Dr Jafri’s Punjabi poetry book ‘Udeekan’ launched

Islamabad

Launching ceremony of eminent poet and scholar Dr. Maqsood Jafri’s Punjabi poetry book ‘Udeekan’ of was held under the auspices of a literary society Sukhanwar here on Saturday evening at Siddique Public School Rawalpindi.

The function was well attended by book enthusiasts, prominent poets, writers and columnists, who wholeheartedly expressed their candid views on the poetry and personality of Dr. Maqsood Jafri. Chairman Pakistan Academy of Letters Dr. Qasim Bhugio presided over the function. The speakers paid tributes to Dr. Maqsood Jafri for his life-long services in the realm of literature, philosophy and politics.

The speakers were of the view that Dr. Maqsood Jafri is known as a ‘Poet of Humanity’ and amazingly he has command over written poetry and prose in seven languages; i.e. English, Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Punjabi, Kashmiri and Poonchi.

Until now 26 books of Dr. Maqsood Jafri have been published. Internationally recognised political and literary personalities have acknowledged for his creative, inspirational and meditative works.

‘Udeekan’ of Dr. Maqsood Jafri is the Punjabi poetry book which is his mother tongue.

Speaking on the occasion Chairman of Pakistan Academy of Letters, eminent literary scholar and critic Dr. Qasim Bhugio said that Dr. Maqsood Jafri is a literary legend. He has written in seven languages with beautiful and lyrical idiom. He is a well-read man and has studied world literature and philosophy. He is an eminent poet, speaker and scholar of English language but his love for his mother tongue Punjabi portrays his deep rooted love for his motherland and local culture.

Dr. Ambreen Yasmin, professor of Persian literature in National University of Languages in Islamabad, while speaking on the occasion said that she had read the Persian poetry books of Dr. Jafri namely ‘Halqa-e-Zanjeer’, ‘Bada-e-Nou’, ‘Jaam-e-Wafa’ and ‘Aatish-e-Ghazal’ and found him a great poet of Persian language.

Dr. Arshad Mehmood Nashad, a poet and professor of Urdu at Allama Iqbal Open University Islamabad, expressing his views praised the Persian and Urdu poetry of the author and said that ‘Udeekan’ is a great addition to the Punjabi literature.

Dr. Khalid Iqbal Sulehri, the Chairman of International Human Rights Observer, said that Dr. Jafri is a speaker and scholar of international fame. A few years ago when he visited New York, he and Dr. Maqsood Jafri were invited in a conference on Human Rights in UNO auditorium. Dr. Maqsood Jafri very eloquently and boldly condemned the human rights violations in Kashmir by Indian occupied forces and demanded free and fair plebiscite under the auspices of the UNO administrator. He admired his services for the freedom of the Kashmiris.

Dr. Zahid Chughtai, a poet and columnist, said that he was the student of Dr. Maqsood Jafri in Gordon College Rawalpindi in his English class, but was truly inspired by his poetry. He cultivated interest in the poetry of Moulana Rumi and Allama Iqbal in the company of Dr. Maqsood Jafri.

Shakir Shamim, a senior retired bureaucrat and poet, read a poem in the praise of intellectual and literary services of Dr. Jafri and said that he has given a great message for the unity of humans. He is the poet of love, he loves all humans irrespective of their creed, cult, country, class, and colour differences. He abhors war and bloodshed and preaches peace, democracy, freedom, justice and humanity. He is a poet of human values and human rights.

Dr. Mazhar Qayyum, a prominent columnist, talked about the political struggle of Dr. Maqsood Jafri and regarded him a great visionary and revolutionary who is diametrically opposed to fascism, terrorism, sectarianism, religious extremism, feudalism and capitalism. Dr. Iqbal Yasir, the ex-Director General of Academy of Letters and eminent poet and columnist, said Dr. Maqsood Jafri is a positive personality with a poetic mission. He is a good friend and great man. He helps the needy ones and is a great champion of human rights.

Taalat Abbas, Advocate Supreme Court of Pakistan and a columnist, in his speech regarded him a man of sincerity and sanity. Ms. Aisha Malik, a renowned poetess and columnist, said a few years ago she visited New York to participate in a literary conference and found Dr. Maqsood Jafri very eminent in the literary and social circles of the Pakistanis and the Americans. His English poetry book titled ‘Songs of Humanity’ was published by Author House Indiana, USA and became very popular book in the American literary circles. Professor Nasim Taqi, a prominent poet, scholar and columnist, read out a very impressive article on the poetry and personality of Dr. Jafri regarding him a genius and a man of international status. An eminent story writer Hakim Abdul Rauf said Dr. Jafri is a fiery orator and a great modern philosopher.

Altaf Kazmi, ex-deputy commissioner, made the day by narrating the charms of youthful time spent with Dr. Jafri as his class fellow. Ms. Tahira Hashmi said Dr. Jafri has written much on the plight of oppressed and suppressed women class. He supports the free choice of women in their personal issues such as the choice of job and marriage. I consider him a social philosopher who writes on social issues in his prose and poetry. Eminent columnist and educationist Professor Naeem Qasim eulogised the academic and literary marvellous services of Dr. Jafri.

Other speakers were Professor Shazia Akbar, Barrister Afzal Hussain, Professor Rashid Cheema, Arif Farhad and Anjum Khokhar. Eminent poet and columnist Aftab Zia conducted the ceremony eloquently.