Hyderabad: Glowing tributes were paid to Pt. Harichand Akhtar, a legendary poet and well known Urdu journalist of Pre Independent India; today in a National Seminar inaugurated today at Maulana Azad National Urdu University.
Pt. Harichand was a good poet but he was rather regarded as a humorist and entertainer. Prof. Shafey Kidwai, Aligarh Muslim University spoke about his personality while delivering the keynote address at the inaugural session of the two-day national seminar “Pandit Hari Chand Akhtar, in the Mirror of Urdu Poetry and Journalism “.
The seminar is being organized at the Maulana Azad National Urdu University in collaboration with IDEA Communication and Majlis Fakhre Bahrain.
Prof. Kidwai said that Hari Chand Akhtar indeed did not receive the right place he deserves, but enough research work was done on him both in India and Pakistan.
Prof. Ayub Khan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor welcomed the gathering and said that we should find secular writers like Pandit Hari Chand Akhtar in the literature and other fields and give them due respect. Hari Chand Akhtar was born in the Punjab province of United India, Studied in Lahore and migrated to Delhi after partition, he added.
Mr. Shakeel Ahmed Sabirhadi, Founder, Majlis Fakhre Bahrain in his welcome address said that Qutubshahi dynasty patronized Urdu in Deccan. He also gave an introduction about the Majlis Fakhre Bahrain for Promotion Urdu to the audience.
Dr. Azeez Ahmad, an eminent scholar from Gorakhpur and Mr. Partap Somonshi, Executive Editor, Hindustan also spoke on the occasion.
Mr. Anis Azmi, Chief Consultant, Centre for Urdu Culture Studies, conducted the proceedings. Mr. Asif Azmi, Director, IDEAC proposed a vote of thanks.
Meanwhile, the valedictory session of the seminar will be held on 31st October at 2.30 pm. Hon’ble Governor Kerala, Mr Arif Mohammad Khan will grace the valedictory session as the Chief Guest.