JZ'S ARTICLE: PAKISTANI LITERARY FIGURE HONOURED, MUSHAIRA HELD

PAKISTANI SCHOLAR HONOURED,    

              MUSHAIRA HELD

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BY JAVED ZAHEER, FREE EXPRESSION AWARD WINNER

TORONTO: The Thorncliffe Seniors Club organized a literary meeting and Mushaira (Gathering of poets) on August 27, 2017, at 1 Leaside Overlea Boulevard.

Distinguished personalities, internationally renowned and recognized poets and literary figures of the Pakistani community were present on the occasion.

As founder of the Thorncliffe Seniors Club, I felt proud and congratulated my TSC team members---Azhar Bokhari, General Secretary, and Afzal Khan Nayyer, Coordinator. They deserve full credit for great efforts and success of the memorable event. Afzal Khan remains socially very active and because of his efforts such a good gathering of leading poets and literary figures was made possible. I knew his this ability and introduced him to the TSC and kept pushing and encouraging him and finally, with support of Azhar Bokhari, he managed to organize this event successfully.  

Syed Shakeel Ahmed and Razzak Chisti, founding members of the TSC were also present. Syed Shakeel Ahmed, President of the TSC, who was out of the country and return only on the event day, was introduced to the audience. He welcomed the guests and presented a Naat (Rhythmic deliverance in praise of Prophet Muhammad-PBUH).

The guests included Sikander Jaffer,

a well-known figure of the Indian community. He shows keen interest in TSC and the Pakistani community.  

Unfortunately, the Pakistani community members find hard to work with most of the Indian community members, who because of their narrow mentality keep letting down and discouraging the Pakistanis. Because the Pakistanis feel uncomfortable with them this is why I had told my friends and community members to remain alert and away from  such Indians, who keep bringing bad name to the Indian community.

I have Indian friends including Jawaid Danish and Hameeduddin Ahmed, who are not only broad- minded, highly educated, literary figures and of good nature and character. I have great respect for them.   

The poets enjoyed so much the gathering that they desired and demanded holding of such meeting and kept congratulating both Afzal Khan and Azhar Bokhari. It was not only a mushaira and literary meeting but proved a wonderful social gathering as well where they expressed love and respect for each other. No one was seen as stranger.

The renowned poets who presented their  poetry were: Karaamatullah Ghori,  Darakhshan Siddiqui, Kafil Ahmed, Kazim Wasti, Farhat Shujaat, Basharat Rehan, Rida Fatima, Salman Athar, Asar Akbar Abadi, Jamil Qamar, Khalid Rauf, Parveen Sultana Saba, Swaleh Acha, Nazimuddin Maqbool, Jamal Ahmed Anjum, Munif Ashur. Rehman Khawar.

The event comprised two sessions. The first session was in honour of Jamal Ahmed Anjum, who possesses great literary qualities including columnist, author of several books, publisher and poet. He was presented the Life-Time Achievement Award. Karamatullah Khan Ghori, ex-ambassador, chaired this session. The speakers spoke on the tremendous contribution and personality of Jamal Anjum and praised him. He is a highly respected columnist and the English Daily DAWN, Karachi, regularly publishes his articles.

In the second session, the poets presented their poetry. Rehman Khawar, a renowned poet and a literary figure, chaired the session.

Shahid Hashmi, Chairman, Canpak Chamber of Commerce, praised the holding of social and cultural gatherings and events in the community. He is greatly disappointed by attitude of most of community members and keep giving them the message to act practically. I agree with him because I am too fed up with such attitude---Khao-Piyo-Khisko (Eat-Drink- Slip Away).   It is a practice which is found worldwide in the community. This is why serious, sincere and sensible people avoid attending community gathering and events.

This is why I try bringing like-minded people of good nature and character together so that we can serve the community, all communities and humanity in reality. God had blessed me with success in this connection. Very soon I am planning to do more with the help of my friends for practical promotion and recognition of the community. There will be no place for rotten eggs, rain frogs, exploiters and hypocrites.

  Syed Muhammad Iqbal, President of Pak Seniors Forum (PSF), congratulated Afzal Khan, Azhar Bokhari and other TSC members for organizing the successful event.  

Since the TSC was formed, many social and cultural events were organized including musical program in which Pakistani Ghazal singer Salahuddin, who is fan of late Mehdi Hassan and sings his Ghazals, performed, Ramazan Aftari (ending of fasts of the day) and so on.

The TNO Director Ahmed Hussein always supported and encouraged all such programs for seniors and their families.

Being founder of SHIR (Serve Huumanity In Reality)  Network I keep trying to support and promote all those trying to do something good and positive for the community. The community is expecting great support from Salma Zahid, MP, who, being a Pakistani community member, is already doing a lot for the community.

She has made the community proud by becoming the Member of Parliament in Canada. She is proving a strong voice in the parliament. She needs to keep a good distance from the exploiters lobby and hypocrites who keep harming the community and misguiding the good leaders.   

JZ’S PROFILE:  Founder of SHIR International Network (Serve Humanity In Reality---SHIR), declared by Judges as one of 75 Finalist Best Canadian Immigrants, an Honour for the Pakistani Community. Joined Journalism Profession in 1974 (Daily `SUN’, Karachi) and still serving as a professional journalist (2014). Javed Zaheer, Free Expression Award Winner (Awarded by National Ethnic Press & Media Council of Canada—NEPMCC. Award presented by Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario, Canada), Desi Idol Recognition Award Winner (Presented by North American Desi Idol), Member/Honorary Director of NEPMCC, Veteran Active Member (VAM) of Toronto Press Club, Ex-Member of The National Club and The Ontario Club, Honorary Editor of English Weekly `Pakistan Abroad’, Canada, ex-Chief Editor (Honorary) of English Weekly `The Ambassador’, Canada, ex-Chief Editor (Honorary) of English Weekly `DAWN', Canada, ex-Senior Sub-Editor of English Daily DAWN, Pakistan (From 1986-1999), Chairman, CANOPI, Director of Children Dignity Foundation (CDF---Canada & Pakistan) and Honorary Director, Canpak, Chamber of Commerce, and Honorary Director Information, Pak Seniors Forum (PSF), is contributing purely on Voluntary and Honorary Basis in order to serve all people and communities. Contact: jazamedia@hotmail.com To read more JZ’s exclusive articles, please visit: nepmcc website (Editorial Sections. Scan years from 2004). Visit www.javedzaheernews.blogspot.com. for latest articles.