IT was a very good morning with Saudi Gazette editor and in-charge of ‘Awaz' Urdu weekly, Sameera Aziz, as Jeddah's eminent literary personalities and Urdu poets gathered to honor Aziz Friday morning. “She has donned several role models – from being a journalist, social worker and literary bug to a responsible mother and a devoted wife. Aziz's roadmap to success is her determined attitude,” said Prof. Khursheed Anwar Chaudhary. Organized by Karvaan-e-Fikr, the two-hour sitting included a mushaira and presentation of maqalas (articles) and poems in Aziz's praise. Several couplets of Aziz, who is also a poetess, were quoted by poets to highlight her literary competence. Though the romance of a ‘literary evening' was missing, Aziz's presence and her story of determination, literary contribution, journalistic boldness (she has to her credit several sting operations – a rare genre of journalism in the Kingdom), social work and family responsibility – all woven into couplets, were enough to charge up the Friday morning. Thanking the organizers for honoring her, Aziz, true to her personality, said, “One can achieve success only with untiring, selfless and sincere efforts.” She said that there is no shortcut to success. The program was convened by Tahir Jameel and was presided over by Raja Arshad Hussain. Speakers and poets included: Dr Imtiaz Baloch, Prof. Khursheed Anwar Chaudhary, Prof. Chishti, Chaudhary Mohammed Rafiq, Tabassum Alvi, Qari Shehzad Hassan, Dr Mehmood Iqbal Hyder, Gul Anwar, Mohsin Alvi, Mohammed Usman, Abdur Rahman Zahid and Syed Mussarat Khalil. Qari Mohammed Akram Rahimi concluded the function with prayers. Karvaan-e-Fikr has held various literary functions in the past as well.
