Arzu Center invites Ms. Zehra Nigah to share Urdu Classics with students
Habib University’s Arzu Center held the semester’s first event on January 27th, 2016, called “Urdu Classics with Zehra Nigah”. Speaking to a hall brimming with energy, Dr. Asif Aslam Farrukhi, Director of the Arzu Center, introduced the esteemed intellectual Zehra Nigah to the audience, speaking of her background, her strong bond with language and literary accomplishments, and her engagement with social issues in Pakistan.
Dr. Asif also commented on how the new semester’s introduction to language, through the course Jehan-e-Urdu, is the perfect time to recognize and appreciate the literary talents of the country, starting with Zehra Nigah herself.
Throughout the session, Ms. Nigah cited her love of language, and the traditional sense of rhythm and story in artists of the past, such as Hafiz, Mir, Momin, Ghalib and Faiz. She also addressed the students about ways to approach the Urdu language, and how it should not intimidate them, but rather, they should embrace it fully in order to understand the beauty of their heritage, and culture.
Citing some verses of her own poetry and some classics of the aforementioned poets, Ms. Nigah spoke of the eloquence of the Urdu language, and the part it has played in shaping us as citizens of the sub-continent.
Literature should have the ability to force the reader to ponder on what has been written, and to raise questions within you. That was the quality of great literature, and such a piece of prose or poetry belongs to every era.
Ms. Nigah recited some Urdu classic stories to the audience, dating back 200 years at least. Delivering the stories in perfect form, the audience sat rapt with attention, delighting in the eloquent and curious way in which the stories unraveled. The students of HU as well as the lovers of Urdu language visiting the institute listened attentively and rejoiced in the wit and humor in the stories, as well as the construction of the prose in Ms. Nigah’s personal manner.
These stories tell us, that they’re just as present in our societies as they were hundreds of years ago. If you look around in your surroundings, you’ll notice similar stories every step of the way. Every story has some hidden moral, some hidden message that applied at the time it was written, but is absolutely applicable today.
On the audience’s insistence, Ms. Nigah also shared some of her poetry, along with that of her favorite artists. Speaking on her love of poetry itself, she said:
Shairi ne zamanay ko bohat kuch diya hai
uss ne to qatl-o-khoon bhi muaaf karwaye
Concluding her talk with a meaningful prayer for the students in attendance, she said:
Be who you want, do what you want, but if you keep a connection with the art of language and literature, it’ll make your life beautiful. It’ll open closed doors for you, in ways you cannot imagine
