ISLAMABAD (MNN); The Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL), under the National Heritage and Culture Division, Government of Pakistan, organized a ceremony in Islamabad to launch the Urdu translation of Prison Diary, the acclaimed poetic work of Vietnamese revolutionary leader, poet and founder of modern Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh.
The ceremony was held at the Sheikh Ayaz Conference Hall of the Pakistan Academy of Letters and was attended by diplomats from several ASEAN countries, along with prominent writers, intellectuals and literary figures.
Among the distinguished guests were Ambassador of Thailand Rong Vudhī Virabutr, Malaysian High Commissioner Dato’ Muhammad Azhar Mazlan, Brunei Darussalam High Commissioner Colonel (Retd.) Pengiran Haji Kamal Bashah Pengiran Haji Ahmad, Cuban Ambassador Damian Cordero Torres, Indonesian Chargé d’Affaires Rahmat Hindiarta and Myanmar Chargé d’Affaires Maung Maung Thon.
The ceremony was moderated by Dr Hamza Hassan Sheikh.
Welcoming the guests, Chairperson of the Pakistan Academy of Letters Prof. Dr Najiba Arif said Prison Diary was not merely an account of a revolutionary leader’s imprisonment, but also a powerful poetic expression of human freedom, hope, courage and determination.
She said the Urdu translation of the book was undertaken under a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Pakistan Academy of Letters and Vietnam, describing it as an important milestone in strengthening literary and cultural cooperation between the two countries.
Dr Najiba Arif also expressed her commitment to further expanding literary and cultural links between Pakistan and ASEAN countries.
At the conclusion of her address, she led a Fatiha in memory of renowned writer, poet and intellectual Haleem Qureshi, who passed away during a ceremony at the Pakistan Academy of Letters the previous day. She also paid tribute to his literary contributions and services.
Prof Munir Fayyaz and former ambassador Salahuddin Chaudhry highlighted various aspects of Prison Diary, Ho Chi Minh’s personality, poetry and political struggle. They also recited selected verses from the book.
Presiding over the session, Imdad Akash described Ho Chi Minh as a symbol of courage, resistance and freedom for oppressed nations and presented selected verses from the collection.
Vietnamese diplomatic representative Phan Anh Toan thanked Dr Najiba Arif and the Pakistan Academy of Letters for organizing the event. He said Ho Chi Minh’s poetry reflected Vietnamese national thought, freedom and sovereignty.
He termed the Urdu and English translations of Prison Diary an important development in strengthening literary relations between Pakistan and Vietnam.
Prison Diary is regarded as an important literary work of the 20th century. Written during Ho Chi Minh’s imprisonment, the collection explores themes of loneliness, confinement and human suffering while expressing hope, courage, freedom and steadfast determination.
The Urdu translation has been rendered by Kausar Khanum, while Najma Saqib carried out its revision.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, Phan Anh Toan presented commemorative gifts to Dr Najiba Arif, speakers and organizers. Dr Najiba Arif, in turn, presented the distinguished guests with gift packages containing publications of the Pakistan Academy of Letters.
The diplomatic representatives and other guests subsequently visited a book exhibition and cultural stall arranged by the Embassy of Vietnam at the Pakistan Academy of Letters. They were introduced to books showcasing Vietnam’s rich literary and cultural heritage, along with a selection of cultural artifacts.
The event highlighted the shared commitment of Pakistan, Vietnam and ASEAN countries to promoting literary and cultural cooperation, strengthening mutual understanding and building closer people-to-people and diplomatic ties.
