Veteran poet, teacher, scholar and celebrated humorist of our times Anwar Masood has delighted hundreds and thousands of people generations after generations with his hilarious humorous poetry, enlightened his students’ lives with his impeccable command of Urdu, Punjabi and Persian at the same time touching their hearts and minds with deeply emotional Punjabi verses. In short, what a complete package in one frame!
The Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) in order to celebrate life & works of Anwar Masood and to launch a book titled “Anwar Masood: Shakhsiyat aur Fun” authored by Dr Muhammad Shoaib Khan organized a ceremony to express gratitude to Anwar Masood for his lifelong contributions. The event also coincided with his 90th birthday (Born: Nov 8, 1935). The ceremony was presided over by another eminent literary figure Iftikhar Arif while among the distinguished writers and Anwar Masood’s contemporaries Dr Inam-ul-Haq Javed and Muhammad Hameed Shahid were among the guests of honor.
Well-known anchorperson, Ammar Masood who is son of Anwar Masood, writer and critic Dr Fakhra Naureen, Shahid Akhtar and Dr Shoaib Khan also attended the ceremony and spoke about the multidimensional personality of Anwar Masood. They appreciated Chairperson of the PAL, Dr Najiba Arif for making their day by organizing a ceremony with one of the greatest humorist poets of our times.
Students of Punjab College and Lawrence College Ghora Gali also attended the ceremony mainly to listen to Anwar Masood and his signature poems such as ‘‘Chai and Lassi’ ‘Banyaan’ and others. Whereas these two poems evoked laughter at the same time his poetic tribute ‘Ambri’ or ‘Mother’ brought tears in the eyes.
In her welcome address, Dr Najiba Arif paid tributes to Anwar Masood saying his career spanning over nine decades was an example of service and love for literature. His poetry encompasses humour, pain, civility and old values which once were considered a treasure. She particularly mentioned the fact that Anwar Masood was equally at home in bringing smiles as well as tears with the magical power of his poetry.
Iftikhar Arif in his presidential remarks, called Anwar Masood a complete poet in all respects. He has a masterly command of Persian, Urdu, and Punjabi language and his thought has depth of spiritualism and traditional values rooted in rural psyche. This makes his poetry all more powerful and deep, he said. Muhammad Hameed Shahid said in Anwar Masood’s poetry we find traits of hmour, pain and awareness at the same frequency which are usually absent in other poets’ kalam. His poems in fact serve as a social mirror in which we can see our reflection, said Hameed Shahid.
Dr Inam-ul-Haq Javed said that laugher caused by Anwar Masood’s poetry also served as a source of guidance and training for the listeners. Anwar Masood’s audience always returned to their homes with some new thought, a lesson or a learning, said Inam-ul-Haq Javed. In his Vote of Thanks, Anwar Masood said poetry was his lifelong passion. I try to use such words and metaphors in my poems which are easily comprehensible for both a street vendor and a well-educated person, he said. he also recited some of his poems to the sheer delight of audience.
