Tributes were paid to Chingiz Aitmatov, the celebrated Kyrgyz novelist, and at one time Editor of Soviet Union's International Literature journal at an obituary reference arranged by Pakistan Central Asia Friendship Association and Pakistan Academy of Letters, here on Saturday evening.
Kyrgyzstan, Nurlan Aitmurzaev presided over the literary function in which Russian Ambassador Sergey Peskov, Azerbaijan Ambassador Enyullah Madatli, Kazakhstan Ambassador Bakhitbek Shabarbayev, Greek Ambassador Petros Mavroidis, Philippine Ambassador Jaime J. Yambao, Ambassador of Mexico Arturo Hernendez Basave and Pakistan Foreign Office Director Rafiuzzaman Siddiqui also participated.
Speaking on this occasion, Ambassador Nurlan Aitmurzaev described the death of Chingiz Aitmatov as huge, and irreplaceable loss for modern literature in the contemporary world. He also urged for literary masterpieces of Chingiz Aitmatov to be translated in Urdu to enable Pakistan readers to discover the spirit of Aitmatov's novels.
The Kyrgyz Ambassador said his people and nation had lost a person of the global significance, and one who has been internationally recognised as writers of classic literature in the present day world. Aitmatov influenced the minds of the through his books.
Russian Ambassador Sergey Peskov said he had personal relations with Chingiz Aitmatov, a modest person who excelled in talking and communicating with ordinary people, with whose help he made the Russian language popular. He had won many admirers not only in Russia. He said Chingiz was considered for the Nobel Prize, and he should be considered now.
Azerbaijan Ambassador Dr Madatli said Chingiz Aitmatov was a popular writer who has been translated in his country's native Azeri language. Madatali termed Chingiz Aitmatov's death a loss for Kyrgyzstan as well as for all places where Turkish language is understood and spoken since Chingiz was one of the world's figures who became an inheritance of the human race.
The Kazakhstan Ambassador Bakhitbek Shabarbayev who also spoke in the function said Chingiz Aitmatov also enjoyed popularity his people and worked closely with Kazakh writers such as Muhtar Auezov and Muhtar Shahanov. He said that Chingiz Aitmatov was great because he understood the culture and traditions of Kyrgyz nation as well people of Central Asia and in his novels.
Recently, Chingiz Aitmatov visited Kazakhstan and met the President Nursultan Nazarbaev and discussed the historical destiny of Krygyzstan and Kazakhstan. 'The people of Kazakhstan were now preparing to celebrate the 80th birthday anniversary of Chingiz Aitmatov.'
Rafiuzzaman Siddiqui added the demise of Chingiz Aitmatov is a great loss to Pakistan as well, since Aitmatov was amongst world class writers, as well as a diplomat, and academic.
He also expressed condolence on behalf of Pakistan to the people of Kyrgyzstan, and appreciated the efforts of Zafar Bakhtawari in arranging the function to cement old age historical, cultural and literary ties between Pakistan and Central Asian countries. Zafar Bakhtawari, said that there were two. One Chingiz Khan conquered the world with his sword. The other Chingiz Aitmatov conquered hearts of the people. Professor Khwaja Masud, and Shumalia Bukhari also addressed the reference.