New Delhi: The two-day national seminar titled ‘Understanding Ghalib in the Contemporary Context’ organised by the Ghalib Institute in collaboration with Calicut University, Malappuram (Kerala), concluded successfully. The seminar explored the relevance of Ghalib’s thoughts and literary contributions in today’s era.
On the second day, four literary sessions were held. The first session was chaired by Dr. P.K. Abubakr, who, in his presidential address, emphasized Ghalib’s contemporary significance, highlighting that many issues Ghalib addressed in his work resonate with today’s challenges. He noted that Ghalib’s poetry combines both scepticism and courage, qualities often rare in modern society.
Presenters in this session included Professor Syed Sanaullah, Dr. Mohammed Aman A.K., Dr. Ayesha Siddiqua J., Arif N., and Rashida M., who offered insights on themes such as ‘The Relevance of Ghalib in Modern Times’ and ‘Ghalib’s Concept of Life.’ The session was moderated by Fatima Minha.
The second session, chaired by Professor Syed Sanaullah, focused on the diverse perspectives in Ghalib studies. Dr. Mohammad Saleem P., Professor Qazi Habib Ahmed, Mumtaz C.H., V.M. Ibrahim, Dr. Sameena B.K., Dr. Qamar Nisa K., and Khair Nisa N.P. presented papers on topics like ‘Interpretive Distortions in Ghalib’s Ghazals’ and ‘Ghalib and Secularism.’ Shamnaz moderated the session.
In the third and final session, Professor Qazi Habib Ahmed remarked that the Ghalib Institute’s initiative to hold seminars in South India is an important step for promoting Urdu in the region. The session featured Dr. Mohammad Rizwan Ansari, Dr. Shamsuddin K.P., Shahabuddin P., Dr. Sheikh Afsar Pasha, Professor K.M. Shareef, and Dr. Muhiuddin Kutty, who presented on subjects like ‘Ghalib and Science’ and ‘Contemporary Issues Reflected in Ghalib’s Poetry.’
The seminar concluded with an all-India poetry recital chaired by Professor Syed Sajjad Hussain Zaheer and Dr. N. Muhiuddin Kutty. Poets including Professor Sajjad Hussain Zaheer, Dr. Muhiuddin Kutty, Hameed K., Faisal Wafa, N. Abdul Samad, Anis C., Muneer P., Ali Talwar, and Saddam Hussain Parwaz presented their work.
This literary event provided a fresh perspective on Ghalib’s poetry and was widely appreciated by literary circles.
