Hasnain Jafri
KARACHI: Tarimat Katha, a book on feminist literature by Dr. Sadia Kamal, is a commendable initiative that highlights the issues faced by women trapped in the regressive social structures of the region and soil, including Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. These views were expressed by speakers at the book launch ceremony of Tarimat Katha, authored by senior Islamabad-based journalist Dr. Sadia Kamal, held in collaboration with the Karachi Press Club.
The ceremony, chaired by Dr. Tauseef Ahmed at the Karachi Press Club, featured addresses by writers and poets Usman Jami, Dr. Mehboob Tabish, Qazi Asif, Tasleem, Ikram, Dr. J. Pal Chhabria, and Nasreen Gul, while the proceedings were conducted by Fahmeeda Yousufi. Among those present on the occasion were senior journalists Tahir Noor, Abdul Rehman, Arshad Baig, Naseer Ahmed, Shabbir Soomro, Abdul Hafeez Abid, Saeed Anwar Boneri, Kamran Lashari, Naeem Akhtar, Hameed Ashrafi, Zahid Abbas Khan, Shehar Bano, Shaista Bukhari, Khurshid Anjum, Comrade Rauf Khan Lund, Ramzan Qadir, Rashid Aziz Bhutta, Khurshid Pehwar, Khalil Fareedi, Rizwan Qalandari, Hatem Khan Advocate, Abid Buzdar, senior journalist Shakeel Kanga, Anees Haider, Abdullah Sarohi, Rashid Khan, and others.
Dr. Tauseef Ahmed said that in societies where women are not readily accepted, women have nevertheless proven their abilities across all walks of life. He described Tarimat Katha as a unique book in which short stories by women fiction writers from five languages-Saraiki, Punjabi, Sindhi, Balochi, and Pashto-have been translated into Urdu. He emphasized that development is not possible without women and termed Dr. Sadia Kamal’s creative work a welcome addition to feminist literature.
Renowned writer and poet Usman Jami stated that in Tarimat Katha, Dr. Sadia Kamal has succinctly analyzed the shared themes, social trends, and realities of feminist literature across five regional languages, effectively conveying to readers that the sufferings of women across this land are largely shared. He added that the book provides an introductory understanding of the dimensions, themes, and standards of feminist literature, inspiring readers to explore the subject further.
Dr. Mehboob Tabish remarked that Tarimat Katha, encompassing feminist literature from five languages, is a remarkable addition to the literary field.
In her concluding remarks, the author Dr. Sadia Kamal thanked the Karachi Press Club, the distinguished guests, and the participants. She said that Tarimat Katha serves as a fundamental reference for students engaged in research and conveys the message that not every man is cruel, authoritarian, or oppressive, just as not every woman is oppressed, subjugated, or weak. She added that it is an undeniable reality that women today stand shoulder to shoulder with men in the literary arena, and God willing, this journey will continue.
