Distancing from literature reason behind predicament of our society: Kaira

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira said on Monday that we have distanced ourselves from literature and art which has resulted in the predicament of our society and recent wave of extremism. He was addressing the launching ceremony of poetic collection of famous poet Mustafa Zaidi held under the aegis of literary organization Zavia at a local hotel.Kaira lamented that in the past dialogue used to be weapon in our society, but now weapons have taken the place of dialogue in our society and there was urgent need to fight this mindset and literacy figures can play a crucial role in winning this war against terrorism.The minister said that literary figures are assets of our nation but unfortunately we have distanced from such people.Kaira said that as a nation we have tried to find political and administrative solution of the problems being faced by us but real solution lies in revival of arts and literature in the society.Our society has stopped giving respect to poets and writers which they deserve and as a result of this attitude our approach has become stagnant and retrospective, added the minister.
He said that no single person can bring a revolution.Literary personalities and politicians all play their role in revolutionizing the society.About the change brought in Pakistani society after the formation of Pakistan Peoples Party, he said that it was not Zulfikar Ali Bhutto alone,but brigade of writers and intellectuals who created a new image of Pakistan.He said that in the present day Pakistan, we lack that approach which has resulted in radicalization of the society.
The minister agreed with the view that Mustafa Zaidi, Ahmed Faraz and Josh Malihabadi were great poets but they were neglected and nobody bothered to highlight their achievements after their death.He said that in the past Pakistan Television used to telecast literary programmes, which would be revived again. He also promised that PTV would arrange special programmes on Faraz, Mustafa Zaidi and Josh in the coming quarter.Renowned poet and Chairman National Language Authority (NLA) Iftikhar Arif that clique of critics of Urdu have badly neglected the great literacy works of Ahmed Faraz, Mustafa Zaidi, Sahir Ludhianvi, Noon, Meem Rashid, Josh, Manto and Ghulam Abbas.Earlier literary stalwarts like Shabnam Shakeel, Tauseef Tabassum, Kishwar Naheed, Masood Ashar and MQM MNA Haider Abbas Rizvi paid tributes to the late poet – App