Doha                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             22 Nov 2018

Large number of top Urdu language scholars from Pakistan and India participated in 24th Annual Urdu poetic symposium and 22nd Urdu Awards event organised by Majlis-e-Frogh-e-Urdu Adab Qatar. The graceful event was held recently at the Hotel Rotana Doha City. Shabib Bin Arar al-Noaimi, Directort Qatar Poetry Centre, Diwan ul Arab, and Kaltham Abdul Rehman Mohammad, Section Head of Culture Department at Ministry of Culture & Sports, Govt of Qatar represented HE The Minister of Culture & Sports, H. E. Ashud Ahmad, ambassador of Bangladesh to Qatar was Guest of Honour on the occasion.

Prof. Dr Mazhar Mahmood Shairani (Pakistan), and Syed Muhammad Ashraf (India) were presented prestigious 22nd Urdu Literary Award on their services in the field of  the promotion of Urdu language and literature.

Majlis led by it's Chairman Mohammad Atiq, also presented special awards to Doha based personalities in Qatar on their outstanding services for promotion of Urdu language. Awardees were Hassan Abdul Karim Chougule, Chairman, Anjuman Mohibban-e-Urdu Hind Qatar, Saif-ur-Rehman, In-charge of Qatar Urdu Radio Service; Azim Abbas, Chairman, Karwan-e-Urdu Qatar; and Kamran Rehmat, Editor Community, Gulf Times.

Among prominent Urdu language personalities present at the event included Prof. Dr. Pirzada Qasim (Pakistan), Prof. Dr Tehsin Firaqi, Prof. Shafey Kidwai, Prof. Abbas Tabish. Prof. Dr Pirzada Qasim presided 2018 Award & Symposium.

Tahir Faraz, Manzar Bhopali, Abrar Kashif from India and Shakil Jazib, Syed Suleman Gilani, Dr Fartash Syed participated from Pakistan, Ehsan Shahid (UK), Khalid Sajjad Ahmed (Kuwait); and Atiq Anzar, Farzana Safdar, and Roase Mumtaz from Qatar inspired from their creative poetry to over 700 expatriate poetry lovers of audience.

Mohammad Atiq, Chairman Board of Patrons of Majlis in his welcoming speech dedicated the event to late Mushtaq Ahmad Yusufi, legendary scholar, who passed away in June this year. He paid his special gratitude to H. E. Salah bin Ghanim bin Nasser Al-Ali, Minister of Culture and Sports, Government of Qatar and his officials on their their support in organising this event.

In regards to late Mushtaq Ahmad Yusufi, Chairman Majlis lauded the services of late Mushtaq Ahmad Yusufi as a patron of Majlis, a source of inspiration and guidance. He dedicated 2018 Mushaira (Symposium) to him on his invaluable service to Urdu language and literature. He also appreciated the award jury committees in India and Pakistan and his team on their contributions in organizing the event.

Doha based well reputed Indian businessman and social worker M S Bukhari in his speech appreciated the audience for making the event successful and congratulated the organising committee for holding the mushaira continuously since last 24 years. He lauded the services of the  jury committees for nominating 'Jewels of Urdu literature' for the awards every year. He specially mentioned about Azim Abbas, renowned Indian businessman for his long years of association from his age 22 with Majlis-e-Frog-e-Urdu Adab Qatar.

Addressing on the occasion, Hafiq Junaid Ahmed Sial, Community Welfare Attaché, Pakistan Embassy said that he has been regularly attending the events of Majlis since his posting in Qatar.  He said that for him attending the poetic symposiums was itself a positive activity. Listening to the creative ideas of the poets activates positive energy in us. The educational and literary activities provide us opportunities for our catharsis. It is very encouraging to see that the audience have gathered here in large numbers just to express their love for Urdu. There are many languages that are fast fading away. In this time, the mergence and growth of Urdu as one of the most prominent language in our region is very encouraging.

He congratulated the award recipients and the organisers of the mushaira.