Rumi paid tributes

LAHORE
Participants of a literary evening titled ‘Remembering Rumi’ held at the University of Health Sciences Thursday paid tributes to great scholar, poet, philosopher and Sufi Maulana Jalal ad-Din Mohammad Rumi (RA).
Former Vice Chancellor of Karakoram International University, Gilgit Dr Aziz Ali Najam said Rumi’s message pierced the boundaries of its age, and reached millions of today’s generations who found in his poetry a clear example of modesty, beauty, tolerance, and reason.
He said Rumi is the best-selling poet in the United States. Dr. Aziz said his message is universal in nature.
A thoroughly engrossing and enlightening presentation was given on by Dr Aziz Ali Najam.
The lecture was attended by a large number of faculty members, guests and students.
The audio-visual presentation included glimpses of the extra-ordinary life events of Rumi, his encounter with Shams Tabriz, the theme and philosophy of ‘Dervish Raqs’ or ‘Sama’ and the epic literary gift that Rumi left behind in the form of the Masnawi.
Dr Aziz said that Rumi’s poems appeared so appealing in our times since the world is being consumed by regional wars on one hand, and the hectic lifestyle we’re living on another.
He said Rumi’s message has transcended the boundaries of religion, nationalism, and sectarianism till it reached hearts and minds of people of different cultures even after 800 years of his existence.
The colorful presentation literally elated audience into the world of Divine love and ecstasy of soul. UHS Registrar Dr Asad Zaheer recited some verses from Allama Iqbal’s book Bal-e-Jibril.