Doha: The sixteenth annual Aalmi Frogh-e-Urdu Adab Awards will be presented to Pakistan’s Ata ul Haq Qasmi and India’s Shamoil Ahmed by Majlis Frogh-e-Urdu Adab, a Qatar-based literary forum, at an impressive function to be held at Doha Sheraton’s Al Majlis Auditorium on Thursday.
“A special feature of this year’s event is that the Majlis is going to confer a “ Special Frogh-e-Urdu Adab Award” upon Naseeruddin Shah, who is one of the finest actors India has produced. The Special Award is being given to him in recognition of his contribution to Urdu literature and poetry. Shah is coming to receive this Award with his wife, Ratna Pathak.” Majlis Chairman, Mohammad Atiq said.
“Qatar’s Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage, H E Dr Hamad Abdulaziz Al Kuwari, has agreed to be the chief guest. It is a matter of our great pleasure and pride that the Ministry is continuing to extend its support and cooperation in holding this function, this year also,.” Atiq added.
Launched in 1996, the Aalmi Frogh-e-Urdu Adab Award (International Award for promotion of Urdu literature), which comprises of a gold shield and cash award of Rs150,000 is given annually to two Urdu creative fiction writers and scholars, one from India and the other from Pakistan, for their contribution towards promotion of Urdu language and literature.
Pakistan’s renowned Urdu scholar and poet , Dr Khurshid Rizvi will preside over the Awards and Mushaira functions. India’s reputed Urdu scholar and former Chairman, Sahitiya Academy, Dr Gopi Chand Narang and Naseeruddin Shah will be the guests of honour.
The Peninsula
