The launch of a young author’s debut travelogue has ignited a conversation on the importance of promoting the Urdu language beyond literature and into daily life, with literary figures highlighting a need to address its limited modern usage.
The discussion took place at the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi during a ceremony organised for Ali Haider’s award-winning publication, ‘Kachura aur Wadi-e-Soq ki Dastaan,’ held at the Josh Malihabadi Library, according to a statement today.
Speaker Tahira Nasir emphasised the necessity of incorporating Urdu into everyday life. She commended Haider for his early literary talent and for championing the language at a time when it often receives scant attention, suggesting his strong imagery would also suit fiction writing.
Renowned writer Ibn-e-Aas lauded the young scribe, stating that despite being a first-time travelogue author, Haider displays the hallmarks of a skilled writer. He remarked that the work reflects a deep interest in reading and provides informative insights into the regions visited.
The book adeptly captures the majestic landscapes, towering mountains, and the emotional journey, making for an engaging and educational read, Ibn-e-Aas added, encouraging the author to continue documenting his travels.
Faizuddin Ahmed, a former teacher of the author, expressed his pride, noting Haider’s remarkable depth of observation and strong command of storytelling techniques, despite his academic background being primarily in English.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ali Haider credited his mother, a reader of Mirza Ghalib, for inspiring his passion for poetry. He revealed that he initially wrote in English before adapting his work into Urdu.
Haider acknowledged the challenge of truly capturing the essence of nature in words and expressed gratitude to his family and Urdu teachers for their guidance. He reaffirmed his commitment to making future contributions to literature.