Government College University Lahore has published six books on noted poet N M Rashid on his centennial birth anniversary. The books were launched at the daylong national seminar at GCU highlighting the literary, critical and intellectual genius of Rashid who is acknowledged as the pioneer of modern free verse in Urdu.
The prominent literati of the country thronged the seminar in dozens, which was chaired by GCU Vice Chancellor Professor Khalid Aftab. Two of the six books: Rashid Aur Saqafati Mughairut (Rashid and cultural alienation) and Rashid Baqalam Khud (Rashid's writings about himself) were written by noted Urdu critic and distinguished academic Professor Saadat Saeed, Department of Urdu, GCU Lahore.
The other four books; Rashid Ravi Mein (Rashid's publications in The Ravi), Bayaz-e-Rashid: Mazharyati Mutalah (Rashid's personal journal of poetry), Naqd-e-Rashid (literary criticism about Rashid) and Intikhab-e-Nazm-e-Rashid (Anthology of Rashid's poetry) were also complied Professor Dr Saadat Saeed along with Nasreen Anjum Bhatti and Muhammad Rafique.
Delivering the key note address, noted Urdu critic Professor Fateh Muhammad Malik lamented that the realm of Urdu scholarship has miserably failed to pay befitting homage to Rashid's poetic prowess despite innumerable efforts. GCU Vice Chancellor Dr Khalid Aftab opined that the concept of modern man as it appears in Rashid's verse is reflective of universal values. Rashid paved way for the creation of an egalitarian society where man is recognised for his essence and not on the basis of his creed. The Vice Chancellor attributed the emergence of such literary luminaries as Rashid to the fertile cultural milieu of the historic Government College.
Intizar Hussain, the oldest living writer of the Sub-continent, praised Rashid for having addressed intricate issues of human cerebrum in his innovative verse forms. Addressing the seminar, Professor Saadat Saeed said that his objective assessment of Rashid's poetry has further strengthened his views that like a perceptive member of the intelligentsia, Rashid was firmly rooted in the ethical, political and religious values of human polity.
GCU Urdu Department Chairperson Dr Shafiq Ajmi thanked Rashid's daughter Nasreen Rashid who compiled Rashid's epistles addressed to his first wife. This, according to Dr Ajmi, will pave way for the critics to have a renewed insight into Rashid's psyche.
Dr Tariq Zaidi, adviser Majlis-e-Iqbal, said that Rashid was inspired by Nietzsche, Iqbal and Allama Mashriqi. Dr Tabbassum Kashmiri, Dr Fakhar-ul-Haq Noori, Dr Zia-ul-Hassan and others presented their articles on Rashid's life and works at the closing session of the seminar chaired by Professor Rasheed Amjad.