Akbar Allahabadi Memorial lecture held at New Delhi

PRAYAGRAJ, March 20 (HS): Hamidia Girls’ Degree College, a constituent college of Allahabad University organised Akbar Allahabadi Memorial lecture sponsored by National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language, New Delhi on Saturday. The theme of the Memorial Lecture was “Shamsur  Rahman Farooqui: Shakhs,shayaar aur naqqad”.

Prof. Siraj Ajmali, Department of Urdu, Aligarh Muslim University, was the chief speaker on this occasion. Prof. Ahmad Mahfuz, Department of Urdu, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi and Prof A.A . Fatmi, Former Head, Department of Urdu, University of Allahabad, Prayagraj were the guests of honor on this occasion. Prof. Shabnam Hameed, Head, Department of Urdu, University of Allahabad, Prayagraj was the presiding authority.

Prof. Siraj  Ajmali praised the works of critic and shayar, Shamsur Rahmaan Farooqui. He said that the first memorial lecture on Akbar Allahabadi was  delivered by Prof Farooqui at Hamidia Girls’ degree college. He said that Prof. Farooqui’s place in Urdu literature is non pareil. He is among the renowned critics. Prof Farooqui was deeply inspired by  Ehteshaam Hussain, . Prof. Siraj Ajmali said that it was difficult to find an example of a multifaceted personality like Farooqi in the history of Urdu literature. Farooqi’s name illuminated the literary horizon of the Indian subcontinent with its distinct majesty for more than five decades. The expression of his extraordinary creative, critical abilities occurred in almost all the genres of Urdu prose and poetry with distinctive grandeur. As a critic he was inspired by western critics and applied their critical standards on urdu poetry. He was never sardonic and he tried to bring reforms in a very sedate manner.

On this occasion, Prof. Pankaj Kumar, Dean, College Development (UoA) who was the cheif guest of Mushaira-e-Asataza released the thirteenth edition of NAQSH-E-NAU, annual  International Urdu  Journal published by Department of Urdu, HGDC. Speaking on this occasion he said that Urdu is a sweet and popular language and account of its sweetness shows that it has left behind its parent languages- Arabic and Persian.

Guest of honor, Prof A.A. Fatmi, Former Head, Department of Urdu, University of Allahabad said that according to Prof. Farooqui we cannot understand Urdu poetry without understanding the Renaissance of nineteenth century Urdu Poetry. Praising the contribution of Prof. Farooqui, he said that he was a versatile genius and large hearted. His contribution to the critical history of Urdu Literature is remarkable. He also highlighted that Prof. Farooqui counted Akbar Allahabadi among the six great poets of Urdu Literature.

Prof. Ahmad Mahfuz, Department of Urdu, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi  said that Akbar Allahabadi was a popular poet and it is notable that even after 100 years of his death a memorial lecture has been organised. He said that Prof.Farooqui has left behind a rich legacy of criticism and poetry.