The Department of Urdu, University of Jammu organized ‘meet the writer program’ here today in the Prof. Gain Chand seminar hall of the Department of Urdu, University of Jammu. Renowned Punjabi short story writer Khalid Hussian was the invited writer who interacted with the audience in a befitting manner.  The audience asked a number of questions regarding his life and literary works. He informed the audience  that he was born in a remote area of district Udampur. He started writing Punjabi and in a very short span of time he got name and fame as Punjabi writer. He too has written short stories in Urdu which has been liked by Urdu literary circle also. To a question from the audience he informed that Urdu and Punjabi are closely related and that is why a Urdu researcher Mehmood Sehrani has described Punjabi the mother of Urdu language .  He  described the language a link language of three regions of the state.  He also discussed the close association with the towering Urdu poets , writers and shared some of his memories with great writers like Ismat Chugtai and others. Khalid Hussain informed that both Indian and Pakistani Punjab’s short  stories are liked by one and all. 

Earlier a detail paper was presented on the life and works of Khalid Hussain by Dr. Shehnaz Qadri , Assistant Professor, Govt.  MAM College,  Jammu. She informed that Khalid Hussain was three year old when partition took place. He did  his schooling from the different school of Jammu and Kashmir State and started his carrier as a clerk but due to his hard work , dedication and commitment he retired as Dy. Commissioner in the Govt. of J&K. Dr Shehnaz Qadri in his thought provoking paper quoted various quotations of various Urdu critics who had described  Khalid Hussain a towering Punjabi and Urdu short story writer. She quoted the quotation of Noor Shah , Prof Qudose Javed, Khushbir Singh Shad and Prof. Shohab Inayat Malik who in their writing had discussed the Urdu short stories of Khalid Hussain in detail. She further informed that Khalid Hussain has written on partition of country. He as a literaturer never wanted the division of the country, therefore, pain of partition can be seen in the short stories of Khalid Hussain. Dr Shehnaz Qadri further said that Khalid Hussain has seen various ups and downs of the life. He has struggled hard and achieved his goal. He had been awarded the highest award by the Punjab Government two years back, which consists of one lac rupees, a shawl and a citation. Khalid Hussain is more popular in Pakistani Punjab where he frequently made literary visits and presented his short stories. He has published the collection of two Urdu short stories titled ‘Thandi Kagadi ka Duhan’ and Satisar ka Suraj”. In Sartisar ka Suraj Prof. Qudose Javeed has beautifully made the critical survey of Khalid Hussain,  informed Dr. Shehnaz Qadri. 

Earlier in his welcome address Prof. Shohab Inayat Malik, HOD Urdu, University of Jammu  threw light on the aims and objectives of meet the writer program. He said  these types of programs are very beneficial for students and scholars of the Department of Urdu as they directly interact with the author. This encourages the new generation to write poetry and prose by knowing the techniques of writing of reputed writers. Prof. Shohab Inayat Malik further informed that he has also requested the towering Urdu poet of the sub-continent Khushbir Singh Shad to interact with the students and scholars of the department of Urdu, University of Jammu, who has agreed to come in the month of January 2018. Prof. Shohab said that literary activities being organized in the department are  for the benefits of students and scholars of the department of Urdu.  The aim of the department is to organize these type of activities so that the students not only get text book knowledge but also the latest knowledge about the happenings  in Urdu literature. 

The proceeding of the program was conducted by Dr. Abdul Rashid Manhas, Assistant Professor of the department of Urdu while vote of thanks was presented by Dr. Farhat Shamim , Assistant Professor of the department of Urdu. The galaxy of writers, students ,scholars, Faculty members and members of the civil society attended the program.