Seemanchal, BIHAR :
New Delhi:
A sense of ‘Think global, act local’ prevailed at the launch of two significant books “Who jo Shams tha Sar-e-Aasmaan” and “Seemanchal ke Afsana Nigar.” The launch was jointly organized by Forum for Intellectual Discourse and Idara Adab-e-Islami, Delhi on Sunday, 7 November, 2021 at the headquarters of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind.
The book “Who Jo Shams tha Sar e Assmaan” was compiled by Dr Noman Qaisar and Mohd Islam Khan and has 41 Urdu articles and six poems on the life and services of journalist Dr Abdul Qadir Shams who died during Covid-19 on 25 August, 2020. It also has four write-ups in English.
Another book “Seemanchal ke Afsana Nigar” is an effort to document the life and works of dozens of fiction writers of Seemanchal.
Presiding over the programme renowned Islamic scholar and former President of Maulana Azad University, Jodhpur, Prof Akhtarul Wasey said that the work done by Abdul Qadir Shams was ‘unusual’. “Shams used to sleep in Delhi but dreamed of Seemanchal.” The void left with his demise would always be felt in my life, said Wasey, who is also the Professor Emeritus of Islamic Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia. Seemanchal ke Afsana Nigar will be an indispensable work in the history of short-story writing. Prof Wasey also congratulated the Forum for Intellectual Discourse stating that the need for such an organization like the Forum could never be felt more strongly than the present times. He wished the Forum success.
Special guest, editor general at NCERT, Dr Perwaiz Shaharyar expressed happiness over organizing a meeting for a journalist in which a large number of people from media were present whose responsibility had grown manifold as the nation was confronted with difficult situations. He called the book a ‘valuable addition to literature’. Prof Abu Bakar Abbad had his reservations for confining any segment of Urdu literature to a specific region as Urdu was a global language. The protagonists, however, had their own arguments for identifying geographical regions, as was also the case with Seemanchal, a region long ignored by most literary aficionado.
Abdul Mannan, editor of monthly Yojana reasoned that the creative facets of Seemanchal remained shrouded because their writers usually shied away from the limelight. In that context, he considered Ehsan Quasmi’s work exceptional.
Chief guest, senior journalist Siraj Naqvi, who had worked with Abdul Qadir Shams for over a decade said that Shams new the art of maintaining relationships. Despite all the difficulties, the smile on his face would dispel worries. Author, critic and famous litterateur Haqqani Al-Qasmi paid a glowing literary tribute to his childhood friend Abdul Qadir Shams which moved the audience. He said Woh jo Shams tha… is not merely a collection of articles but teardrops flowing directly from the hearts.
Dr Waris Mazhari, Assistant Professor, Jamia Hamdard; Dr Khalid Mubashshir, Assistant Professor, Jamia Millia Islamia; Dr Ahmad Ali Jauher, Assistant Professor, Indira Gandhi National Open University; Dr Jasim Uddin Qasmi of Delhi University, Jamshed Adil Alig and Dr Zain Shamsi also shared their views. Uzma Shaheen, daughter of late Abdul Qadir Shams paid a rich tribute to her father.
Manzar Imam of Forum for Intellectual Discourse moderated the three-hour long programme which had begun with Qur’anic recitation of Abdur Rahman, followed by welcome remarks of Dr Mohammad Ajmal, Assistant Professor, Centre for Arabic and African Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University. It ended with a vote of thanks by journalist Abid Anwar.
source: http://www.muslimmirror.com / Muslim Mirror / Home> Books / by Manzar Imam / November 10th, 2021
