Sufi Tabassum – a big name not on festivals’ list

LAHORE: It is regrettable that in literary festivals held recently at Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi, there was nothing about noted poet Sufi Ghulam Mustafa Tabassum, said noted writer, cultural expert and folklorist Uxi Mufti at a seminar on Sufi Tabassum on Friday.

The seminar was held at the Punjab Institute of Language, Art and Culture (Pilac) in connection with the 38th death anniversary of the poet. The seminar was organised by the Punjab Information and Culture Department with Pilac.

Mufti, the son of renowned writer Mumtaz Mufti, said the Pakistan Academy of Letters did not have any publication on Sufi Tabassum.

“I have a question to ask myself and you people that we have lost such wonder personalities as Sufi Tabassum and others but we are not producing more such personalities now, and why is it happening?”

He said the poems Tabassum wrote for children had a great vision in them.

Dr Fauzia Tabassum, granddaughter of Sufi Tabassum, read a paper on the life and works of her grandfather and said that Tabassum established the dramatic society of the Government College, Lahore. She said several great poets and writers had close association with Sufi Tabassum. She said Sufi sahib was a very disciplined personality.

Zahid Abbas, a student of Tabassum, recalled those days when he lived in Samanabad near Doongi Ground. He said the poets who wanted guidance from him, Sufi sahib would meet them at his place after Fajr prayers. Later he would go for a morning walk at the Doongi Ground with the poet and would also offer them tea which he prepared himself.

Abbas said Sufi Tabassum was fond of cooking and the dishes he fondly cooked were siri paye and shab daig.

Iftakhar Majaz said one of Sufi Tabassum’s great contributions was the Punjabi translation of Ghalib’s poetry.

Dr Omar Adil said the poems Sufi Tabassum wrote for children were still relevant.

Among others who spoke on the occasion included Safeer Ali, Arshad Mahmood and Anwar Waqar Azeem.

Published in Dawn, February 13th, 2016