Qasmi, a poet from Pakistan was among acclaimed writers and poets participating in the fifth edition of the Jashn-e-Adab festival held here last evening.
The recipient of this year's Shahanshah-e-Tanz-o-Mizah award said that it was possible to restore the language to its earlier heights as its roots are deeply ingrained in both India and Pakistan.
"Urdu is a very strong language. Its foundations are very strong and in order to restore its beauty it is required that Urdu lovers retain and keep the connection of the language with the new generation," the 73-year-old poet said.
"Cinema has to be close to reality which brings us to the question if aesthetics is bigger than character or vice versa. We are going against the wind but we should not lose hope over the future of Urdu," Ali said.
"If you properly embed tehzeeb, it could be presented in any language," he said.
Another noted poet Asghar Nadeem Syed commented on the deteriorating condition of Urdu language in cinema adding that "since society is the reflection of the language of cinema, cinema shows what society wants to see."
The event also saw a satirical prose recital by Qasmi. In the times where the art of satire seems to have lost to comedy, Qasmi's recital was a refreshing change which may help in bringing the culture of satire back to mainstream.
There was a detailed discussion on famous Urdu poet Intizaar Hussain and his contribution towards Urdu literature.
The day came to close with dastaangoi, the age old art of conventional story telling, with practicioners Darain Shahidi and Mahmod Farooqi mesmerised the audience with their craft.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
