Islamabad: The National Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage (Lok Virsa) is all set to launch a book on the life and works of renonwed Punjabi Sufi poet & saint Waris Shah.
Talking to this scribe, Lok Virsa’s Executive Director Dr. Fouzia Saeed informed that the book launching ceremony will take place on Friday, July 31, 2015 at 7 p.m. at Lok Virsa Complex, Garden Avenue, Shakarparian. The book is based on the research of three eminent scholars of Punjabi literature Sajjad Haidar, Prof. Sharif Kunjai and Muhammad Asif, she added.
Well known author, poet, columnist & TV playwright Mr. Atta ul Haq Qasmi will be the chief guest on the occasion. He has written many articles on different subjects for the leading newspapers. He has a unique style of writing incomparable to any other columnist because of his humorous way which holds the reader till the last line of his column.
The book launching will be followed by musical performance of Heer by the famous Sufi singer Areeb Azhar and traditional Heer singers affiliated to the shrine of Waris Shah at Jandiala Sher Khan Taimur Afghani, Taimur Chaudhri, Fareeha Nawaz and Sain Bodi.
Dr. Fouzia Saeed also apprised that Lok Virsa will screen the film on “Heer Ranja”on Saturday, August 1, 2015 from 6.00 to 9.00 p.m. under Lok Virsa Film Club – Mandwa. The film “Heer” was produced by Ejaz Durrani and directed by Masood Pervez. Music was contributed by Khurshid Anwar. Top singers of the Pakistan Film Industry Madam Noor Jehan, Naseem Begum, Munir Hussain, Irene Perveen, Masood Rana & Mujeeb Alam sung the songs for the fim under the music composition of Khurshid Anwar. Artists were Ejaz, Ferdous Ajmal, Munawar Zarif, Zamurad, Salma Mumtaz and Najm-ul-Hassan. It is a sing along and dress along evening.
Celebrated Film Director Syed Noor will be the chief guest, whereas Ejaz Durrani, who produced the film, has been invited as guest of honour on the film screening.
Waris Shah was renowned for his contribution to Punjabi literature. He is best known for his seminal work Heer Ranjha, based on the traditional folk tale of Heer and Ranjha.Heer is considered one of the quintessential works of classical Punjabi literature. The story of Heer was also told by several other writers, but Waris Shah’s version is by far the most popular today and is most widely quoted.
