Islamabad chapter of Halqa-i-Arbab Zauq held a special literary function on Friday to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the stylish poet Zia Jalandhari (real name Zia Nisar Ahmad). Zia, a well established poet, has a different style and also great poetic vision. At the same time, he is aware of Urdu literary classic tradition.
He also has command over modern sensibility, a glimpse of which is found in his one liner' her tarranum main mili hai teri avaaz mujhe.' For all that many critics think he is a difficult poet and his verses demand a lot of time to unravel their inner meaning. However, his friends agree that he is a generous person, and also very hospitable, as well as a good mentor to younger colleagues.
On this occasion, the Pakistan Academy of Letters also launched a book on the life and works of the poet, written by poet Ali Ahmad Farshi. By celebrating poet Zia, the Halqa was in fact showering honour on one of its eminent members because back in the 1940s Zia was in the forefront of those who worked to establish the literary chapter, which then went under the name of Dastan go.