Lifetime achievement award conferred upon Iftikhar Arif

Islamabad:Iftikhar Hussain Arif, former head of Pakistan Academy of Letters, has said that literary class has no options but to be an employee of big owners of different newspapers and TV channels.

Iftikhar Arif was speaking at the Lifetime Achievement Award Ceremony organised for him here by Sustainable Development Policy Institute. The renowned writer and poet said that despite having two master’s degrees, he had to work for Rs10 per day in a radio programme. He was lucky to have good teachers like Aslam Azhar and Saleem Gillani who guided and taught him at that time.

In the context of censorship and curbs on media and progressive writers, Iftikhar said that he could only write or said what he can afford or have limits though there is a lot to say or write which could never get published. Mr Iftikhar claimed that he is not a hypocrite like few others who behind the closed doors apologise and later get the credit for being a revolutionary activist. He said that he used the word Karbala in his poetry as a metaphor against injustice, tyranny, oppression and injustice in society.

He referred three types of history; one which is being written by the today’s journalist, second will be written by historian and the third which will be written and preserved in the literature. The only reliable, trusted and sustained history is the third one which literary persons will write, he added.

Renowned Urdu poetess Kishwar Naheed, said that Iftikhar’s poetry reflects his thinking and worries for the oppressed and marginalised of the society. She said that Iftikhar always cared about his literary colleagues and friends and helped promote their literary work. She said Iftikhar's biggest credit was to preserve his respect, honour, and dignity throughout his life and never compromised on his principle and ideology.

Ahmed Saleem, Senior Advisor, SDPI, said that Iftikhar has the expertise and skill to delve deep into the literature and meanings of the words. He said Iftikhar never complained about the lack of acceptance and recognition of his literary work.

Noted progressive writer Prof Ashfaq Saleem Mirza said that Iftikhar Arif is a self-made personality who from his childhood learnt to survive in difficult times. He said that Iftikhar has attracting and appealing personality mainly due to his behavior unique style of poetry.

Noted progressive writer Prof Ashfaq Saleem Mirza said that Iftikhar Arif is a self-made personality who from his childhood learnt to survive in difficult times. He said that Iftikhar has attracting and appealing personality mainly due to his behavior unique style of poetry.

Noted progressive writer Prof Ashfaq Saleem Mirza said that Iftikhar Arif is a self-made personality who from his childhood learnt to survive in difficult times.