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Anjuman Mohibban-e-Urdu Hind Qatar launched the 2nd edition of Urdu poetry collection Teray Humrah Chalna Hai by Qatar-based poet Asif Shafi.
The book has been published by Saad Publications, Lahore. It includes ghazals and nazms.
Shafi has also written five more books namely Zara Jo Tum Thahar Jatay, Koi Phool Dil Main Khila Nahi, Kabhi Waqt Milay To Aa Jao, Juda Hona Hi Parta Hai and Piara Sazawan. His work has been translated into English by professor Saleem Ahmed Siddiqi as Strangers for Centuries. His ghazals have been sung by famous Bollywood singers like Peenaz Masani, Vaishali Samant, Pooja Gaitonde and Rafique Sheikh. The album of his ghazals named after his book Kabhi Waqt Miley To Aa Jao will be released soon.
Shafi is a young poet and his ghazals have been appreciated by the literary figures like Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi, Shehzad Ahmed, Khawaja Muhammad Zikriya, Amjad Islam Amjad, Dr Saleem Akhter, Shahida Hassan and Saadullah Shah.
In addition to the book-launch ceremony, a grand mushaira was also held on the occasion wherein a large number of local poets participated. The programme was conducted by noted literary figure and editor of Dastavez Aziz Nabeel.
The event was presided over by Chairman Anjuman Mohibban-e-Urdu Qatar Hassan Abdul Karim Choughle. President of the Anjuman Khalid Dad Khan was the chief guest while Shafi attended as the guest of honour.
The programme started with the recitation of some verses from the Holy Quran by Niaz Ahmed Azmi. Founder of the forum Ibrahim Kamal Khan, in his welcome address, thanked the audience for their participation making the session successful. Azmi presented a short introduction of Shafi and highlighted his literary achievements. He presented a list of poetry books written by Shafi.
Shafi received his basic education in his ancestral town of Dahranawala in District Bahawalnagar, Pakistan. He passed Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC) examination from Government College, Chistian and then joined the prestigious University of Engineering Technology (UET), Lahore, from where he graduated as a mechanical engineer in 1997. He started his professional career at Petrochemical Industries, Faisalabad. After working there for over eight years, he got a job in Saudi Arabia and later moved to Kuwait. At present, Shafi is working in Qatar as a planning engineer with Gulf Drilling International Ltd.
Famous poet Nadeem Maher presented a speech entitled 'Asif Shafi as a Poet'. He congratulated the writer for his accomplishments. He said Shafi's poetry abundantly described natural beauty and romanticism.
The participants of the mushaira included Asif Shafi, Shaukat Ali Naz, Aziz Nabeel, Nadeem Maher, Ahmed Ashfaque, Mansour Azmi, Zawwar Hussain Zair, Muzaffar Nayab, Rowais Mumtaz, Ather Azmi, Amer Shakeb Usmani, Rashid Alam Rashid, Raqim Azmi, Mushfiq Raza Naqvi, Zareef Balouch, Ali Imran Mehdi, Abdul Wakeel Noor and Sadat Ali Sadat.
