LAHORE - Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust Chairman Rafique Tarar said that Maulana Altaf Hali’s period was awash with humungous problems for the Indian Muslims.
He was addressing the sitting arranged to observe the death centenary of Maulana Altaf Hussain Hali by the Nazaria-i-Pakistan Trust held at the Aiwan-i-Karkunan-i-Tehreek-i-Pakistan. Tarar chaired the sitting.
The NPT chairman said that most of the blame for starting the 1857 war of independence was shifted to the Muslims and they were the special target of the British persecution.
“Humiliation, misery and degradation had dulled their sense of dignity and identity. Such was the state of affairs when Maulana Altaf Hussain Hali came up with the message that they were the inheritors of the prescription brought to them by the Holy Prophet (PBUH) – the Holy Quran which provides remedies to all kinds of ills. He reminded them of their glorious past and caused them to awaken from their deep slumber through his masterpieces of poetry and prose,” he added.
In his “Madd-o-Jazar-i-Islam” popularly known as “Musaddas-i-Hali” he referred to the alchemy of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) that transformed one of the most wild and barbaric nations in the world into a decent and civilised one. It was like transmuting base metals into pure gold. There was a time, Tarar said, when Hali’s inspiring poems made part of our curriculum, which whetted the youngsters’ imagination and tied them in a common bond. Now we are divided in so many respects and after one another’s life. Hali’s and Iqbal’s teachings can bring us closer together.
Prof Dr Rafique Ahmad observed that, in fact, Hali was the precursor of the Pakistan Movement, which had started gaining momentum in his time through his inspirational works. The Englishmen were in league with the Hindus to repress and persecute the Muslim. These trials and tribulations caused the Muslims to insist on their separate identity. At last, with the arrival of the year 1930, the conclusion was reached to obtain sovereignty in the Muslim majority areas.
Eminent historian Khawaja Zakaria presented a comprehensive and enlightening review of Hali’s life and works. He said that it is imperative to acquaint the new generation with the undying works of four poets – Maulana Altaf Hussain Hali, Allama Iqbal, Akbar Allahabadi and Hafeez Jallunduri.
Hali, he said, was the only one who was a poet, prose writer and critic. He also distinguishes himself by advocating women’s rights. One wonders how he manages to produce such a tender style while expressing himself on the subject.
His “Hayat-i-Sa’adi,” “Yadgar-i-Ghalib”, and “Hayat-i-Javaid” are the biographies of the Persian poet Sa’adi Sherazi, Asad Ullah Khan Ghalib and Sir Syed Ahmad Khan respectively. As a poet, he produced the eternal masterpiece “Musaddas-i-Hali” and as a critic, his “Muqadama-i-Shair-o-Shairi” still holds an enviable position among the works of criticism. Humbleness, tolerance and forbearance were the hallmarks of his personality.
Ahmad Raza Kasuri observed that Hali correctly diagnosed the ills plaguing the Indian Muslims and provided appropriate prescription. He stressed the need for propagating the thoughts and ideas of our national heroes among the new generation.
Suhail Waraich observed that Hali emphasised the need for using such language as could easily be understood by the common masses.