Bazm-e-Akram lauds Prof Dr Ghani-ul-Akram Sabzwari

Pakistan News & Features Services

Prof Dr Ghani-ul-Akram Sabzwari, Founder President, Library Promotion Bureau (LPB), Karachi, and Founder Chief Editor, Pakistan Library and Information Science Journal (PLISJ), was showered with praise in the annual get-together of the Bazm-e-Akram at Liaquat National Library, Karachi, on June 1.

Having relocated in North America a few years ago, Prof Dr Ghani-ul-Akram Sabzwari has made a point of visiting Pakistan everywhere and he has been editing the PLISJ besides publishing the LPB books even from there. 

He has a massive fan following in the community of Library and Informative Science throughout Pakistan and he is considered a living legend of the field, having a lot of admirers abroad as well. The Bazm-e-Akram was founded in 1976 by a group of his former students whom he taught at the University of Karachi.

Prof Dr Nasim Fatima, a former Chairperson of the Department of Library and Information Science at the University of Karachi, has been the livewire of the forum. She was in the forefront once more in organizing the annual get-together with the proactive support of Dr Amna Khatoon and Dr Nasreen Shagufta, both of them being her former students who went on to become successful library scientists. 

Their organizational capability was reflected in the grand success of the get-together in which the hall was packed to capacity with the pupils of Prof Dr Ghani-ul-Akram Sabzwari. The programme was conducted by Abdul Samad Ansari in a lively manner. 

All the speakers lavishly praised their beloved teacher and they proudly recalled their cherished memories with him over the years. They vowed to keep his mission alive by following in his footsteps. 

Prof Dr Ghani-ul-Akram Sabzwari remained as modest as ever in his speech on the occasion. He advised his students to remember the services of the founders of the LIS movement in Pakistan like Prof Dr Abdul Moid instead of continuing to hold programmes in his honour. 

“Prof Dr Abdul Moid had founded the LIS department at the University of Karachi. His contributions to the field of library science need to be recalled again and again to inspire the modern generation. His accomplishments were far too many and we should not forget him,” he suggested. 

Prof Dr Ghani-ul-Akram Sabzwari expressed the hope that the new generation of LIS professionals will work with greater enthusiasm to keep pace with the advancements in the technology. 

“I strongly believe that we don’t lack talent. But we need guidance and leadership. Our library scientists are energetic and willing. Let’s strive to provide them the resources and the environment to let their talents unfold,” he concluded.

Bazm-e-Akram to be expanded beyond library scientists: Prof Dr Nasim Fatima

Pakistan News & Features Services

Prof Dr Nasim Fatima, a former Chairperson of the Department of Library and Information Science at the University of Karachi, has announced that the Bazm-e-Akram, founded initially by a group of dedicated library scientists, will now be expanded to include eminent persons from the various fields having an inclination towards the book culture.

Credited for having kept the group of like-minded library scientists intact for decades, she felt that it’s about time that the Bazm-e-Akram was transformed into worthwhile institution. 

“Whatever we could do with the meager resources at our disposal we have done it for the Bazm-e-Akram which is currently just a group of students taught by the legendary Prof Dr Ghani-ul-Akram Sabzwari. The feeling has now grown that we need to spread his mission,” Prof Dr Nasim Fatima observed during his speech in the annual get-together of the Bazm-e-Akram held at the Liaquat Memorial Library, Karachi, on June 1.

“We have managed to keep the mission of our beloved teacher alive by hosting get-togethers and bringing out a magazine yearly by the name of Adab-o-Kutub Khana which is a collection of poetic and prose contributions from the members of the Bazm-e-Akram,” she remarked, adding that the 2013 edition of Adab-o-Kutub Khana would be published in a few months time. 

She paid glowing tribute to Prof Dr Ghani-ul-Akram Sabzwari, Founder President, Library Promotion Bureau (LPB), Karachi, and Founder Chief Editor, Pakistan Library and Information Science Journal (PLISJ), for continued guidance and support to his large number of students in every possible manner. 

The Bazm-e-Akram, a forum named after Prof Dr Ghani-ul-Akram Sabzwari, was founded in 1976 with Adil Usmani being its Founder President. 

The Bazm-e-Akram has nearly 60 members which include Mohammad Wasil Usmani, Abdul Wahab Khan Saleem, Dr Rafia Ahmed Shaikh, Abdul Samad Ansari, Dr Rais Ahmed Samdani, Dr Mohammad Fazil Khan, Prof Dr Nasim Fatima, Dr Amna Khatoon, Dr Nasreen Shagufta, Zainuddin Siddiqui, Syed Abad Ali, Dr Khadim Khams, Dr Shafqat Mokhari, Rafia Hasan Abidi, Sibte Haider Naseeri, Noor Amrohvi, Huma Mannan Butt, Nazia Mukhtar, Hina Naz, Syed Ahmed Naqvi, Azra Qureshi, Ikram-ul-Haq, Fatima Hasni Khayal, Dr Nigar Sajjad Zaheer, Dr Moinuddin Aqeel, Dr Mughees Ahmed, Dr Shama Aziz, Jamaluddin Akhtar, Syed Ateeb Ahmed, Aamir Subhani, Saima Qadeer, Farzana Abbas, Syeda Najma Sultana, Naheed Jahan, Nuzhat Bano Siddiqui, Abida Sultana, Dr Shamshad Ahmed and Noor Mustafa Khan.

Prof Dr Nasim Fatima working on 2013 edition of Bazm-e-Akram's Adab-o-Kutub Khana

Pakistan News & Features Services

Prof Dr Nasim Fatima, one of the living legends in the field of Library and Information Science, has started preparations for bringing out the 2013 edition of Bazm-e-Akram's Adab-o-Kutub Khana.

   

Bazm-e-Akram, a forum named after Prof Dr Ghani-ul-Akram Sabzwari, one of the founding fathers of the profession in the country, was founded in 1976 with Adil Usmani being its Founder President. 

Initially it was the labour of love of a few like-minded library scientists but Bazm-e-Akram has expanded gradually having nearly 60 members which include are Mohammad Wasil Usmani, Abdul Wahab Khan Saleem, Dr Rafia Ahmed Shaikh, Abdul Samad Ansari, Dr Rais Ahmed Samdani, Dr Mohammad Fazil Khan, Prof Dr Nasim Fatima, Dr Amna Khatoon, Dr Nargis Shagufta, Zainuddin Siddiqui, Syed Abad Ali, Dr Khadim Khams, Dr Shafqat Mokhari, Rafia Hasan Abidi, Sibte Haider Naseeri, Noor Amrohvi, Huma Mannan Butt, Nazia Mukhtar, Hina Naz, Syed Ahmed Naqvi, Azra Qureshi, Ikram-ul-Haq, Fatima Hasni Khayal, Dr Nigar Sajjad Zaheer, Dr Moinuddin Aqeel, Dr Mughees Ahmed, Dr Shama Aziz, Jamaluddin Akhtar, Syed Ateeb Ahmed, Aamir Subhani, Saima Qadeer, Farzana Abbas, Syeda Najma Sultana, Naheed Jahan, Nuzhat Bano Siddiqui, Abida Sultana, Dr Shamshad Ahmed and Noor Mustafa Khan. 

Prof Dr Nasim Fatima, a former Chairperson of the Department of Library and Information Science at the University of Karachi, has been the livewire of the forum, having edited four publications of the series with Bazm-e-Akram 2012 having been published last January.

New edition of Bazm-e-Akram's Adab-o-Kutub Khana arrives

Jumbo Editorial Team

Some of the luminaries of library and information science in Pakistan have joined hands to form and run Bazm-e-Akram, a forum named after the respected figure of Prof Dr Ghani-ul-Akram Sabzwari, one of the pioneers of the profession in the country.

Prof Dr Nasim Fatima, a former Chairperson of the Department of Library and Information Science at the University of Karachi, is credited to have kept the movement alive by bringing out new edition of Adab-o-Kutub Khana very early in the year. She was edited the fourth publication in this series, known as Bazm-e-Akram 2012, which saw the light of the day in January.

Abdul Wahab Khan Saleem, in his message, has described it a noble way to pay tribute to the legendary teacher besides producing quality literature to enlighten the young minds in particular who have the responsibility of spreading the message to future generations.

Prof Dr Nasim Fatima, in her preface, has touched on brief history of Bazm-e-Akram which was founded in 1976 with Adil Usmani being its Founder President. Initially there were a few like-minded persons but it has grown and the presently the 58 listed members of Bazm-e-Akram are Mohammad Wasil Usmani, Abdul Wahab Khan Saleem, Dr Rafia Ahmed Shaikh, Abdul Samad Ansari, Dr Rais Ahmed Samdani, Dr Mohammad Fazil Khan, Prof Dr Nasim Fatima, Dr Amna Khatoon, Dr Nargis Shagufta, Zainuddin Siddiqui, Syed Abad Ali, Dr Khadim Khams, Dr Kousar, Dr Shafqat Mokhari, Rafia Hasan Abidi, Shamsher Khan, Mohammad Naeemuddin, Samad Baig, Zakia Sultana Zaki, Sibte Haider Naseeri, Noor Amrohvi, Huma Mannan Butt, Nazia Mukhtar, Hina Naz, Iqbal-ur-Rahman Farooqui, Syed Ahmed Naqvi, Azra Qureshi, Ikram-ul-Haq, Fatima Hasni Khayal, Syed Khalid Mahmood, Dr Nigar Sajjad Zaheer, Dr Moinuddin Aqeel, Dr Mughees Ahmed, Dr Shama Aziz, Jamaluddin Akhtar, Syed Ateeb Ahmed, Aamir Subhani, Saima Qadeer, Farzana Abbas, Sohail Danish, Sohail Mahmood Qureshi, Syeda Najma Sultana, Naheed Jahan, Nuzhat Bano Siddiqui, Abida Sultana, Dr Shamshad Ahmed, Mian Mohammad Aslam Bhatti, Noor Mustafa Khan, Dr Zarin Ilyas, Ramoz Ahmed Khan, Durdana Anwar, Akhtar Ali, Khalida Saeed, Razia Sultana and Zafar-uz-Zaman.

The latest edition of Adab-o-Kutub Khana, spread over 164 pages, has been divided in three parts. The first part is dedicated to literature, second to research and third to librarianship. In the literature section there are poems and essays by learned individuals. One of the contributions in Urdu came from as far as Toronto, the commercial capital of Canada and one of the most famous cities of North America.

The great services rendered by Hakim Mohammad Said Shaheed in the various fields have been covered comprehensively by Dr Rais Ahmed Samdani in the research section in which Ikram-ul-Haq and Prof Dr Nasim Fatima have written about Dr Mahmood Hussain and Zain Siddiqui respectively.

Sheema Siddiqui, Photo Librarian at Daily Jang, the largest circulated newspaper of the country, has been interviewed in detail by Huma Mannan Butt in the librarianship section in which Dr Amna Khatoon has written about the Pakistan culture while Kahkashan Naz has thrown light on role of libraries in social welfare and Nazia Mukhtar has talked about Mushfiq Khawaja Trust Library. Farzana Abbas has compiled an article of websites for children in Urdu, describing their utility and highlights.

Adab-o-Kutub Khana emerges on horizon

Jumbo Editorial Team

The 124-page Adab-o-Kutub Khana, compiled by Prof Dr Nasim Fatima, has recently been published by Bazm-e-Akram, a forum of literary giants founded to pay tribute to Prof Dr Ghani-ul-Akram Sabzwari, one of the founding fathers of Library and Information Science in Pakistan.

Prof Dr Nasim Fatima, who was appointed as the first lady lecturer in the Library and Information Science in Pakistan by Prof Dr Ghani-ul-Akram Sabzwari in June 1975 and went on to become the first lady chairperson of the department at the University of Karachi, has also been a prolific author and compiler with nearly 40 publications to her credit and still going strong.

Adab-o-Kutub Khana is a unique compilation for it’s a collection of poetry, drama, interviews and essays plus the survey report. It’s quite commendable how so much of high quality reading material has been put together in a matter of one hundred or so pages.

Dr Jamil Jalibi, the most famous of intellectuals in the country, has penned the preface to the book in which he has thrown light on the importance of the language of Urdu whose popularity, he reckoned, continues to grow.

He has lavishly praised the spirit of the students of Prof Dr Ghani-ul-Akram Sabzwari for according the due respect to their beloved teacher, whom they have been holding in very high esteem throughout their lives.

While introducing the book, Prof Dr Nasim Fatima has recalled her was appointment in the Library and Information Science of Pakistan when by Prof Dr Ghani-ul-Akram Sabzwari, who proceeded abroad soon afterwards, was heading the department.

Prof Dr Nasim Fatima, who has always spoken and written very highly of Prof Dr Ghani-ul-Akram Sabzwari, has demonstrated great admiration for her teacher by having a survey conducted about his personality and whose report has been included in Adab-o-Kutub Khana to make it memorable publication.

Adab-o-Kutub Khana, worthy to be recognized as a must-read book, contains contributions from Basharat Ali Khan Afridi, Arman Akbar Abadi, Mohammad Wasil Usmani, Dr Shafqat Bukhari, Dr Shama Aziz, Dr A H Kousar, Saima Qadeer, Sohail Danish, Dr Rais Ahmed Samdani, Jamaluddin Akhtar, Asif Ilyas, Dr Atiya Owais, Zain Siddiqui, Iqbal Farooq Qamar, Fatima Hasni Khayal, Prof Dr Nasim Fatima, Abdul Samad Ansari, Muzaffar Warsi, Dr Nasreen Shagufta, Dr Nigar Sajjad Zaheer, Dr Moinuddin Aqeel, Ikram-ul-Haq, Nazia Mukhtar, Rafia Abidi, Dr Zarin Ilyas and Dr Mughees Ahmed.