Syeda Amtul Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — Manzoorul Ameen, a former director general of India's state-owned television channel Doordarshan, was felicitated by Bazme Shagoofa, a Jeddah-based community organization. A literary session dedicated to Ameen was held at a local restaurant here Sunday night. Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, Consul General of India, attended the event as the chief guest. Kidwai hailed the services of Ameen as an inspiring personality who worked not only for the development of Indian TV media but also has rendered countless services in literature, teaching, journalism and poetry. He said literary services of the late wife of Ameen, Rafiya, who had been a famous writer and stalwart of many activities of women's empowerment. Aleem Khan Falki, president of Socio-Reform Society Jeddah, welcomed the guests and gave a brief introduction on Ameen. Falki said Ameen started his career from Deccan Radio established by the then ruler of Hyderabad, Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan. After the fall of Hyderabad, he was appointed the director of All India Radio, Vividh Bharti and then he was selected for the panel who introduced TV in India for the first time. He had the privilege of writing Ham Log, the first ever television serial aired by Doordarshan. He worked as professor at Kashmir University, Jamia Milliya and Maulana Azad University as well as guest professor at various other universities in the country. As a poet, Ameen translated Masnavi in Urdu poetry and some other works in Hindi. His latest book, “Indian TV — Past, Present and Future,” will be published soon. He and his late wife had been among the patrons of “Shagoofa” monthly, a popular humor magazine published from Hyderabad for 45 years. Ameen presented some of his selected poetry and then gave a comprehensive talk on the development of Indian TV, which started as the nation's media mouthpiece but now one of the world's biggest commercial ventures. Answering a question, he said the misfortune of Urdu is that it has been neglected completely from the national media and he held the Urdu-speaking people themselves responsible for it. “In a democratic set-up, proper representation and lobbying is essential to promote any cause.” Qudsiya Hashmi, ex-member of Urdu Taraqqi Board and Urdu Academy of UP, while addressing the event revived the memories of Rafiya Ameen. She said Rafiya enlightened the country's women and helped them to come forward in education, economy and literature. Rafiya's novels have been picturized in many serials and films.
