Pakistani legislators proposes highest civil award for Manto

Although it is quite late, it is a welcoming move on behalf of the Pakistani politicians to propose an award for Saadat Hasan Manto, the great story-writer and literary figure of Sub-continent.

In order to acknowledge the services and literary work of Manto, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Senator Mian Raza Rabbani requested President Asif Ali Zardari to confer him the highest civil award.

While speaking on a point of order in Senate, the Upper House of Parliament, he observed, “The 100th birth anniversary of Manto is being observed today. For his literary works, he had not only earned fame within Pakistan but in international community also”.

One of the very respectable parliamentarians applauded the literary work and masterpieces of great Manto. In his view, besides other remedial measures if we respect the literary figures, it would help in improving situation at a time when there is chaos and polarization in the country.

Taking credit for his party, he said PPP founder Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto established Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) that had been patronizing the literary figures besides working for their promotion. He, however, lamented that its role has been diminishing in the present scenario.

The intellectual revitalization that had begot during Bhutto’s period is direly needed today, he added.

Rabbani, who also heads the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS), was of the opinion that a lot of people had been conferred awards in the past though some of them did not even deserve that distinction.

He however said that Manto had not been given any such award despite his remarkable services to the Urdu and language.

The respectable Senator requested Chairman Senate Nayyar Hussain Bokhari to propose the president to confer the highest civil award to the said literary figure.

Later, Nayyar Hussain Bukhari asked Leader of the House Jahangir Badar to consider the proposal, who also supported the idea.

Although Manto lived only 43 years in this earth, he gave some of his best writings to the literary world. He wrote his masterpieces that include ‘Thanda Gosht’, ‘Khol Do’, ‘Toba Tek Singh’, ‘Iss Manjdhar Mein’, ‘Mozalle’ and ‘Babu Gopi Nath’.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=22130

Posted by Faisal Farooq on May 12 2012. Filed under Pakistan, Society. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.