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PACC hosts a literary event to honor Tashie Zaheer
By Abdus Sattar Ghazali
The Pakistani American Cultural Center (PACC), a leading Bay Area social group, recently held a literary event to celebrate the life and work of Tashie Zaheer, a well-known Diaspora poet, the founder President of the Urdu Academy of North America and a prominent community leader. The event at the PACC premises in Milpitas was held on February 7, 2015
Dr. Waheed Siddiqee, a Bay Area community icon, welcomed Tashie Zaheer on behalf of the Milpitas-based PACC. Dr. Waheed Siddiqee is a trustee of the PACC and founder of the Association of Retired American Muslims (ARAM) which holds regular gatherings for the benefit of senior Muslims. Asghar Abubakar is the President of the PACC which promotes Pakistani languages, literature, history, and culture to all Americans.
The colorful and livery literary event to honor Tashie Zaheer included recitation of his poetry by the Urdu lovers who also spoke about his insightful and touchy poetry.
Dr. Anshuman Chandra thrilled the audience with his musical presentation of Tashie's two poems on Guitar.
Atiya Hai and Talat Khan captivated the audience with their beautiful Tarannum presentation of Tashie's ghazals.
Like Atiya Hai and Talat Khan, Roohi Asim also recited one ghazal in her melodious voice.
Jaafer Shah expressed admiration for the beauty and spiritual aspects of Tashie's poetry and then recited one of his poems.
Nagesh Avadhany, a close friend of Tashie, said that because of Mr. Tashie, he became deeply interested in the Urdu language and Urdu poetry. Nagesh
amused the audience with his presentation of Tashie's poetry. Nagesh Avadhany is a classical singer. He gives classical touch to his presentations at Urdu Academy's literary monthly gatherings. His renditions at the PACC produced the same environment.
Tashie recited some of his latest, yet unpublished Ghazals and also some selected poems and Ghazals from “Sham Ki Aahat,” the collection of his Poems and Ghazals which was formally unveiled in September 2010 at a grand Mushaera held at the Chandni Restaurant.
I take liberty to quote from my report about the inauguration of “Sham Ki Aahat.” (The inauguration 11 minutes video is now available on You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMQ85oC7_7k&feature=youtu.be)
Canada-based Ashfaq Hussain, a leading modern Urdu poet and an author of more than 10 books of poetry and literary criticism read a maqala on Tashie Zaheer’s diwan. Ashfaq Hussain was of the view that it was necessary that "the work of a Diaspora poet/writer should be analyzed and critically evaluated in his/her native home.” Tellingly, Tashie Zaheer’s poetry meets this criteria as his diwan has been critically evaluated in his native land, Pakistan. Just one example: Literary quarterly magazine, AL ZUBAIR, published by the Urdu Academy Bhawalpur published a comment about Tashie’s diwan, Shaam Kii Aahat. Dr. Shahid Hussain Rizvi describes the anthology as an expression of pain of departure and separation from the native land. “It is now about 30 years that Tashie left his native land and the pain of separation is deeply reflected in many of his poems. He is unable to suppress this feeling of separation.”
Tashie says:
Ek Din Aakhir Kaar Samajhna PaRhta Hay
Des Ke Jaisa Bhes Badalna PaRhta Hay
SadyouN Se Qaanoon Raha Hay Qudrat Ka
KhushyouN Kaa Taawaan To Bharna PaRhta Hay
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