Arts Council Karachi Hosts “Aitraaf-e-Kamal” Ceremony Honoring Poet Iftikhar Arif

 By: Aziz Khatri 

 Karachi: The Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi organized an “Aitraaf-e-Kamal” ceremony to honor renowned poet Iftikhar Arif at Haseena Moin Hall on Monday. The event was attended by a large number of literary figures, poets, and admirers of Iftikhar Arif.

President of the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi, Muhammad Ahmed Shah, moderated the ceremony. Prominent poets and intellectuals including Abbas Tabish, Shahid Rasam, Ghazi Salahuddin, poetess Fatima Hassan, along with several social and literary personalities, were present on the occasion.

The ceremony commenced with a showreel highlighting the artistic and literary journey of Iftikhar Arif. Opening the discussion, Muhammad Ahmed Shah said that the event was a true “Aitraaf-e-Kamal” for Iftikhar Arif, adding that few poets in contemporary times have enjoyed such widespread recognition and popularity. He noted that Iftikhar Arif is the first poet to have received the prestigious Nishan-e-Imtiaz during his lifetime. He further remarked that for over five decades, leading literary figures have written about Iftikhar Arif, and many of his verses continue to resonate widely.

Addressing the gathering, Iftikhar Arif reflected on his life and literary journey. He said that his move from Lucknow to Karachi was an act of migration and that he had also lived for brief periods in the UK and the United States. Migration, he noted, always has a purpose. Quoting Ghalib, he said, “I am not afraid of death; I fear the absence of comfort.” He recalled witnessing poverty and hardship in his early life and shared memories of his school days, when he aspired to become the headmaster of his institution.

He described himself as a person of desires, expressing gratitude for what he had achieved and regret for what remained unattained. Declaring his strong association with Sindh and Pakistan, he said that one can never forget the place of one’s birth. He also spoke candidly about spending much of his life in solitude.

Sharing memories of Yawar Mehdi, Iftikhar Arif said that Mehdi was educated at Lucknow University and recalled that his audition coincided with that of the late Talat Hussain. He emphasized that destiny itself creates opportunities and noted that many people present were familiar with the literary atmosphere of that era.

Iftikhar Arif also spoke about his early years in Pakistan, saying that he initially wrote weak poetry and shared his work within a small circle. Over time, he began composing poetry inspired by Islamic history, particularly using the symbolism of Karbala. He acknowledged Faiz Ahmed Faiz as a major critic and mentor, recalling that Faiz had pointed out shortcomings in his work and later remarked that after Allama Iqbal, Iftikhar Arif produced some of the finest poetry on Islamic history.

He concluded by saying that those who lack respect and understanding in relationships are incapable of true love. During the ceremony, Iftikhar Arif recited selected Naatia and poetic verses and shared anecdotes from his life, which were warmly received by the audience with prolonged applause.