Hyderabad: A seminar on children’s literature organized by literary organizations, Karwan-e-Adab and Urdu Writers and Journalists Association at Urdu Hall, Himayatnagar on October 14 evening stressed the need for creating literary taste among children and bringing them up in an atmosphere of constructive and progressive thinking. The meeting attended by writers, poets, journalists and intellectuals felicitated Mr Farooq Syed, editor of Gulbote, a children’s magazine published from Mumbai, for his literary services particularly in the sphere of literature meant for children and young generation.
Prof S A Shukoor, secretary-director, Telangana State Urdu Academy, greeted the organizers for conducting the seminar on an important topic and stressed the need for creating literary taste among school children and young generation, the overwhelming majority of whom knew very little about literature which is the most valuable asset for a living society. He spoke in detail the services of the Urdu Academy which is promoting Urdu literature by providing monetary assistance to writers, poets and critics, offering awards in the memory of great poets and writers, conducting Mushairas (poets gatherings), running computer teaching institutes and publishing Urdu books. He said the government grant received by the academy is lot more than the Urdu Academy in any other state of the country and this shows the interest of Telangana chief minister in promoting Urdu language. There is scarcity of books for children in Urdu language, Prof Shukoor expressed his anguish.
Farooq Syed said the fault lay with the parents who did not create interest among their children with literature and spare very little time to see the school and other activities of their kids. Money is given to them to purchase mobiles worth Rs 20000 to 40000 for chatting and wasting time but a book priced at Rs 40 is not given to them. He also suggested that Urdu academies should institute awards for writers of children’s literature. He spoke of his magazine which has a large circulation. Prof. Shukoor presented a memento to him acknowledging his literary services.
Prof. Ashraf Rafee, former head of Urdu department, Osmania University and a noted writer Shabina Farshoori spoke of the history of children’s literature in Urdu language and listed the prominent Urdu magazines meant for children published in the past and at present. Tahneeyatunisa gave a brief introduction of Farooq Syed. General secretary of the association, Syed Iftekhar Shareef welcomed the guests and threw light on the activities of Karwan-e-Adab.
Former News Reader of DD and senior journalist Abid Siddiqui, compered the proceeding while editor of Ainae Chashm, Urdu weekly proposed a vote of thanks.
