New Delhi, March 12, 2026 Prof. Mazhar Asif, Honourable Vice-Chancellor, Jamia Millia Islamia, delivered the first Qurratulain Hyder memorial lecture on Tuesday, 10th March, 2026 in a grand event organised by Jamia’s Premchand Archives and Literary Centre, Jamia Millia Islamia in its main hall. The lecture was presided by Prof. Md. Mahtab Alam Rizvi, Registrar, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi.
Speaking on the topic, ‘Rumi And Kabir: Ek Taqabuli Motala’, Prof Mazhar Asif delivered a highly thought-provoking and scholarly lecture to an engaged audience composed of the faculty members, scholars and students from across the university. Prof Asif spoke at length on both Rumi and Kabir pointing out that both had similar ideas on several subjects and issues. Prof. Asif expounded on these ideas in great detail, quoting extensively from the Quran, Hadith, Persian, Urdu and Hindi poetry. He highlighted the commonality of ideas in their preachings on human values, love, humanity and brotherhood among people. His intellectually stimulating talk on Rumi and Kabir set an inspiring tone for the entire session. The depth and richness of his insights into the philosophical and spiritual resonances between the two great mystic poets offered the audience a rare opportunity to reflect on shared mystic traditions across the world.
Prof. Asif also thanked Prof. Md. Mahtab Alam Rizvi for accepting his invitation to preside over the session and also for enlightening the students with his expertise on international relations and polity.
Prof. Iqtidar Mohd. Khan, Dean, Faculty of Humanities & Languages, JMI lauded the depth of knowledge offered by Prof. Mazhar Asif, especially in relation to the Quran and different languages of the world.
On the occasion, Prof. Shahzad Anjum, Director of the Archives inaugurated the event by thanking the honorable Vice Chancellor, Prof. Asif for being generous enough to support such academic activities at the Archives which go a long way into enhancing the level of debates and discussions among the scholars, students and faculties of JMI.
The Programme was conducted by Dr. Khalid Mubashshir, Department of Urdu, JMI. Dr. Syed Mohd Amir, Archivist, introduced Qurratulain Hyder by reading a brief note on her,, including her distinguished writings. Ms. Snigdha Roy, Archivist, introduced the speaker and his achievements in the academic field. The event concluded with a formal vote of thanks by Ms. Shradha Shankar, Assistant Archivist.
Qurratulain Hyder (1928–2007) was a leading Indian Urdu fiction writer who was regarded highly for her refined prose. She wrote in both Urdu and English, and her works have been translated into many Indian languages. In 1989, she received the Jnanpith Award, India’s highest literary honor. She received the Padma Bhushan in 2005.
