The Chief Minister of Sindh, Arbab Rahim, and the Sindh Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Social Welfare, Rauf Siddiqui, both gave away important literary awards to the writers and artistes. They also informed the audience that this was for the first time that the provincial government of a province gave such awards.
The awards that were given away on Thursday at a local hotel included Shah Latif Excellence Award, Shaikh Ayaz Award, and the Josh Malihabadi Award. In the case of those late writers, the awards were given away either to their next-of-kin. The biggest award namely Shah Latif Excellence Award (SLEA) which also carries an honorarium of Rs100,000, was announced for Late Novelist Shaukat Siddiqui, Late Translator, journalist and Poet, Hasan Abidi, Late Ahmed Hussain Siddiqui (a historian and former KDA Director who wrote a book on Karachi’s history as well).
The Lifetime Achievement Award was announced for the late poet, writer and social scientist, Raees Amrohavi. The other two awards namely Josh Malihabadi Award and Shaikh Ayaz Award (with an honorarium of Rs75,000 each) were bestowed upon writers, critics and artistes Ali Baba, Sirajul Haq Memon, Atta Muhammad Bembro, Dr Ayaz Qadiri, Ammar Jaleel, the late Mohsin Bhopali, short story writer and playwright Asad Muhammad Khan, TV Producer Haroon Rind, artiste and leader of ‘Tehreek-e-Niswan’, Sheema Kirmani, and the late Singer Mai Bhaagi.
Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Raheem and Provincial Minister Rauf Siddiqui both in their speeches vowed that they would keep up their efforts for the uplift of writers and artistes and all those working for the promotion of art and culture in society.
Dr Jamiluddin Aali who was also requested to give away awards to the award winners, urged the Chief Minister to officially set up an organisation or foundation such as Shah Latif Foundation and give it a more reasonable grant for the uplift of the writers.
Sheema Kirmani who appeared to be very excited while receiving her award said that the giving away of award to a dance was evident that the rulers were now acknowledging the ‘Raqs’ and those doing this very healthy and educative activity in the society.
Source: The News
Date:4/20/2007
