Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) celebrated the 300th birth anniversary of Syed Waris Shah (1706-1798) the legendary Punjabi poet and the creator of the epic Heer, based on a traditional folklore.
Although there were strains of his works sung in the unique Punjabi rhythm and intonation, also brought to life with plaintive notes on the flute, and evocative poetry paying tributes to the great master of Punjabi literature, the literary conference was adumbrated with political overtones.
It followed a master overview by PAL chief Iftikhar Arif of the work of Punjabi letters done in the country and the new initiative in establishing a house devoted to translation and research of Punjabi masterpieces in English, Urdu and other foreign languages.
Arif also referred to the place of Urdu as the national languages and said every citizen should accord equal respect to all other national languages spoken in the four provinces as well as in Azad Kashmir.
The well-known Punjabi writer Shafqat Mirza, who was presiding over the Waris Shah Conference, took him upon his words, and said he for one respected Urdu, but where is my share in this equation.
Would it not be correct for to expect that my language, too, should have a share in official usage in the administration and educational institutions because it is my mother tongue? He asked. Turning to the classic Heer, he said it was a literature of protest against indifferent times, which continues even today, 250 years after Waris Shah's death.
'The epic is a petition against Supreme Court of the times, and Heer is a portrayal of the modern day Asma Jahangir. The inequalities, injustices and the wrath of society symbolised by the Khheras are all mirrored in the masterpiece Heer, and a book of equal quality has not been written in Punjabi or any other contemporary literature, and remains an all time favourites of the Punjabi speaking people.
Eminent short story writer Mansha Yad dwelt of Heer as a masterpiece of theatre art, and said that Waris shone for his extraordinary knowledge of drama, where all characters make their entry at the right time. He also compared Waris Shah with Shakespeare and at one time with Urdu poet Ghalib. Where Ghalib astonishes you with the novelty of new words Waris Shah depends entirely on the folk vocabulary, making Punjabi language popular and for use of everyone. Waris Shah's Punjabi is now the standard Punjabi.
Eminent critic Hamidullah Shah Hashmi quoted a number of baits from Heer to make the work intelligible with the new generation who might have lost touch with profound Punjabi heritage. Head of the new Institute of Punjabi language and literature at the Punjab University read a paper on aesthete of beauty in Heer Waris Shah, for a change in Urdu.
Her reason was that she was trying to explain Waris Shah's Heer for the wider audience at the federal capital because in her opinion the masterpiece book was a study in social sciences, which by means of sound scripting has been raised to a philosophical treatise on beauty.
Waris Shah should teach us that life is worth living because it was full of beautiful things, and we must seek freedom to enjoy beautiful things. She said Waris Shah inspires us to go quest from freedom, and to rise from being bound to sloth and wicked systems.
A number of poets such as Akhtar Shaikh, Veer Sipahi and Dilpazir Shah electrified the audience with their vibrant poetry, which was followed later in the evening with recitation of Waris Shah's poetry in the manner in which the great master sang.
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