Ahmedabad, GUJARAT :
New Delhi:
Mazameen.com, one of the largest websites of Urdu after Rekhta.org, in collaboration with Department of Urdu, Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) organized a programme to launch Foziya Rabab’s first collection of poems “Aankhon Ke Us Paar” at the auditorium of the University’s Engineering Department here on Friday, 3 November, 2017.
Speaking on this occasion former Chairman of National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions Justice Suhail Ejaz Siddiqui likened the young poet from Ahmedabad with the famous poet Parveen Shakir (1952-1994) and extended his good wishes for her poetry to flourish in years to come. Renowned Urdu litterateur Gulzar Dehlvi maintained that Rabab was aware of the style of expression. “There is possibility of great creativity in her poetry,” said the nonagenarian poet.
Former Head of the Department of Urdu, JMI, Professor Khalid Mahmood appreciated the title Aankhon Ke Us Paar (Beyond the Horizons) in a philosophical note stating that the metaphor stood for wisdom and farsightedness.
He described the poem Mujhko to kuchh aur dikha hai aankhon ke us paar/Ek tilsam-e-hoshruba hai aankhon ke us paar as one of the finest poems of the collection.
Mahmood, who has also served as Vice Chairman of Delhi Urdu Academy, commended the feminine expression of emotions in her poetry stating that at times the changing mood in her narration took one by great surprise.
Urdu essayist and critic Kausar Mazhari said, “Foziya has tried to unfold women’s poetry which usually remains closed, but in so doing she has opened it a little more than required”. He called her a beautiful poet of romanticism with an amazing blend of simplicity and sincerity.
Head of the Department of Urdu, JMI, Prof Shehpar Rasool said, “The poet [Foziya] in Aankhon Ke Us Paar knows well what to say, when to say and how much to say”.
There is no feminism in Foziya’s poetry, rather it has an oriental household woman’s love for her man in which romanticism prevails because of the power of expression, remarked Dr Baran Farooqi.
About her own poetic journey Rabab said that her achievement was the result of the blessing of Allah and love of friends and well-wishers. “Playing around words is my profession; words which keep changing and which then take the shape of poetry.”
Words are the signs and symbols of life and carriers of truth and honesty, she added. She also read out some of her poems. Dr Adil Hayat presented a paper in which he termed Rabab’s poetry as the “poetry of love and separation”.
The book launch and discussion was followed by a mushaira in which over a dozen poets participated. These among others included Shehpar Rasool, Shakil Jamali, Tarannum Riyaz, Alok Shrivastav, Salim Saleem, Alina Itrat, Abdul Wahab Sukhan, Khalid Mubashshir, Kunwar Ranjit Singh, Poonam Yadav, Rehman Musawwir, Saurabh Shekhar, Tabish Mehdi, Urmila Madhav. Irfan Waheed and Khalid Saifullah Asari of mazameen.com also shared their views.
Moin Shadab beautifully compèred the mushaira whereas Dr Khalid Mubashshir moderated the book launch session.
A good number of literary persons including teachers and students from JMI and other institutions attended both the book release programme and the mushaira.
(A Delhi-based freelance journalist Manzar Imam can be contacted at manzarkhalil@gmail.com)
source: http://www.ummid.com / Ummid.com / Home> Life & Style / by Manzar Imam , ummid.com / November 13th, 2017
