New Delhi, July 6: The Ghalib Institute inaugurated a two-day international seminar on the literary contributions of Pandit Ratan Nath Sarshar here Friday. The seminar was opened by Professor Afshar Alam, Vice Chancellor of Jamia Hamdard, who highlighted Sarshar’s significant role in the history of Urdu prose. He emphasized that Sarshar took up the pen at a time when the concepts of novel writing were not yet clear in our society. Sarshar not only promoted novel writing but also initiated critical discussions on the art form.
The keynote address was delivered by Professor Shafey Kidwai, who praised Sarshar for his vivid portrayal of Lucknow’s culture. He remarked that Sarshar’s masterpiece, “Fasana-e-Azad,” utilizes all forms of prose and presents characters like Khoji, who exemplifies the absurdity of the desire to become a complete human being. Professor Kidwai noted that while Sarshar’s creative richness is often acknowledged, there has been a lack of comprehensive and objective study of his life and literary contributions.
Professor Siddiqur Rahman Kidwai, in his presidential address, stated that the ongoing discussion about a literary work over time testifies to its creative strength. He added that Sarshar’s prose remains unparalleled in the Urdu literature, incorporating elements from every segment of society into his novels.
Dr. Idrees Ahmed, Director of the Ghalib Institute, said that Sarshar endowed Urdu fiction with a unique expression. He expressed hope that the seminar would shed light on various aspects of Sarshar’s creative personality and illustrate the changes in our interpretation over time.
The seminar’s inaugural session saw participation from notable figures in academic and literary circles, as well as a large number of students. The remaining sessions of the seminar will feature papers from various scholars. An online session will also take place, with contributions from Dr. Tabassum Kashmiri, Asghar Nadeem Syed, and Professor Nasir Abbas Nayyar from abroad.
Other expected speakers include Professor Yaqoob Yawar, Professor Muinuddin Jinabade, Dr. Khalid Alavi, Professor Khalid Ashraf, Professor Ghazanfar, Professor Tariq Chhatari, Dr. Sadiqa Nawab Sahar, Professor Aslam Jamshedpuri, Professor Muhammad Kazim, Dr. Safeena Begum, and Dr. Sajid Zaki Fahmi. The literary sessions will be chaired by Professor Yaqoob Yawar, Professor Khalid Mahmood, Professor Muinuddin Jinabade, and Dr. Khalid Alavi.
