Expats spend literary evening with renowned Pak historian

JEDDAH: The lovers of Urdu spent a literary evening with Khurshid Rizvi, a Pakistani scholar and poet, and historian of Arabic language and literature under the auspices of Majlis-e-Ilm-o-Adab, Jeddah, recently.
Several literary organizations and poets of eminence paid fitting tributes to the man, who has captivated the world of literature, particularly Urdu and Arabic, for many decades now.
In the words of Muhammad Mujahid Syed, who organized the program: “On the literary horizons of the world, Rizvi is a prominent name.”
Rizvi considers mushaira (a poetic gathering) an institution that “has kept the flames of Urdu literature alive.”
Presiding over the function, Rizvi said the tradition “has sustained the bond of love among the lovers of Urdu cutting across borders.”
His own high-octane poetry that he later recited and which regaled the audience was commensurate with the tributes that he received from the audience.
Acknowledging the overseas expats’ contribution in promoting Urdu, Rizvi said despite nearly no support from government, the language continues to flourish.
Mujahid, himself a well-known poet and the founder of the Majlis-e-Ilm-o-Adab, sketched the literary contribution of Rizvi.
The mushaira began with several of the noted poets and some of the upcoming young poets presenting their works of poetry in honor of Rizvi. They included Syed Naeem Al-Hamid, Naeem Bazidpuri, Shahzad, Athar Abbasi, Mahtab Qadr, Mahmood Iqbal Haidar, Irfan Barabankvi, Anwar Ansari and Faisal Tufail aside from Mujahid.
Syed Fazal Jawaid and Syed Sami Ahmad were the chief guests of the program, which was conducted by Nasir Burney.
The program was initiated with the recitation of Qur’an by Mujahid’s grandsons Syed Mohammad and Syed Mustafa.
Khaled Mujahid gave the vote of thanks.