More
than being a writer, Ibne Safi (1928-1980) was a phenomenon that shaped
the minds, souls and hearts of the first generation of Pakistanis and
continues to influence us even today. In his own times, he was read by
rulers of states, homemakers, professors, students and drivers of trucks
and rickshaws – and those who were illiterate would get his books read
out to them. By failing to pay any serious attention at understanding
the deeper layers of meanings in the writings of such an influential
writer we have failed to understand so much about ourselves. This
three-hour session offers a proper introduction to Ibne Safi for those
of the new generation who may have very little knowledge of him, and a
few new insights that might be new even for the most ardent fans. A
special focus of the session is the connection between Ibne Safi and the
kind of literature which Allama Iqbal wanted to promote. The session
will be conducted by the author’s son Ahmad Safi and the young
researcher Rashid Ashraf, a well-known figure of our cyberspace. |