‘Urdu literature can highlight environmental problems’
KHAIRPUR: Urdu prose and poetry can be used to highlight the problems of drastic environmental changes. This was stated by Prof Dr Satyapal Anand from the US, who presented a research paper titled ‘A Study of Ecological Issues and the Role of Urdu Literature in Highlighting the Perils of Terrestrial Pollution’ at the concluding session of a two-day International Conference on Literature and Ecological Challenges (Pakistani and International Perspective) on Tuesday.
The moot was organised by the department of Urdu, Faculty of Arts and Languages, Shah Abdul Latif University (Salu), Khairpur, in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan.
A galaxy of scholars from around the globe presented their research papers on various themes on the second day, according to a press release.
Dr Vafa Yazdan Manesh from Iran presented her paper on ‘Portrayal of Ecological Issues and Their Solution in Contemporary Persian Poetry’. She said it could be proved that classical Persian poets had meaningful concepts from natural surroundings. In the modern times, the poets had also focused on their surrounding environment in different aspects.
Ms Mehjebeen Ghazal Ansari from the UK presented her paper on ‘Eco-criticism and Urdu Literature’. She said eco-criticism was a branch of literature.
Dr Hend Abdel Halim from Egypt presented her paper titled ‘Elements of Nature in Poems by Muhammad Iqbal and Ahmed Shawki: A Comparative Study’.
Dr Hend said Dr Iqbal called for a different horizon of poetry characterised by blending spectra of nature and its elements of beautiful scenery, beauty of language, colours etc.
Ahmed Shawki had portrayed the Nile of the ancient Egyptian civilisation, the crescent and the flowers of spring.
Mr Yashab Tammana from the UK presented his paper on ‘Ecological Reading of William Wordsworth’s Poetry’. He said Wordsworth was the representative of romantic poetry.
Dr Ibrahim Mohammad Ibrahim from Egypt presented his paper on ‘The Poetic Symbols and Allusions from Egyptian Environment’.
Others who also presented their papers included Syed Raza Ali Abidi from the UK, Ms Robena Naz from the US, Ms Sadaf Mirza from Denmark, Ms Rehana Qamar from the US, Dr Arzu Cifsuren from Turkey and Dr Ali Kavousi Nejad from Iran.
Published in Dawn, November 15th, 2017