Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 12: The centenary celebrations of the legendary Short Story writer and Novelist Ismat Chugtai, were today inaugurated by Prof R D Sharma, Vice Chancellor of Jammu University.
The celebrations are being organized by the department of Urdu, JU. Noted Short Story writer Khalid Hussain presided over the function while reputed Urdu critic of Urdu world Prof Ali Javeed of Delhi University presented a key note address.
In his inaugural speech, Prof R D Sharma said that Ismat has projected the realities of women life in her short stories. He said that these celebrations should be organized throughout the year and hope that during the long year celebrations, different activities would be organized by the Department of Urdu which would be definitely beneficial for the budding writers.
In his presidential address, Khalid Hussain discussed his personal relation with Ismat Chugtai who visited Jammu many times and presented her writing on different occasion which was appreciated by Jammuites. She gave Urdu literature marvelous Novels and Short Stories, which have relevance in today’s time too, he added.
In his keynote address, Prof Ali Javeed of Delhi University threw light on the life and works of Ismat Chugtai. He informed that a number of scholars has done Ph D and M Phil on her life and works. “She was progressive from the core of her heart, which is reflected from her writings too. She was contemporary of Krishan Chander, Mantoo and Rajinder Singh Bedi who respect her”. Prof Ali Javed said further informed that being a woman, Ismat projected the sexual problems of women in a better way.
Earlier, in his welcome address Prof Shohab Inayat Malik, HOD Urdu, informed that different seminars, symposiums, Mehfil-e-Afsana, conferences and book release functions would be organized throughout the year to pay tributes to Ismat Chugtai. The celebrations will concluded on August 2016