ISLAMABAD: At a function held at Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) in connection with Ahmed Faraz’s ninth death anniversary, the speakers paid tributes to the legendary poet here on Monday. The function was presided over by eminent poet and scholar Dr Fateh Muhmmad Malik.
Faraz’s sons, Senator Shibli Faraz and Sadi Faraz, renowned columnist Wajahat Masood and TV anchor- person Hamid Mir also addressed on the occasion.
AIOU Vice Chancellor (VC) Professor Dr Shahid Siddiqui in his address announced that the university would soon publish selective writings of Ahmed Faraz in form of a book for the benefit of the students. The university would continue to hold such events to remember national heroes like him, he added.
While highlighting the research work carried out by the university during the last two and half years, the VC informed that fourteen journals had been brought out while another one on ‘language and literature’ was in the pipeline.
The VC further said, “It was a unique honour for the university to acknowledge and celebrate great poets like Faraz, and this was the third consecutive event of this kind.”
In the beginning, a twenty-minute long documentary prepared by the university on the life and poetic contributions of Faraz was screened which was highly praised by the audience.
The speakers eulogised the academic and literary activities being arranged by AIOU on regular basis for knowledge and inspirations of the students.
Lauding the late poet’s qualities of head and heart, the speakers said that through his poetry he served the cause of humanity, fought for freedom of expression and thought, and gave a tough resistance to the dictatorial regime.
During his lifetime, Faraz went through hardships of imprisonment and self-exile while struggling for the fundamental rights of the people.
The speakers noted that the poet, who started his career as script writer from Radio Pakistan, earned a big name among the poets and scholars of the contemporary era and achieved love and respect in the society mainly due to his poetry and love for the common man.
While re-counting and re-calling his poetic contributions and revolutionary thoughts, they said that Faraz was a living poet for all times to come, and most inspiring for the younger generation to understand and practice the true realities of life.
The speakers also included Social Sciences Dean Dr Samina Awan and Department of Urdu Chairman Dr Abdul Aziz Sehr.