ISLAMABAD: The Mashal Association hosted a fundraising event titled ‘Muddat hue ha yaar ko mehman kiye hue’ held at the Serena Hotel.

Adeel Hashmi, the renowned actor and trainer, narrated selected pieces from Urdu literature, accompanied by Ustad Raees Khan, the master violinist.

Tallat Azim, Chairperson Fundraising Committee, Mashal Association, said, “Mashal Association is a social welfare organisation which has been engaged in efforts for community development for many years. Its founder was Begum Shahida Azim, who lit the torch (Mashal) with some friends in 1988. We are very fortunate to have some of those friends here today: Begum Mahgul Qureshi, Mrs. Rukhsana Mir, Ms. Perveen Malik, who are all the founders of Mashal.”

She explained, “This organisation works in three areas with a holistic approach. Our emphasis is on educating and financially empowering girls and women from underprivileged families. Our basic health unit provides free healthcare, free medical camps, and awareness sessions on health. Our vocational training centre teaches handicrafts, and some of the products made there are on display here. Our school is now a registered higher secondary school for girls with 300 students. We hope to replicate this school.”

She went on to introduce three students of the school who studied there till grade ten and benefitted from the Mashal Association scholarship fund for their college education. All three were now teaching at the Mashal Association School.

Ayesha, one of the success stories, said, “I am the daughter of a security guard who works at Mashal. My association with Mashal has been there since my childhood because my father has been there from when Mashal was built. We were born there, educated there. When we were at Mashal, there were only senior classes, so the association had me enrolled in a primary school. I then joined the Mashal School when I had completed the primary classes. I did my Matric from Mashal and went on to complete my FA, and now I am studying for my BA and teaching at Mashal. I am bearing my own expenses.”

She explained, “I belong to a Pathan family where educating girls is not well thought of. Thanks to Mashal, not only I but my sisters and cousins as well have studied there. Some of them are still students in the school.”

Adeel Hashmi read the ghazal ‘Muddat hue ha yar ko mehman kiye hue’ by Mirza Ghalib and Butshikan by Syed Akhtar Raza Zaidi. The audience experienced a sense of the depth and versatility of Urdu literature with the thoughtful excerpts.

The event was supported by the Cultural Diplomacy initiative of Serena Hotels and Bestway Cement Ltd., which showcased the cultural depth and rich heritage of Pakistan before a wide audience.

Published in Dawn, January 26th, 2024