In connection with World Poetry Day, Rawalpindi Arts Council in collaboration with Sabaat Foundation arranged a seminar to discuss present, past and future of Urdu poetry.
Renowned intellectual and critic Prof Fateh Muhammad Malik chaired the session. Resident Director RAC Waqar Ahmed and Chairman Sabaat Foundation Khalid Sadique welcomed the distinguished guests. The poets and intellectual who spoke on different dimensions of poetry were Prof Fateh Muhammad Malik, Sarfraz Shahid, Nisar Nasiq, Ayesha Masood Malik, Naeem Akram Qureshi, Asif Akbar, Zaheer Javed and Ali Yasir while Khurram Khaleeq anchored the ceremony.
Addressing at the ceremony, Prof Fateh Muhammad Malik said that present Urdu poetry is stuck on one point. He said that poets will have to get command on all sorts of knowledge which will bring variety in the poetry. He said Dr Allama Iqbal had vast knowledge of every field of education. Mazahiya poet Sarfraz Shahid said that funny is also being written according to current situation of the country. He said poetry is being written on the themes of price hiking, load-shedding, unemployment.
Nisar Nasiq said besides paying attention on language and literature it is urgent need for the change in social behaviour. Ayesha Masood Malik said our young generation is far away from literature due to modern technology. Naeem Akram Qureshi was off the view that young generation must follow the footsteps of Allama Iqbal. The session was also attended by poets and intellectuals.
