ZUBAIR QURESHI
\nIslamabad
\nThe Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL), under the National Heritage and Culture Division, Tuesday launched the Urdu translation of Prison Diary, the celebrated poetic work of Vietnamese revolutionary leader, poet and founder of modern Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh.
\nThe launch ceremony was held at the Sheikh Ayaz Conference Hall of the Pakistan Academy of Letters and attended by diplomats from ASEAN countries, writers, intellectuals and literary figures.
\nAmbassador of Thailand Rong Vudh\u012b Virabutr, Malaysian High Commissioner Dato\u2019 Muhammad Azhar Mazlan, Brunei Darussalam High Commissioner Colonel (Retd.) Pengiran Haji Kamal Bashah Pengiran Haji Ahmad, Cuban Ambassador Damian Cordero Torres, Indonesian Charg\u00e9 d\u2019Affaires Rahmat Hindiarta and Myanmar Charg\u00e9 d\u2019Affaires Maung Maung Thon were among the distinguished guests.
\nThe ceremony was moderated by Dr Hamza Hassan Sheikh.
\nWelcoming the guests, PAL Chairperson Prof Dr Najiba Arif said Prison Diary was not merely an account of a revolutionary leader but also a poetic expression of human freedom, hope, courage and determination.
\nShe said the Urdu translation had been undertaken under a memorandum of understanding signed between the Pakistan Academy of Letters and Vietnam, describing the initiative as an important milestone in strengthening literary and cultural cooperation between the two countries.
\nDr Najiba said the academy was also committed to further strengthening literary links with ASEAN countries.
\nAt the conclusion of her address, she led a Fatiha for renowned writer, poet and intellectual Haleem Qureshi, who had passed away during a ceremony at the Pakistan Academy of Letters the previous day, and paid tribute to his literary services.
\nProf Munir Fayyaz and former ambassador Salahuddin Chaudhry discussed different aspects of Prison Diary, Ho Chi Minh\u2019s personality, poetry and political struggle. They also presented selected verses from the work. Presiding over the session, Imdad Akash described Ho Chi Minh as a symbol of courage, resistance and freedom for oppressed nations and recited selected verses from the book.
\nVietnamese diplomatic representative Phan Anh Toan thanked Dr Najiba Arif and the Pakistan Academy of Letters for promoting the Urdu edition. He said Ho Chi Minh\u2019s poetry reflected Vietnamese national thought, freedom and sovereignty.
\nHe described the Urdu and English translations of Prison Diary as significant developments in strengthening literary relations between Pakistan and Vietnam.
\nConsidered an important literary work of the 20th century, Prison Diary gives poetic expression to imprisonment, loneliness and human suffering while conveying themes of freedom, hope, courage and steadfast determination.
\nThe Urdu translation has been rendered by Kausar Khanum, while Najma Saqib carried out its revision.
\nAt the conclusion of the ceremony, Phan Anh Toan presented commemorative gifts to the PAL chairperson, speakers and organisers. Dr Najiba Arif presented distinguished guests with gift packages containing publications of the Pakistan Academy of Letters.
\nThe diplomatic representatives and other guests later visited a book exhibition and cultural stall arranged by the Embassy of Vietnam at the academy. They were introduced to books showcasing Vietnam\u2019s literary and cultural heritage as well as various cultural artefacts.
\nThe ceremony underscored the shared commitment of Pakistan, Vietnam and ASEAN countries to promoting literary and cultural cooperation, mutual understanding and stronger people-to-people ties.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ZUBAIR QURESHI Islamabad The Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL), under the National Heritage and Culture Division, Tuesday launched the Urdu translation of Prison Diary, the celebrated poetic work of Vietnamese revolutionary leader, poet and founder of modern Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh. The launch ceremony was held at the Sheikh Ayaz Conference Hall of the Pakistan […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":562613,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-562681","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-national"],"yoast_head":"\n