Sharjah, UAE: Musafirah International, a literary organization, hosted a ceremony to launch Rubina Faisal’s novel “Narsai” at the Pakistan Social Center Sharjah. The event was presided over by Dr. Sabahat Asim Wasti, with Professor Khawaja Akramuddin as the guest of honor.
The ceremony began with the recitation of the Holy Quran by Dr. Akram Shehzad, followed by a naat by Shafqat Ali Qadri. Ayesha Ashi, a poet based in the UAE, moderated the ceremony, while Asif Peerzada, Farah Shahid, Engineer Muhammad Ahsan, and Ali Zareek assisted with administrative matters.
Farah Shahid, an active member of Musafirah International, introduced the organization and its future plans, highlighting its commitment to promoting Urdu literature globally.
Suleman Jazib, founder of Musafirah International, praised Rubina Faisal’s contributions to Urdu literature, saying, “Rubina Faisal has maintained her connection with her homeland despite being abroad, and her novel ‘Narsai’ is a testament to her dedication to Urdu literature.”
Renowned translator Nabras Sohail praised the novel, saying its characters are real and the topic needs to be written about. Asif Peerzada, a key member of the administration committee, read selected pages and received applause.
Other notable speakers, including Shahabuddin Ahmed, Professor Shahab Inayat Malik, and Dr. Khawaja Muhammad Akramuddin, commended Rubina Faisal’s effort, hoping her book achieves a prominent position in Urdu literature.
Shahabuddin Ahmed, President of Bazm-e-Sadaf from Qatar, praised Rubina Faisal’s courage in tackling a difficult topic, saying, “Her effort is commendable, and hopefully, her book will achieve a prominent position in Urdu literature.”
Professor Shahab Inayat Malik, Head of Urdu Department at Jammu University, emphasized the importance of literature in breaking boundaries, saying, “Writers and artists are ambassadors of their country, spreading the message of love across borders.”
Dr. Khawaja Muhammad Akramuddin, President of the World Urdu Association, New Delhi, highlighted the novel’s unique identity, saying, “Rubina Faisal has written a story that is a tragedy of our society. We should write about such topics to initiate discussions.”
Dr. Asim Wasti, a senior poet and literary figure, praised the novel’s vivid characters and unique language, saying, “Narsai is an excellent novel that has truly portrayed the feelings of a woman. The way Rubina Faisal has written the story is magnificent, and this novel has successfully established its unique identity.”
Rubina Faisal, the author, thanked the organizers, saying, “I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the love and support I have received from the literary community in the UAE. My novel ‘Narsai’ is a story of a woman’s struggle against societal oppression, and I hope it resonates with readers worldwide.”
She further added, “I am proud to be a part of the Urdu literature community, and I hope my novel contributes to the rich literary heritage of our language.”
The ceremony concluded with certificate distribution to Rubina Faisal and guests by Chaudhry Khalid Hussain, President of Pakistan Social Center Sharjah, and Sulaiman Jazib, Founder Musfirah International.
The event was a significant milestone for Urdu literature enthusiasts and will be remembered for a long time.