Media Should Be Bold and Truthful: High Commissioner Seychelles Dr. Ausaf Sayeed

Consul General Releases Book Sach To Magar Kehne Do

“The media must be bold and truthful. It must audaciously uphold the truth and not just apprise but educate and reform the society”, observed the High Commissioner of India to Seychelles Dr. Ausaf Sayeed.

Dr. Ausaf Sayeed was addressing an elite gathering of intellectuals on 6th February during the launch of the book ‘Sach Toh Magar Kehne Do’ (But.. Let Truth Be Told) – a concise collection of editorials written in Urdu by veteran journalist Dr. Syed Fazil Hussain Parvez.

Addressing his first public function after appointment to Seychelles, he pointed out that Urdu had so much prevalence and importance in erstwhile era that even India’s First Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s wedding card and the FIR of Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination were written in Urdu language.

The launch ceremony was organized under the aegis of Media Plus and Gawah Urdu Weekly, and presided over by Prof. S.A.Shukoor, Director-Secretary Urdu Academy. Mr. Syed Vicaruddin, editor of nonagenarian Urdu daily Rahnuma-e-Deccan graced the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, author pointed out the challenges in speaking and essaying the truth. He observed that “while truth ultimately triumphs, relations including family and social ties are usually severed after truth is told. But whoever unfolds the truth experiences a unique feeling of satisfaction that is both abysmal and unparalleled, and cannot be achieved by any other means.”

Director-Secretary of Telangana State Urdu Academy Prof S.A.Shukoor lauded the author’s efforts and appreciated his choice of editorial topics, the expressive clarity of editorials, and the unique character of the book. He said ‘the book is important for bringing societal changes and must be read by the younger generation too, as there is a lot of learning in every article.’  Mr. Syed Vicaruddin lauded the author’s efforts and appreciated his shrewd sense of journalism.

The book ‘Sach toh Magar Kehne Do’ is a concise compilation of select 125 editorials published in his popular Urdu Weekly newspaper Gawah. The title page of the book is an artful masterpiece painted by world famous Hyderabadi artist Fawad Tamkanath, a canvas painting of which adorns a private collection in Switzerland. Another copy of this painting adorns the gallery at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport.

The author of the book who also edits the popular Urdu Weekly Gawah Dr. Syed Fazil Hussain Parvez also briefed about the book. He said ‘this is a shortlisted compilation of only 125 editorials out of nearly 500 written over the last 4 years.”

The compilation is a window to the various problems in our society, and presents an insightful understanding of the prevalent situations in author’s signature style of barebones and thought-provoking writing.

The book is made of 485 pages and costs Rs. 350. It is available for purchase from the office of Gawah Urdu Weekly, and Huda Publishers.

President of Bazm-e-Ittehad Jeddah, Yousufuddin Amjad also spoke while Padmashree Dr. M.A.Waheed, Mr. Zafar Javeed graced the occasion as Guests of Honour.