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Homage paid to Qasmi for world class writings

DUBAI — The death of veteran Urdu poet, short story writer, playwright and columnist, Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi, in Lahore on July 10 was undoubtedly a great loss to the Urdu language and literarture.

The cultural committee of Pakistan Association Dubai organised a condolence meeting and Mushaira on July 13 to pay homage to Qasmi.

The condolence meeting was chaired by Tariq Hassan while the poetry session was presided over by Sabiha Saba. Pakistan Consul-General, Abdul Hameed was the chief guest.

A resolution was passed on the occasion urging the young generation to follow in the footsteps of Qasmi for the development and promotion of Urdu. Many of the speakers recited Qasmi's popular verse, Kaun kehta hay keh maut aaygi to mar jaaoon ga, Main to darya hoon samandar mein utar jaaoon ga.

Tariq said that Qasmi, who died at the age of 89, devoted seven decades of his life to Urdu literarture and his works in both poetry and prose, are world class which are acclaimed all over the world. Qasmi masterfully highlighted folk culture in his short stories, and for this, he is known as the Prem Chand of Punjab, Tariq said.

Kabir Khan, in his short story compared Qasmi to ‘Tangi Pir’ of the Pothi Bala village near Rawala Kot. Tangi Pir was the name given by the people to a huge tree which provided shelter to the villagers. As a matter of fact, it was the centre of all activities in the village. One day, the tree was hit by lightning and the villagers buried the stem and all branches in the hope that the tree will be reborn one day.

Dr Marhab Qasmi expressed her grief in an article written in the form of a Chitthi (letter) to Allah submitting that the death of Qasmi would deprive the people of a great man.

Farzana Sahab Mirza remembered her meetings with Qasmi during the many programmes held in his honour in the UAE. She said that Qasmi always encouraged women in the field of literature.

Syed Saghir Ahmed Jafri said that Qasmi might have died but he would always remain alive in his words and in the hearts of his admirers. Hareem Haider read a poem on Qasmi. Younus Yaqoobi said that Qasmi was a major personality of the contemporary Urdu literature. A man of vision, he knew how to deliver perfection and to do it despite crippling obstacles sometimes, he said.

Syed Talib Hussain Shah said that the death of Qasmi was an irrepairable loss to Urdu.

Sabiha said that the many aspects of Qasmi's personality and his exceptional works are yet to be discovered by future researchers.