KARACHI: Renowned writer and poet Amna Alam launched a collection of poetry at the Karachi Arts Council last weekend.

Titled “Khushboo se likhi fard,” the book serves as a compilation of poetry in the form of hamd, naat, nazm and ghazal, and is the first publication by Alam, who has been writing poetry and prose for almost three decades.

Eminent literary critic Sarshar Siddiqui, who was among the guests at the event, was full of praise for Alam, saying that he first heard a couplet from her in the presence of literary giant Tabish Dehalvi.

“On so many occasions I have asked Amna to publish her work,” Siddiqui told the audience.

According to Siddiqui, Alam has been able to carve out her own style of poetry despite being influenced by her mentor Sahba Akhtar.

Renowned biologist, Dr Waqar Ahmed Zuberi said that Amna Alam is also an important member of Bazm-e-Sciency Adab – a literary movement for the promotion of Science and Technology. Bazm-e-Sciency Adab has been arranging monthly literary sittings in Karachi for more than 18 years.

Speaking on the occasion, Professor Sehar Ansari was of the view that Alam’s poetry reflected the troubles and harshness of life and she also used difficult style of poetry in the book.

Talking about the blending of science into poetry, Ansari said that scientific poetry is an emerging trend and must be appreciated by the literary circles.

Another senior poet and critic, Jazib Qureshi said that Alam is a poetess, an enlightened visionary and has perfectly weaved her life experiences into poetry.

Qureshi particularly emphasised on the following couplets:

Gulabon si soorat hue khaak me gum

Sharar ko hawa ne kya raakh me gum

Mulk jo ham ko mila tha aik rehmat ki tarah

Butt raha he in dinon maal-e-ghaneemat ki tarah

 Khair maango tum ashiyane ki

Andhyon ne darakth maanga he “Most of the work (in the book) is new but some pieces are decades old,” the author told Dawn.com. Renowned literary critic and publisher of the book, Auje Kamal praised Alam and said she was a “complete poetess.” Kamal recited two couplets from the collection:

Kisi soorat zameen ki ishtiha kam hi nahi hoti

Na jaane roz kitne hi badan Khoorak hote hen

Yun shoaq e sataaish me uljho na dil-e-nadan

Shohrat   ki    qaba    pehne    ajaygi   ruswaii Priced at 300 rupees, “Khushboo se likhi fard” is available at leading bookstores and at Dunya e Adab office in Karachi.