Hyderabad: Assistant Professor Ishrat Naheed from Maulana Azad National Urdu University (Lucknow campus) on Sunday praised Hyderabad as a city known for its literary warmth and cultural tolerance. She spoke at a literary evening held in her honour at Farshori House, Sun City.
Naheed recalled that poets like Dagh Dehlvi, Fani Badayuni, and Josh Malihabadi had once chosen Hyderabad as their home. She thanked writer Shabina Farshori for organising the programme, which allowed her to connect with the local literary community.
In her welcome address, Shabina Farshori called Naheed a dynamic writer whose work has gained international attention, especially on social media. Naheed has published several books, and her short stories continue to attract a wide readership.
Dr. Amna Tahseen from MANUUâs Women’s Studies department said women must step forward in all fields. She stressed that education is essential for facing todayâs social challenges. Qamar Jamali added that young women should stay connected to literature and use fiction to share their voices.
Literary evening honours Ishrat Naheed, calls for women’s role in Urdu
Speaker Atika Ansar highlighted the contributions of Hyderabadâs women writers. She encouraged students and women to attend Mehfil Khawateenâs monthly gatherings. Mohsin Khan underlined the importance of gaining useful knowledge to secure oneâs rights, saying a lack of education limits progress.
Mujtaba Abedi called for concrete efforts to promote Urdu literature and expand its readership. Speakers Naheed Tahir from Riyadh and Azra Sultana from Uttar Pradesh also shared their thoughts.
The event concluded with the launch of âSuno Kahani, Padho Kahani,â a childrenâs book written by Germany-based author Ishrat Moeen Seema.