Srinagar: A two-day international seminar on ‘Urdu Research and Criticism’ started at the University of Kashmir on Wednesday.
The seminar has been organised by the Directorate of Distance Education (DDE) with the support from the National Council for the Promotion of Urdu Language and Literature (NCPUL) and is being attended by renowned scholars from different parts of the country and abroad.
Director DDE Prof Tariq Ahmad Chishti formally welcomed the guests and participants at the inaugural session, where Prof K M Ikramudin from Centre of Indian Languages at JNU delivered the keynote address.
Prof Ikramuddin discussed the importance and significance of the topic and specifically described the current situation of Urdu research and criticism in various universities at the global level.
Prof Kausar Mazhari from Department of Urdu, JMI New Delhi, appreciated the efforts of DDE and said the seminar is being held on an important topic having huge contemporary relevance.
Prof Nazir Ahmad Malik, Former Head, Department of Urdu KU presented a model outline of the nature, basic features and direction of Urdu research and criticism in his presidential remarks.
The inaugural session was moderated by Dr Altaf Anjum, Assistant Professor (Urdu) DDE, who briefed the audience about the aims and objectives of the seminar.
Dr Mohammad Shahnawaz recited verses of the holy Quran at the inaugural session, where Dr Habibullah Shah, Assistant Professor DDE presented a vote of thanks.
Prof Shafiqa Parveen, Former Director DDE KU and Prof Kausar Mazhari chaired the first technical session, where Dr Muid-ur-Rahman from Department of Urdu, AMU, Dr Nusrat Jabeen Assistant Professor CUK, Dr Mushtaq Haider and Prof Riyaz Ahmad presented their papers. This session was moderated by Zahoor Ahmad Ganie, Research Scholar.
Prof Gayas-ud-Din, Head, Department of Urdu CUK and Prof Aijaz Muhammad Shaikh, Head, Department of Urdu KU chaired the second technical session, where Dr Muhammad Asif Malik, Dr Altaf Anjum, Dr Mushtaq Ahmad Ganie, Dr Gulam Rabbani (Department of Urdu, Dhaka University, Bangladesh) and Prof Nazir Ahmad Malik presented their papers.
This session was moderated by Sufi Sumaira, Research Scholar.

KR Desk