AMN / New Delhi
The Josh e Urdu 2021 Award was conferred upon late Prof. Shamim Hanafi, posthumously at a ceremony organised by Bazm e Urdu Dubai at India International Centre, New Delhi on Oct 15.
The award has been conferred upon Prof Shamim Hanafi for his distinguished services to Urdu & Hindi literature as a critic, dramatist, columnist and poet. The award was received by his wife Mrs Saba Hanafi, who is an educationist herself. The award was handed over to her by the Chief Guest Dr. Najma Akhtar, Vice Chancellor, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi.
This award was to be presented to Prof Hanafi much earlier in Dubai, however, his unfortunate death did not allow this to happen. The organisers presented it to his wife as she is the main force behind Prof Hanafi. Prof Saheb’s daughter Ghazali Hanafi and son-in-law were also present for the occasion.
In his recorded Video message from Dubai, Rehan Khan, Founder and Secretary of Bazm Urdu Dubai, said that we are honoured as the Award was accepted by Saba Hanafi.
Rehan Khan specially thanked Kamna Prasad, Founder Jashn-e-Bahar Trust, for her support in organising the Award ceremony, and it would not have been possible to organise this function without her and Jashn-e-Bahar Trust. A team of Bazm e Urdu Dubai, including Shadab Ulfat, Syed Sarosh Asif and Syed Masood Naqvi, came from Dubai to present the award. Syed Sarosh Asif introduced Bazm Urdu Dubai, to those present. Shadab Ulfat, took the role of the compere.
Among those present on the occasion were Dr. Sheikh Aqeel Ahmed – Director NCPUL, Dr. Khawaja Ikramuddin – former Director, NCPUL, Shri Ram Sharan Joshi – Senior Journalist and Social Worker, Prof. Shahpar Rasool, Dr. Sarwar Al-Huda, Dr Khalid Mubashir, Sadiq-ur-Rehman Kidwai, Founder and Secretary of Jashn e Adab Kunwar Ranjit Singh Chauhan, Founder and Secretary of Nai Awaaz Aijaz Ansari, Renowned Playwright Dr Saeed Alam, Razi Kidwai, Syed Mehran Shah, and others well known personalities were present on the occasion.
Chief Guest Dr Najma Akhtar in her address expressed happiness over awarding this award to Prof Hanafi and lauded the efforts of Bazm Urdu.
Saba Hanafi said that it was a mixed feeling for her, happiness and sorrow both. Happy because her late husband had got this award in the presence of so many friends, sorrow because before this event she went to such occasions with her husband.
Bazm e Urdu is a Dubai based organization registered with community development authority, Government of Dubai. Bazm e Urdu strives for the promotion and development of Urdu in the Gulf countries.
Shadab Ulfat has shared with the audience that the decision to present the award to Hanafi Sahib has been taken while he was alive. This is the first time that the “Josh Urdu Award” has been given posthumously.
Josh Urdu Award 2014 was presented to Dr. Zubair Farooq, 2015 to Shams-ur-Rehman Farooqi, 2016 to Javed Akhtar, 2017 to Mushtaq Ahmed Yusufi, 2018 to Dr. Bashir Badar, 2019 to Dr. Professor Gopi Chand Narang and (last year) 2020 to Mustansir Hussain Tarar.
Other than the chief guest Dr Najma Akhtar and the recipient of the award Saba Hanafi, those who spoke on the occasion included Dr. Sheikh Aqeel Ahmed, Dr Khawaja Ikramuddin, Ram Sharan Joshi, Syed Sarosh Asif and Kamna Prasad.
Kamna Prasad lauded the works of Bazm e Urdu Dubai, in spread of knowledge. She also stressed on the works of Jashn-e-Bahar Trust, and above all the works of the great Urdu scholar Prof Shamim Hanafi.