Aymen Zaheer
RIYADH — Pakistan Ambassador Manzoor Ul Haq was all praise for Prof. Javed Iqbal for authoring a book entitled, “Aarzoo Gazeeda”, consisting of his published columns at the recent book launch here.
“Writing about 900 columns over a span of 30 years uninterrupted is not an ordinary achievement,” Ambassador Haq remarked at the book launching ceremony here hosted by Bazm-e-Iqbal – a Riyadh based literary organization.
The event was to honor author Prof. Javed Iqbal – a veteran Pakistani expat journalist, a radio and TV newsreader and anchor and an academic par excellence. The event was attended by a large number of Pakistanis from all walks of life.
Diplomats from Asian and Middle East countries also attended: Azmi Thassin (Sri Lanka), Sharifi Adamsho (Tajikistan), Yunus Demirer (Turkey), Abdullah Mahmood (Maldives), Ananda Prashad Sharma (Nepal), and Muhammad Rafiq Pasoori (Afghanistan) also attended.
Manzoor Ul Haq, known for conveying messages laced in an anecdote that amuses the audience but at the same time also challenges their minds, said. “Disagreement in views/opinions is beauty in a stable society and optimism is the need of the hour,” Ambassador Haq said,
He added that Pakistan was created for the right reasons and purpose and has come a long way. It has made a mark and shall continue to achieve successes. We need to be optimistic and too much of criticism of Pakistan was not right.
The ambassador also announced that the Embassy would continue to support and promote literary activities. In this connection he also announced that the Embassy would host and event to celebrate the centennial of great writer Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi.
Visiting noted writer, poet and novelist Amjad Islam Amjad also spoke very high of the works of Javed. He drew an interesting parallel between noted columnist Javed Choudhry and Javed Iqbal. “Both are Javed and both pick on a simple anecdote – from daily life — and develop their column around this anecdote per se. This makes their work very interesting and the reader gets absorbed in it fully,” Amjad remarked.
In this connection he read a poetic line:
Dil ko gawah karke likha jo bhi kuch likha
Kaaghaz ka pait bharne ko likhta nahin hoon main
(Meaning: I write following my own heart. I do not write just for the sake of writing).
Amjad also mentioned that column writing was an art and that everyone could not become a columnist. In this connection he recalled an anecdote from the bygone days about Maulana Mohammad Ali Jouhar — an iconic Muslim rights leader of the Indian sub-continent — and an editor of daily Comrade.
Amjad said that once Maulana wrote a fairly lengthy column for the daily Comrade to which his critic said” “Maulana a column is supposed to be brief”. To which the Maulana quipped: “I have no time to write brief column.”
Noted Saudi of Pakistani origin, Dr. Fazl Ur Rehman, spoke very highly of Javed. He said he was an avid reader of his columns and a critic too. He also recalled glimpses from the bygone days when he used to read his columns and immediately used to return to him with his own critical comments on the same.
Several other speakers followed with their opinion on the book and Javed’s personality. Rashid Butt at his usual best spoke at length about the services rendered by Javed for the Pakistani community in Saudi Arabia. Waseem Sajid touched on the columns and its content. He commented that he found columns very educating. Dr. Riaz Chaudhary commented that Javed was an icon in the community and he was very well known among the Pakistanis throughout the Kingdom. Mubashar Kirmani expressed his happiness that at last Javed was able to author a book of his own.
There was a melodious recitation of famous poetries of Allama Iqbal — Khudi Ka Sirr-e-Nihan La Ilaha Illallah — by noted educationist Tanvir Mian. Abdul Malik Mujahid recalled his first encounter with Javed some 30 years ago. He congratulated Iqbal for authoring a book. Rana Khalid in his style expressed his happiness on the launching of the book authored by Javed.
Faiz Al-Najdi speaking in English remarked that to be a writer one has to be a very good reader first. He mentioned that Javed was a well-deserved author as he was a great reader of books as well. Dr. Saeed Wainee in his melodious voice recited some spiritual & devotional quatrains. Poet Javed Akhter Javed read out his poetry works in eulogy of Javed.
Author Javed read out excerpts from his famous column entitled, “Chota” that was a well written piece of work and touched on the miseries of child labor in Pakistan.
Adnan Butt, President of Bazm-e-Iqbal, in his very brief address thanked all for finding time to attend this event and also for gracing the occasion.
Memento shields and a copy of author’s book were presented to all the invited diplomats including to Amjad Islam Amjad and to Dr. Fazl Ur Rehman. Prof. Gohar Rafiq — a noted academic and literary personality in Riyadh conducted the event.
