar Prof Khaleeq said: “GCU is proud to be the alma mater of great poets and men of letters like Allama Muhammad Iqbal, ‘Patras’ Bokhari and Faiz Ahmed Faiz and will keep their traditions alive. The literary works of these men are like lampposts which can guide us to peace and progress.” The Vice Chancellor also highlighted the various aspects of ‘Patras’ and Faiz’s personalities. Ali Madeeh Hashmi remembered that ‘Patras’ Bokhari, as an English Professor at GCU, was merciless on students who did not display originality of thought.
Hashmi said Faiz and ‘Patras’, in addition to having a student-mentor relationship, also had a close personal friendship. Faiz always spoke reverently of his teacher, while Bokhari, in his typically irreverent style, once wrote to Faiz’s wife Alys from London a few months before his death in 1958: “I would love to hear news of your household but also know that he (Faiz) will never write since he is an intoxicated poet (“shair-e-must”).”
Speaking on the occasion, Faiz’ daughter Muneeza Hashmi, shared her childhood interactions with the legendary Patras Bokhari who used to visit his pupil regularly.
Noted critic Dr Saadat Saeed and GCU Urdu Department Chairperson Dr Shafeeq Aajmi also paid tribute to ‘Patras’ and Faiz. The debating society’s public speakers presented an oratorical rendition of Faiz’s verses and Patras Bokhari’s literary writings in keeping with the traditions of Zulfiqar Bokhari and Zia Moeud Deen.
