Patna (Press Release) Parvez Shahidi was a progressive poet and an active activist of the movement. He belonged to the Dabistan of Azimabad. He has been successful in both ghazal and nazm. He has maintained individuality in his ghazals with thought and feeling, and in his nazms, he has poured emotions and sensations with great success and artistic dexterity. Parvez Shahidi mastered the Bengali language and translated many of its masterpieces into Urdu. He was associated with the Communist Party movement as a pillar and actively participated in its activities. As a result, he was detained and spent about a year and a half in prison.

These thoughts and impressions were expressed by prominent Urdu intellectuals at the Parvez Shahidi Memorial Ceremony and Bazar-e-Sukhan program organized by the Urdu Directorate, Department of Cabinet Secretariat, Government of Bihar, at the auditorium, Finishing Nath Renu, Hindi Bhavan, near Akashwani, Chhajju Bagh, Patna. The program began with the lighting of the lamp. The ceremony was presided over by Professor Mash-taq Ahmad, Principal of CM College, Darbhanga. The welcome and introductory speech was delivered by SM Parvez Alam, Director of Urdu Directorate.

In his presidential address, Professor Mash-taq Ahmad said that Parvez Shahidi was not only an identity but also a flag-bearer of the Dabistan of Azimabad. He was a guardian of the civilization of ghazal. Parvez Shahidi's aesthetics are not traditional, but his poetry also contains the element of classical music. The President said that Parvez Shahidi was the first Urdu poet to write poetry on the Saragam scale. He said that Parvez Shahidi's poetry has made progressivism, Marxism, and the healthy and developed atmosphere of Bengal fragrant. He said that Parvez Shahidi's poetry is a beautiful blend of sincerity, rebellion, brotherhood, and defeat.

Earlier, while delivering the welcome and introductory speech, SM Parvez Alam, Director of Urdu Directorate, warmly welcomed all the guests and lovers of Urdu. He explained the purpose and objective of the program, saying that the Government of Bihar is serious and active in promoting Urdu. The Director said that under the "Memorial Ceremony Scheme" of the Urdu Directorate, a memorial ceremony is organized every year for prominent Urdu poets, writers, researchers, and critics. Under this scheme, the approval of the Government of Bihar has been obtained for the organization of memorial ceremonies for 22 writers, poets, and researchers. In the current financial year 2025-26, the Urdu Directorate has organized a total of 12 memorial ceremonies with the active cooperation of scholars and respected audiences.

The basic purpose of organizing memorial ceremonies is to pay tribute to the life, literary services, and achievements of a great and respected personality. Through such ceremonies, we not only remember the academic, literary, social, and national services of deceased writers, poets, researchers, and critics but also keep their thoughts and ideas alive so that the new generation can take guidance from them. Such ceremonies promote knowledge, literature, poetry, and cultural values in society. The new generation becomes aware of the academic services and literary assets of their elders and gets the courage to pass them on to future generations.

The Director said that Parvez Shahidi is one of the few great poets of Bihar, who is considered the pride of Bihar's poetry and literature. He is considered a frontline poet among progressive poets. He is a poet who believes in progressive ideas and has absorbed the sorrows and pains of marginalized people into his soul and then presented them in the form of poetry with artistic beauty. Parvez Shahidi is a true patriot, a secular thinker, and a holder of healthy values. This is why his poetry has become the voice of the heart of oppressed humanity, full of collective consciousness and social justice.

Parvez Shahidi has adopted both nazm and ghazal as his medium of expression at the same time. His nazms are as beautiful and majestic as his ghazals are a rare blend of thought and art. The Director said that in the literary world of Bihar, Parvez Shahidi has a distinct identity and a respected position due to the uniqueness, classical, and romantic beauty of his poetry, and the balanced socialist tone. Therefore, a sincere assessment of his poetry is necessary.

While presenting a paper on Parvez Shahidi, renowned writer and critic Sultan Azad discussed his thoughts and art. He said that Parvez Shahidi's poetry is full of distinctive features. Parvez Shahidi has a unique identity among Urdu poets due to his specific tone and style. The specialty of his poetry is his romanticism, although his romantic nazms also have a revolutionary tone. His unique style, passionate tone, and revolutionary and romantic blend have given his poetry a special dimension.

Dr. Muhammad Amanullah, Senior Assistant Professor, BR Ambedkar Bihar University, Muzaffarpur, spoke about Parvez Shahidi's rubais. He said that Parvez Shahidi's rubais are also full of romanticism. He kept the public mood and trend in mind while writing his rubais, which is why his mushairas were popular among the people. They cover various topics from a thought-provoking perspective. He introduced the rubai to a new style. He took traditional topics of rubai, wisdom, ethics, and habits as his subject. He had a sense of contemporary feeling. He presented every burning issue in a poetic form with artistic dexterity.

Dr. Shabnam Parveen, Assistant Professor, Department of Urdu, Vaishali Mahila College, presented her paper on the topic "Romantic and Revolutionary Poet". She said that Parvez Shahidi presented the voice of silent hearts in words in Urdu poetry. He had a creative passion that made his poetry flourish. Parvez Shahidi's delicacy of expression, depth, and aesthetic balance gave him a special place among his contemporary poets. His poetry has a pleasant blend of revolution and romantic feelings.

Under the presentation of students, Muhammad Ghulam Ghous and Muhammad Shah Jahan, BR Ambedkar Bihar University, Muzaffarpur, presented their creations on Parvez Shahidi. On this occasion, Parvez Shahidi's nephew, Ishtiaq Yousuf, was honored with a bouquet and a shawl. Ishtiaq Yousuf read out a message from Parvez Shahidi's daughter, Tamanna, and his nephew in Toronto, Canada, addressed to the Urdu Directorate.

In the second session, a poetry symposium was organized under the chairmanship of Professor Shaqir Khaliq (Darbhanga) and the moderation of Asar Faridi. Dr. Muhammad Aftab Alam Athar (Gaya), Rouhul Haq Hamdam (Motihari), Pankaj Karn (Muzaffarpur), Dr. Nutan Singh (Jamoee), Shams Tabrez (Katihar), Akhtar Wasif (Patna), and Behtallah Ansari (Chhapra) delighted the audience with their poetry.

On this occasion, the poetry of Director SM Parvez Alam was also appreciated by the audience. Muhammad Hashim managed the memorial ceremony with great skill. The ceremony was attended by numerous important personalities, including Professor Ejaz Ali Arshad, Professor Tauqir Alam, Zafar Siddiqui, Dr. AK Alvi, Dr. Afshan Bano, Master Muhammad Asid, Sabir Sohravi, Dr. Sarwar Hussain, Mash-taq Ahmad Nuri, Shaista Anjum Nuri, Ashfaq Adil, Munir Saifi, Qasim Ahmed, Moin Gradehvi, Dr. Nasrullah Nasr Nastvi, Ejaz Rasool, Rukhsana Khatoon, Asghar Hussain Kamel, and Muslehuddin Kazim. The ceremony ended with the vote of thanks by Director SM Parvez Alam.