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By PARVEZ JAMIL
When creativity is all humble and humane and
where feelings flow straight from the heart, no matter how sorrowful
are the souls and no wonder how gloomy the atmosphere; beyond the
fragmented disposition is a glimmer of hope. As such, the
publication KIRCHIAN (Fragments) by Parvin Shere, a Canadian
of Pakistani origin, is a unique endeavor to streamline and
highlight human pains and agonies through a harmonious blend of
poetry, painting and presentation.
The God-gifted flair and faculty the author has for poetry, music
and painting reflect from her life and expression with the promise
and potential of an overwhelming influence on men of letters, men at
the helm of affairs and man in the street.
It becomes all the more objective and purposeful with the natural
and winning appeal the author possesses and presents through
beautifully blending pen and words with colors and brushes towards
projecting the meaning and reality of life.
As Parvin lives in Canada with her all-inspiring husband,
Professor Waris Shere and all-absorbing children, Sahba, Sheraz and
Feraz, the marvels of Manitoba are overwhelmed and overshadowed by
feelings she nurtures and nurses for the
distressed humanity, specially in her home of origin.
The book has two objectives for her: To be relentlessly sharing
the sorrows of the sad and suffering souls, particularly children,
especially where she comes from. And to endeavor, inform and enrich
her own children of the bitter legalities of life and to be in
touch with our language, and culture while living in Canada, the
land of worldly opportunities.
Imagine picking up fragments from the level of a bare-footed,
torn-clothed and heart-broken little boy washing vehicles for meager
money be it blazing sun or biting
cold. Think about comparing anguishing human predicament, poverty
and plight with blinding leisure, luxuries and lifestyles Of
materialistically bewitched or bewildered societies. That's the
stunning contrast with winning appeal Parvin Shere tend to depict
poem after poem and painting after painting, consciously or sub-
consciously, sooner or later and somehow or the other through
remarkable spontaneity she draws
from humane feelings and divine inspiration.
While sensitively it is all appealing and captivating,
statistically it is exclusive and
extra-ordinary. There are as many as 73 heart touching and thought
provoking poems and 91 eye-catching and mind-boggling paintings amid
echoes of earlending and attention grabbing charm and charisma. The
message is, however, simple and humble, projecting the suffering
humanity, specially the distressed children.
As feelings shatter into fragments and scatter over a gloomy
horizon, there are hosts of harassing tales amid harrowing
helplessness. The agony is "endless", as she depicts an unending
desert of loneliness and vividly portrays in "the last station",
scenes of sadness with feelings of desolation.
Whether lamenting about the tragedy of "Iraq and Iraqis or delving
into the eternally "Silent City" free of pain and pang or depicting
her woes through the
"shattered dreams" or crying plaintively over the crushed henna
leaves or sobbing profusely over lonely souls in old people's homes,
Parvin's expressions are
astoundingly and astonishingly boundless and baffling and find
solace in motherly love for her own children and cry and vie to
huddle and cuddle in her own
mother's arms for salvation and security.
Commenting on painting with elegance and eloquence, she talks of
of dreams unleash and come true amid "nairanig"(new colors)
spawning a garden in full bloom over canvas.
In "hum awaz", choral harmony, there is synchronization of
instrument with voice, urging enslaved melodies and songs to be
released for sharing and caring of the aggreieved humanity. She says
in "mera kalam" (my address): "let
them (the verses) blossom on the flowerbed of paper so that the
whole world can resound with fragrance".
As such, it is beyond fragments of a broken heart to fragrance of
noble, humble, and gentle feelings for the pained, distressed, and
aggrieved that is simply spellbinding.
While Ahmed Faraz, a celebrity of a poet calls her a goddess of
Greek mythology, Himayat Ali Shair, a visionary of a poet titles
Parvin a new Sarswati. Satyapal
Anand says, "The beauty of Shere's art is that the pictures
converse with you".
Kirchian was launched at the Regent Plaza in Karachi recently.
The Chief Guest of this occasion was Dr. Jamil Jalibi. It was well
attended, addressed and adored by such men of letters as Amjad Islam
Amjad, Dr Mohammad Ali Siddiqi, Dr. Pirzada Qasim Raza Siddiqi, SM
Moin Siddiqi, Himayat Ali Shair, Ishrat Romani and Anwar Ahmed Alvi.
It is selling high in Canada and in the United States. It is on
its way to be launched in New Delhi, India in early April. It is
expected to be available soon in Pakistan at affordable cost.
While every fraction of the fragments speaks for itself, the
tribute paid to KIRCHlAN by select and distinguished men of
letters, especially for its all humane Vision, originality,
feelings, compassion and reality, elevate and honor the author and
her book beyond Fragments to such heights and horizon where sky is
the limit.
Beyond fragments is a noble cause. All its earnings go to the
victims of earthquake in Pakistan and for the relief of the Tsunami
catastrophe. The real beneficial are envisioned to be the preys, or
victims of these natural calamities
especially children.
(The writer is associated with Institute of Business Management,
Korangi Creek, Karachi).
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