A book of poetry and essays of the celebrated scholar, teacher and poet late Zammurad Malik was launched by Pakistan Academy of Letters in collaboration with World Punjabi Congress and Tafakkur Writers Forum, on Tuesday. World Punjabi Congress Chairman Fakhar Zaman, who edited this book, presided over the function. The gathering included cross-section of intellectuals and writers. Dr Imrana Mushtaq, Chairperson Tafakkur Writers Forum, introduced the book and talked about the merits of his poetry and fiction. Ghulam Hussain Sajid read a detailed article on the different aspects of Zammurad Malik’s book. Neelam Ahmed Bashir discussed the poetic genius and the thought process of the author. Parveen Malik and Shahida Dilawar discussed the substance of Zammurad Malik’s English, Urdu and Punjabi essays in the book. Professor Tahira Jabeen analysed the qualities and the diction of authors of Punjabi poetry. Mumtaz Rashad Lahori said he read an impressive book after a long time. The Director General of PILAC, Dr Sughra Sadaf paid compliments to the Academy of Letters for holding the big function to launch the books of author of great merit like Professor Zammurad Malik. Imra Saeed, the granddaughter of Zammurad Malik spoke about different personal qualities of her maternal grandfather, which she had heard from her mother. The resident director of Pakistan Academy of Letters Asim Butt thanked the speakers and the audience for attending the function. Fakhar Zaman in his presidential address said Zammurad Malik was a great friend of him. He said not only he was a multidimensional personality but also a splendid human being. He said he had many discussions with Zammurad on Fine Arts, Philosophy, Anthropology, English and Urdu literature, Sufism and even Palmistry, Astrology, Astronomy and Tarotology. Fakhar said that in his view, Zammurad was the first English scholar who interpreted contemporary Punjabi literature with new vision and sensibility. —
