Doha, 24 Nov. 2024 (Qatar Tribune)

The Pakistan Literary Council Qatar (PLCQ) recently organized the launching ceremony of  'Karachi Nama' (Karachi Post), a 208-page book authored by Nadeem Maher, a renowned Qatar-based Indian poet and writer in the Urdu language. The book explores the ancient civilization, culture and social life of Karachi, the metropolitan capital city of Sindh province in Pakistan.

The event was held at the Wyndham Doha West Bay Hotel and featured participation from notable f igures, including Dr Shahida Rehmani, a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan from Karachi; Prof Dr Abdullah Baabood, chair of the State of Qatar for Islamic Studies in Japan and a visiting professor at Waseda University, Tokyo; Ashraf Siddiqui, journalist and president of the Pakistan Literary Council Qatar (PLCQ); Nadeem Maher, author of Karachi Nama (Karachi Post) and president of Anjuman Mohibbane-Urdu Hind, Qatar; Khalid Sajjad Bhatti, president of Pakistan Welfare Forum Qatar; Riyaz Ahmad Bakali, immediate past president of the Pakistan Engineers Forum Qatar; Aziz Nabeel, author, poet, and secretary general of Anjuman Mohibban-e-Urdu Hind, Qatar; Pilot Mahboob Khaled; Haroon Rasheed Qureshi, editor-in-chief of Urdu Daily Rahbar Kisan International; Qaiser Anwar, vice president of Pakistan Welfare Forum Qatar; Dr Jafry (AMU Alumni Qatar); Dr Moin Zameer Khan; Engineer Faiz Shah; IT Engineer Imran; Ukasha Nadeem; Ali Imran; and other enthusiasts of Urdu literature.

Ashraf Siddiqui delivered the welcome address and congratulated Nadeem Maher on the release of his book. 'Fragrance and literature know no boundaries, and Nadeem Maher’s work is a testament to this. An Indian writer has beautifully captured the essence of his journey to Karachi in a literary fragrance, one whose scent transcends the borders of both countries'.

Siddiqui expressed his gratitude to all the guests for accepting his invitation, with special thanks to Prof. Dr. Abdullah Baabood and Dr Shahida Rehmani for their presence.

Prominent journalist Osama bin Javed praised the book, describing it as a breath of fresh air that enriches its surroundings. He remarked, 'Urdu has the unique ability to unite people from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and beyond, much like beads strung together on a single thread'. He also read an excerpt from the book, lauded Nadeem Maher’s engaging writing style, and wished the book immense success.

The guest of honour, Prof. Dr. Abdullah Baabood, expressed his appreciation, saying, 'Although I know only a little Urdu, I will rely on translations to fully appreciate this book'.

He thanked the organisers for inviting him to such a distinguished event and congratulated Nadeem Maher on the publication of his beautifully crafted book.

Special guest Dr Syeda Shahida Rehmani, who was visiting Qatar, congratulated Nadeem Maher and remarked, 'Even though we are far from home, we can still feel the essence of Karachi here. Ashraf Siddiqui deserves credit for organising such a wonderful event. My family also migrated from India, and Karachi holds a special place in my heart. This book beautifully captures the spirit of Karachi through the eyes of a foreign writer,” she said, while praising the book’s aesthetic appeal.

Other distinguished speakers, including Riaz Ahmed Bakali, Ahmed Ashfaq, Qaiser Masood, Asif Shafi, Shahid Khan, and Aziz Nabeel, shared their thoughts and insights, all of which contributed to the success of the event.

The event was well conducted  in his signature style by Anwar Ali Rana, president of Sohni Dharti, a Pakistani community forum of the Al Khor community.