Jammu, Jan 12: Minister for Higher Education, Labour and Employment, Abdul Gani Malik today said that the intellectuals and scholars are the asset of a society as they highlight emotions and aspirations of people through their writings.
 The Minister was addressing a two-day Jashan-e-Sadat Hassan Mantoo in Jammu University.On the occasion, Vice Chancellor Jammu University Prof Varun Sahni presided over the function while as former Vice Chancellor Kashmir University Prof. Reyaz Punjabi was the Guest of Honour.
 In his speech, Malik said that writers have an important role to play for strengthening relations between various sections of the society and also for maintaining communal harmony and brotherhood.
 Speaking about the contribution of legendary Urdu short story writer of the sub-continent Sadat Hassan Mantoo, the Minister said that he was founder of progressive Urdu short stories was impressed by Russain short story writer like Goete and Gorky in his early age.
 “Later he was associated with progressive writer’s movement and under the influence of this movement he presented unique themes in short stories. He wrote short stories on the relationships of man and women and psychology”, the Minister added.
 On the occasion, Prof. Reyaz Punjabi said that Mantoo was a prominent Urdu short story writer.
 “Mantoo wrote frequently and gave Urdu language new heights and superb status by authoring magnificent books,” Punjabi said.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 12 Jan 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:00:00 IST