Ismat Chughtai remembered

ALIGARH:“Ismat Chughtai, who always stood for truth and sought to depict in her fiction the true picture of women’s sufferings in society, was a product of Aligarh Muslim University and it makes a point for the University to cherish her literary greatness and human magnanimity”, said eminent poet and film lyricist Javed Akhtar at the Women’s College of the Aligarh Muslim University.
He was addressing the inaugural function of the two-day international seminar on “Ismat Chughtai: Life and Works” organized by the Female Education Association.

Elaborating on his family terms with the literary stalwart, Javed Akhtar said that Ismat was very close to his mother and he often used to meet her. He said that Ismat was influenced by another female literary protagonist Rasheed Jahan and she felt herself like a reflection of Jahan’s personality.

Akhtar said, “Ismat’s literary acumen, style and expression won her a unique place in Urdu literature whose works are being translated into various languages”. He pointed out that Ismat’s readership was still growing with time and her works have gained more relevance now when the issues of women’s emancipation and women empowerment have found ground as never.

In his presidential address, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Brig. S. Ahmad Ali said that Ismat lived a life of female protagonist who never compromised while depicting her feelings in her works. “She wrote whatever she thought was true and became avant-garde of Urdu literature”, he added.

Brig. Ali pointed out that Ismat carried Changez Khani blood and this is why she bore so much courage to write what was considered bad to even say in those times.

Taking a cue from Ismat’s daring writings, Brig. Ali said that only those people achieve success in life who have a daring to work fearlessly.

Pro-Chancellor of AMU, Nawab Ibne Saeed Khan of Chhatari, while fondly remembering Ismat, said that she brought great laurels to the University and to the Women’ College. She always portrayed women’s sufferings and upheld the great human values.

Noted litterateur, Professor Naushaba Siddiqui, who had come from Pakistan, took pride in her family’s relations with Aligarh. She said that her grandfather and father spent their days in Aligarh and she had always dreamed of this place with open eyes.

Siddiqui also presented the keynote address by Prof. Irtiza Kareem, Director, NCPUL, Delhi.

Chairperson of the Drama Group “Hum Sab”, Rakhshanda Jaleel confirmed that Ismat Chughtai was one of the pioneers of the Progressive Movement and she had met her when she was writing the movement’s literary history. She remembered Krishna Chand once saying, “Ismat’s stories have a force like horses”.

Earlier, welcome guests, Prof. Zakia A. Siddiqui, Secretary, Female Education Association said that the seminar was organized as a part of centenary celebrations of Ismat Aapa, who always stood for the rights of women and championed their cause. “She was responsible for revolutionizing women’s thought process and helped them shed inferiority complex” she added.

Siddiqui said that Aligarh will always remain indebted to Ismat Aapa for showing women the way to emancipation and self righteousness.

Convener of the Seminar, Prof. Sagheer Afrahim remembered Ismat Chughtai as a crusader of women’s rights who had a special passion for truth.

Prof. Naeema Gulrez, Principal Women’s College proposed a vote of thanks.