ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Adviser to Prime Minister on National History and Literary Heritage Irfan Siddiqui Wednesday underlined the importance of inculcating book reading habit among youth for their character building and personality development.
“Youth must make book reading habit as part of their daily life if they want to achieve success in any professional field,” he while addressing a function arranged in connection with first death anniversary of renowned fiction and prose writer, Intizar Hussain held at Islamabad Model College for Girls (IMCG), F-7/2 said.
Former Senator Akram Zaki, Chairman Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) Dr. Qasim Bughio, Managing Director National Book Foundation (NBF) Dr. Inam ul Haq Javed and other eminent personalities including Professor Qaisera Alvi, Masood Mufti, Sheraz Afzal Dad, Dr. Saira Alvi, Mehboob Zafar and a number of literary personalities, students and teachers attended the function.
Paying tributes to the literary service of Intizar Hussain, Irfan Siddiqui said Intizar Hussain was one of the exceptional prose writers of this century and “We may have to `wait’ long for a literary personality like Intizar Hussain”.
He said Intizar Hussain had skilfully portrayed hypocrisy, inner and outer conflicts and growing contradictions in a common man through his writings which made him universal writer.
The vacuum created in the world of Urdu literature due to death of Intizar Hussain could not be filled till many years, he added.
Unfortunately, one of the main reasons for rudeness, impatience and extremist attitudes in our society was disconnection with literature, Irfan Siddiqui said adding, “Societies which remain connected with the personalities like Intizar Hussain can never face literary downfall”.
He urged the students to develop the habit of book reading which would leave a positive impact on their personality and character, giving them distinction in the society.
He appreciated the organizers for arranging such a beautiful event in memory of a legendary literary figure.
On this occasion, literary personalities appreciated the announcement of Intizar Hussain Award worth Rs One million by the Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on the initiative of Irfan Siddiqui and said, “Such steps are direly needed in the country for encouragement of writer’s community”.
Principal of the college Khalida Maqbool presented memorable shield to Irfan Siddiqui.
