PU starts first-ever Int’l calligraphy conference

Lahore, The first-ever international conference on calligraphy titled “Sarir-e-Khama: Art of Pen” in the history of Punjab University started at University College of Art & Design, Old Campus on Monday.

In this regard, an opening ceremony was arranged at Senate Hall in which famous industrialist Syed Baber Ali participated as chief guest while PU VC Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran, Principal PUCAD Prof Dr Rahat Naveed Masood, Director General and Cultural Attaché Iranian Cultural Centre Lahore Prof Dr Abbas Khamori, world’s distinguished calligrapher and Baghdad University’s professor Dr Sallah Shahzad, Pakistan Calligraphers Association General Secretary Irfan Qureshi, renowned calligraphers from Middle East, Iran, Turkey and Pakistan, faculty members and a large number of students and people from various walks of life were present on the occasion.

PU VC Dr Mujahid Kamran while addressing on this occasion praised the efforts of Dr Rahat Naveed Masood and said that this is the first time in history that international conference on calligraphy is planned by Punjab University only because of her efforts.
 
Famous Industrialist Syed Baber Ali admired the efforts of Dr Rahat Naveed Masood in organizing international conference on calligraphy and said that it would encourage calligraphers. Dr Sallah Shahzad said that the delegates and the students would benefit from the conference and share their experiences and knowledge.

Dr Rahat Naveed Masood thanked Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mujahid Kamran for his support in conducting the conference and said that it would provide an opportunity to students to learn. Dr. Rahat Naveed titled the exhibition as a bold effort in stimulating the fading art of calligraphy in Pakistan.

Mr Irfan Qureshi instructed the participants regarding schedule of the conference and threw light on the artwork of calligraphers. Later, the participants visited Anna Molka Art Gallery and Main Hall and lauded the artwork of calligraphers. This exhibition is a unique assortment of Islamic and Quranic manuscript created by matchless masters of this art.

The show included a unique piece of Kufic Manuscript written on a deerskin dated 1st Century Hijra to the masterpieces of the Mughal and British era. Moreover, unique pieces of Quranic manuscripts, in various styles of writing known as Khat are put on display like Khat-e Naskh, Khat-e Nasta’liq, Khat-e Thulth, Khat-e Rehan, Khat-e Bahar and Khat-e Turkistani. These pieces are not only matchless in their rendering, but also have historic value as they are dated back to the 1st, 8th, 9th, 11th and 13th Century Hijra. The maestros whose work is on display are: Mir Ali Tibrezi who is considered as the founder of Khat-e Nasta’liq, Mazhar al-Husaini, Ahmad bin Muhammad Tibrezi, Ahmad bin Masoom Ali, Faqir Abd-al Jabbar, Muhammad bin Othman and Abd al-Rasheed Dehlavi.
 
This show will remain open till December 19 and is afterward a three-day conference and six-day workshop on the art of calligraphy will be included.