Department of Urdu, University of Hyderabad commemorated 400th year of Mohd. Quli Qutub Shah
The Department of Urdu, University of Hyderabad (UoH) organized a four-day International Seminar to commemorate the 400 years of the founder of Hyderabad- Mohd. Quli Qutub Shah on the topic “400 Years Celebration of Mohd. Quli Qutub Shah: Literature, Art & Culture during Qutub Shahi Dynasty” from 19th to 22nd August 2013 at the School of Humanities Auditorium on the University campus.
The Inaugural Function of this International Seminar was held on 19th August 2013. The Vice-Chancellor of the University Prof. Ramkrishna Ramaswamy inaugurated the seminar and the Dean of the School of Humanities, Prof. Amitabh Dasgupta delivered Inaugural Address. Noted Deccani scholar, poet and critic Prof. Ashraf Rafi, Former Head, Dept. of Urdu, Osmania University gave the Keynote Address. Prof. Mohd. Baig Ehsas, Former Head, Dept. of Urdu, UoH presided over the Inaugural Function. Prof. S. A. Shukoor, Secretary Director, A. P. Urdu Academy was also present during the programme as Guest of Honour. Dr. Ali Nisar, alumni of the Dept. of Urdu, UoH, presently living in Canada, was among the guests on the stage. The seminar director Dr. Habeeb Nisar introduced and explained the theme of the seminar to all the participants from different parts of the country and abroad. The seminar was organized in collaboration with the AP Urdu Academy and the Karnataka Urdu Academy. The Head of the Dept. Prof. K. Muzaffer Ali welcomed the participants.
The seminar had a total of six business sessions along with a valedictory session. The special attraction of the international seminar was ‘Sham-e-Ghazal” (an evening of Ghazal) by Ustad Sabir Ali Khan, famous Ghazal singer and disciple of Ustad Ghulam Ali. Pandit Sanjay Kingi accompanied him on Sitar and Ustad Sardar Khan on Tabla.
This seminar was different from the traditional seminars of Urdu Literature as it had Art and Culture in its fold. Many scholarly papers were presented on different aspects of Art and Culture along with Literature. Among the prominent scholars who presented papers on different topics include Prof. Safdar Imam Quadri, Dr. Naseemuddin Farees, Dr. Rahi Fidaii, Prof. Hameeduddin Akbar, Mr. Aslam Mirza, Dr. Gajendra Kumar Pathak, Dr. Syed Fazlullah Mukarram, Dr. Md. Zahidul Haque, Dr. Mohd. Kashif, Dr. Musarrat Jahan, Dr. Nikhat Jahan, Mr. Syed Abdul Khalique, Mr. M. Moinuddin, Dr. Asmatunnisa, Mr. Ali Nisar and Ms. Anjum Fatima.
The major attraction of the seminar were the presentations by Dr. Sajjad Shahid on Architecture during Qutub Shahi period, Dr. Manzoor Dakni on Holkunda’s seven tombs and the Qutub Shahi tombs, Dr. Jan Nisar & Mr. Mohd. Yahiya on Kudangal & Husnabad, the first province of Sultan Quli in the Deccan, Dr, Dawood Ashraf on the Qutub Shahi records in the Hyderabad Archives, Dr. Jafer Jari & Mr. Abdul Ghaffar on some remains of the Qutub Shahi age and the art of Calligraphy, Dr. Meer Hashmat Ali on some important mosques of Qutub Shahi age and its architecture and Dr. Abdul Qaiyum on some of the Buildings of Qutub Shahi age.
The highlight of the seminar were the presentation of Prof. Ahmad Shareef on Minature Paintings in the age of Qutub Shah and Dr. Safiullah’s marvelous presentation of the Coins of the Qutub Shahi dynasty. Dr. Ata Khursheed, Dr. Ahmad Ali and Dr. Md. Zakir Hussain presented papers on the Manuscripts of Qutub Shahi age available in the Maulana Azad Library, AMU, Aligarh, in the Salarjung Museum and Library, Hyderabad and in the Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library, Patna respectively.
The valedictory function was held on 22nd August 2013 under the presidium of Prof. Mohd. Baig Ehsas, Prof. Ahmed Shareef, Prof. Safdar Imam Quadri, Dr. Ata Khursheed, and Dr. Safiullah which continued till late in the night. Participants of the seminar, research scholars and students expressed their views eloquently and declared the seminar a grand success.
By Md. Zahidul Haque, faculty in the department of Urdu, UoH