The Majlis-e-Frogh-e-Urdu Adab (MFUA) presented the 27th Aalmi Frogh-e-Urdu Adab Award to Zakia Mashhadi, a reputed fiction writer from India and Mirza Ather Baig, an eminent novelist, playwright and short story writer from Pakistan, at a glittering ceremony held at DPS–Modern Indian School’s auditorium recently.
The annual international award for promotion of Urdu literature was instituted by the Majlis in 1996. The award carries a cash prize of Rs150,000 and an award trophy for each winner. It is given every year to a fiction writer, scholar, researcher or critic, each from Pakistan and India, for their significant contribution towards the promotion of Urdu language and literature.
The Majlis had to cancel its annual poetic symposium in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and in 2022 due to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
The award was presented by Maqbool Habib Jafer Khalfan, a prominent Qatari businessman and former General Manager of Doha Bank and Qatar Development Bank; Mohammad Atiq, Majlis Chairman, and other members of the Majlis’ Board of Patrons, in the presence of hundreds of Urdu lovers.
Majlis Chairman Mohammed Atiq welcomed the gathering and thanked Qatar’s Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Interior, coordinators in India and Pakistan, and the sponsors for their support in organising the event.
After the awards presentation, 27th Aalmi Mushaira (international poetry symposium), dedicated to the late Pakistani poet and writer Amjad Islam Amjad, was held. Renowned Pakistani poet and intellectual Prof Dr Pirzada Qasim presided over the event while Majlis Secretary General Obaid Tahir compered the proceedings in his unique style.
Local poets who recited their poetry included Sanwal Abbasi, Raza Hussain Raza, Syed Zawwar Hussain and Aziz Nabeel. Guest poets from India included Salim Saleem, Azm Shakri, Shariq Kaifi and Shabina Adeeb.
From Pakistan, Afzal Khan, Dr Inam ul Haq Javied and Prof Dr Pirzada Qasim recited their classic and select poetry.
A souvenir magazine, encompassing creations of award winners, was also released on the occasion.
