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Doha
THE Majlis Frogh-e-Urdu Adab presented the 20th Aalmi Frogh-e-Urdu Adab Award (international award for the promotion of Urdu literature) to eminent Indian poet, lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar and noted Pakistani poet, lyricist and dramatist Amjad Islam Amjad at Radisson Blu Hotel on Friday.
Launched in 1996, the award comprises a gold shield and a cash award of Rs150,000, which is given annually to two Urdu writers, one from India and the other from Pakistan, for their achievements in creative writing or research and critical works.
Dr Gopi Chand Narang, Dr Pirzada Qasim and famous Indian film actress Shabana Azmi attended the event as the guests of honour.
The Ministry of Interior's Colonel Sultan Mohammad al Kaabi and Major Nasser Abdullah al Suwaidi represented the Director of Public Relations Brigadier Abdullah Khalifa al Muftah at the event.
Indian ambassador to Qatar HE P Kumaran and Pakistan Embassy's Head of Chancery Sadia Gohar Khanum, Majlis' Chairman Mohammad Atiq and Majlis patron M Sabih Bukhari accompanied Sultan al Kaabi in presenting the awards.
The award ceremony was followed by the 22nd international poetry symposium, which was dedicated to late poet Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi, whose birth centenary is being celebrated this year.
Guest poets from India were Javed Akhtar, Hassan Kazmi, Prof Muzaffer Ali Shahmiri, Khursheed Alam and Aleena Itrat Rizvi. Guest poets from Pakistan included Dr Pirzada Qasim, Amjad Islam Amjad, Ayub Khawar, Qaiser Wajdi and Khalid Masood Khan.
Khawar, who worked for Pakistan Television as a producer director and playwright for decades, hosted the proceedings of the mushaira in his unique style, which was well liked by the audience.
Zahoor-ul-Islam Javed from the UAE, Ehsan Shahid from the UK, Naheed Virk from the USA, Shazia Noreen from Germany and Doha-based poets Fartash Syed and Raza Hussain Raza also took part in the mushaira.
Amin Motiwala and Farzana Safdar read citation papers on the achievements of the award-winners. Furqan Ahmed Paracha and Fartash Syed compeered the programme. Javed Humayun received the award winners and poets on the stage.
Majlis also honoured Qatar Radio Urdu Service, Siasat, Metro Television Channel, ETV Urdu Television channel and the mainstream Doha-based English dailies by presenting shields for their support to the forum's activities. A souvenir magazine was also released on the occasion.
