The two day International seminar organized by the department of Urdu, University of Jammu in the Prof. Gian Chand Jain seminar hall of the department of Urdu on the topic “letter writing in Urdu, Tradition, Continuity and Prospectus” was inaugurated today by the Prof. R.D. Sharma vice Chancellor of Jammu University in presence of galaxy of writers, poets and Academicians. The inaugural function was also attended by students, scholars, faculty members and Assistant Professors of different degree colleges of Jammu as well as Kashmir divisions. The main feature of the seminar was the keynote address delivered by the reputed Canadian writer Dr Taqi Abedi on the beginning and development of Urdu letter writing. The Thought provoking lecture was liked by one and all.
In his address he discussed the letter writing of Galib, Sir Sayeed Ahmed khan, Abdul Kalam Azad, Mir Anees and Iqbal. He informed that Sir Sayed Ahmed khan has written 999 letter in urdu which are the treasure of urdu language and literature. He in detail highlighted the merits of Sir Sayeed Ahmed Khan ‘s letter Regarding Galib he informed that Galib has wrote more than 1200 letter in urdu, which presented the real picture of that time when Indian was fighting for freedom struggle . Galib had written wonderful letters which provide the various informations of ruling Britishers and other side they provide some of the important aspects of personality of Galib. To prove his view Dr Taqi Abedi presented some of the letters of Galib to the audience. Mulana Abul Kalam Azad was the other letter writer in Urdu was discuss in detail by Dr Taqi Abedi. Regarding Mir Anees Taqi Abedi informed that Mir had written 10 letters in Persian language and he has translated all the 10 letters in Urdu. Mir was the 1st poet who talked about the right of women. Similarly the letters of Allama Iqbal was also discussed by Dr Taqi Abedi. He further said that there is need to preserve all the letters so that we could tell our generations about our old civilization.
In his presidential address Prof. R.D. Sharma vice chancellor of Jammu University congratulated HOD URDU Prof. Shohab Inayat Malik for arranging the International seminar on a meaning full topic. He also congratulated Dr Taqi Abedi for delivering a tremendous keynote address which was a informative one. Prof. Sharma said that when he was a student the art of letter writing was taught in English but now a days no one writes detail letter. However, he is getting messages, e-mails, whatsapp messages which a information provides him. Letter writing is a important genre in every language and these types of program should be organized frequently . He appreciated the efforts of department of Urdu for organizing literary programs frequently and advice HOD Urdu to submit a detail proposal to UGC for getting SAP program. On the occasion Prof. .R.D. Sharma announce that the recently the concluded meeting of the council. The council has recommended the name of Dr Taqi Abedi as honorary Professor of Jammu University. Prof. Abedi would visit Jammu University twice in a year and would benefit the students of the Urdu department by delivering lectures for that he would also provided a respectable honorarium. The announcement of Vice Chancellor regarding Dr Taqi Abedi has taken with big hands by the audience. Prof. R.D. Sharma further said that organizing seminars and conferences as the part and parcels of Educational Institution like the University and department of Urdu had excelled in that field.
Prof. Saghir who presided over the function also threw light on the letters of Sir sayeed Ahmed khan and other letter of urdu language. Prof. Ali Javeed too spoke on the occasion. Earlier two books written by Dr. Mohd Asif Malik and Piarey Hatash was released during the inaugural function of the seminar by the member of the presidium. Tehzeeb-ul-aklaq a literary Journal of Aligarh Muslim University special number on Sir Sayeed Ahmed khan was also released on the occasion in presence of its editor-in-chief Prof. Saghir Afraheim.
Earlier in his welcome address Prof. Shohab Inayat Malik, HOD Urdu threw light on the aims and objectives of the two day International seminar. He informed that during the two day seminar near about 30 papers will be presented on the subject. After conclusion of the seminar Book will be published by Qasmi Qutub Khana Jammu on the proceeding of the seminar. Later in the Academic session Prof. Saghri Afraheim , Prof. Kahwaja Ekram-ud-Din, Dr. Shehnaz Qadri, Dr Saima Choudhary and others presented their research papers on the topic. Dr. Reyaz Ahmed, Associate Professor of the department of Urdu, University of Jammu conducted the proceeding of the inaugural function and the vote of thanks was presented by Dr. Abdul Rashid Manhas. Prof. Sukhchain Singh, Dr. Farhat Shamim, Dr. Ajaz Hussain Shah, Dr. Mohd Ali Shahbaz and Mr. Abdul Qayoom were also present on the inaugural function.