According to Dr. Syeda Naseem Sultana, Head of Urdu Department, Women’s University, a three-day international conference titled “The Contribution of Non-Muslim Poets and Literary Men in the Promotion of Urdu Language and Literature in Relation to the Common Civilization of India” was successfully held at Durbar Hall on January 16, 17, and 18.
In the inaugural session, Professor Surya Dhananjay paid tribute to the services of Maharaja Chandu Lal, Maharaja Kishan Prashad, Brij Narayan Chakbast, Prem Chand, Krishna Chandra, Daya Shankar Naseem, and others to Urdu.
Professor Aqeel Ahmed, former Director of the National Council for the Promotion of Urdu Language, praised the academic and literary activities of the Women’s University and said, “Those nations that do not remember history perish.” He shed light on the academic and literary achievements of the Asafiya Sultanate.
Professor Khwaja Ikram stated, “Languages have no religion.” Ikram Sahib organized a technical meeting online, establishing the tradition of reading papers in Urdu at the international level at the Women’s University.
Athar Ali Asad Sahib from Chicago covered the Asif Jahi era in his address. Muhammad Riaz Ahmed, a senior journalist of the daily Siasat, made the audience aware of the real history of the Women’s University.
Former Union Cabinet Minister for Human Resource Development and member of the Congress Committee Mr Pallam Raju Garu participated as a special guest and said, “The legacy of the Asifiya Sultanate is stronger than the roots of the royal families, which also depend on a common civilization, culture, and language. This family formed a common nation.”
The chief guest, Nabisa Asif Jah XVII, His Excellency Nawab Raunaq Yar Khan Sahib, described the characteristics of the Asifiya Sultanate. Director Academic Affairs Dr. Lok Pawani delivered the welcome remarks.
A trilingual poetry competition was successfully organized in the afternoon, presided over by Professor Majeed Bedar Sahib. Singer Mr. Shujaat Niazi presented a ghazal program in the evening, featuring ghazals of Hazrat Amir Khusro, Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, Shaz Tamkant, Makhdoom Mohiuddin, and other famous poets.
On January 17 and 18, papers were presented in Urdu, Telugu, and Hindi languages. A training session was organized for PhD research scholars, and a critical analysis of their papers were presented. “Speech and My Favorite Poems” competitions were organized to bring out the hidden talents of degree and intermediate level students.
The closing session was held on January 18, with Chairman of the Minority Commission, His Excellency Tariq Ansari Sahib, as the chief guest. Others who participated included Professor Arshia Jabeen Sahib, Dr. Muhammad Shoaib Ahmed, and General Secretary Congress Committee Telangana Ms. Uzma Shakir.
Awards and certificates were distributed to 30 private educational institutions under the organization of “All India Ideal Teacher Association.” President Dr. Muhammad Mahmood Sahl and General Secretary Muhammad Samiullah Hussaini were presented with a special prize of Rs. 25,000 in cash and certificates.
