Book launching ceremony held

By: Fahad Bin Ameen

ISLAMABAD October, 25, 2010: A book launching ceremony of ‘Intekhab-e- Kalam-e-Mustafa Zaidi’ held here on Monday with having Federal Minister for Information Qamar Zaman Kaira as chief guest on the occasion.

The event was organised by Nusrat Zaidi, a poet and younger brother of Mustafa Zaidi, to pay tribute to his brother.

While speaking on the occasion, Qamar Zaman Kaira said that he would arrange programs on PTV to give tribute to Mustafa Zaidi, Ahmad Faraz and Josh Malih Abadi. He said that it was the responsibility of state media to promote Urdu literature in the country.

He said, unfortunately we had forgotten the sacrifices of these poets in the way of democracy and their role against dictatorship. “We are the followers of the ideology of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto that dialogue is our weapon not the gun” he said.

Haider Abbas Rizvi, deputy parliamentary leader of MQM, said that Mustafa Zaidi was a revolutionary poet. While addressing to the participants he said that Zaidi’s poem ‘Banaam-e-Watan’ was one of his favourite poem. He said that personalities like Zaidi are the role model for him, who produced revolutionary poetry.

President National Language Authority Iftikhar Arif told the audience that Mustafa Zaidi was a lovable person. He said Zaidi’s poetry emphasizes on two subjects, one is love and the second is revolution.

Kishwar Naheed, Masood Asher, Dr Ihsan Akber and other poets recalled the memories about their interaction with Zaidi .  “Mustafa Zaidi was inspired by the poetry of Josh Malih Abadi and he was a poet among the officers and officer among the poets” said kishwar Naheed.

Mustafa Zaidi was a reputed poet, who born on October 10,1940 in Allah Abad. He started poetry in his school life. After independence, he migrated to Pakistan and did his Masters in English literature from Punjab University and after that he joined Civil Service of Pakistan as deputy commissioner. He served on various posts and wrote many books of poetry. He died in Karachi on October 12, 1970.