By Manzoor Alam Balakoti,
Karachi : Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi organized an event titled “Biyad-e-Ghalib” in memory of the great Urdu poet Mirza Ghalib at Haseena Moin Hall. Renowned poetess Zehra Nigah and eminent scholar and critic Dr. Khurshid Rizvi spoke in detail on Ghalib’s personality, thought, and literary contribution. The event was moderated by the President Arts Council, Muhammad Ahmed Shah. A large number of literary figures attended the event, including Fatima Hassan, Shahid Rassam, Huma Mir, Amjad Shah, Mazhar Abbas, and others associated with arts and literature. Addressing the gathering, Zehra Nigah said that Mirza Ghalib is a poet known throughout the world and that at least three hundred books have been written on him. She stated that Ghalib’s greatness is universally recognized. She shared that when she opened Ghalib’s Diwan, she felt that every word demanded deep reflection, adding that even today she feels she has not fully understood Ghalib. She further said that Ghalib harbored a desire somewhere in his heart to be granted the status of a “Nawab”, but due to the circumstances of his time, many of his wishes remained unfulfilled. According to Zehra Nigah, Ghalib’s letters encapsulate the history of the 1857 era, and the painful times he witnessed became a source of strength for his poetry. She noted that Ghalib did not receive the recognition during his lifetime that he truly deserved. Zehra Nigah added that poets love their verses like their own children, and Ghalib’s Diwan is extremely fascinating, with each word carrying profound meaning. She said that great poets are often entangled in difficulties whether social, financial, or emotional—but Mirza Ghalib will never become outdated. “As long as new thoughts continue to emerge, Ghalib will remain alive,” she remarked. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Khurshid Rizvi said that Mirza Ghalib is an extraordinary and towering figure in Urdu literature. He described himself as emotionally attached to Ghalib and stated that he places Ghalib above Shakespeare, He said that intelligence cannot always be fully analyzed, but when it manifests, its exceptional stature becomes evident on its own. Dr. Rizvi noted that Ghalib was a poet of unique style in both poetry and prose, and that there is no other stylistic poet like him in Urdu literature. He referred to Allama Iqbal, saying that Iqbal had also pointed out the freshness and continuous evolution of Ghalib’s thought. He emphasized that Ghalib possessed the rare skill of combining depth with brevity, often narrating an entire story within a single couplet. He added that the most spontaneous prose in Urdu literature is found in Ghalib’s letters. According to him, the greatest quality of Ghalib’s prose lies in its natural flow, simplicity, and immediacy—qualities rarely matched by any other prose writer. He also said that Ghalib placed great emphasis on Persian and attained exceptional mastery over it, and that he envisioned possibilities that had not yet come into existence. Addressing the gathering, President Arts Council Muhammad Ahmed Shah said that the event was a tribute to the greatest and first stylistic poet of Urdu literature, Mirza Ghalib. Quoting renowned researcher Rasheed Hasan Siddiqui, he said that the Mughals gave India three great things: the Urdu language, Mirza Ghalib, and the Taj Mahal of Agra. He stated that Ghalib was the first poet to introduce traditional Urdu poetry to the world. He added that Ghalib broke away from conventional poetic traditions and carved a new and distinctive path in Urdu literature, establishing a unique style not only in poetry but also in prose. He remarked that Ghalib’s letters are not merely correspondence but serve as a complete autobiography.Muhammad Ahmed Shah further said that the social and moral weaknesses often attributed to Ghalib were, in fact, the very elements that contributed to his poetic greatness and intellectual elevation, granting him an eternal place in Urdu literature. During the event, Zehra Nigah also recited selected verses of Mirza Ghalib, captivating the audience. The ceremony concluded with Muhammad Ahmed Shah presenting bouquets to Zehra Nigah and Dr. Khurshid Rizvi on behalf of the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi.
