Lahore, The Government College University Lahore Urdu Department Monday hosted a Patras-Faiz Seminar to mark the death anniversary of Prof. Ahmed Shah Bokhari 'Patras' – the great writer, translator, teacher, broadcaster and finally a diplomat at the highest levels of the United Nations, and to pay tribute to Fiaz Ahmad Fiaz – a noted poet and student Prof. Ahmed Shah Bokhari 'Patras'. GCU Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Muhammad Khaleeq was the chief guest at the seminar which was also addressed by Faiz’ grandson Ali Madeeh Hashmi, Faiz’ daughter Muneeza Hashmi, Patras’ son Haroon Bokhari, noted critic Dr. Saadat Saeed and GCU Urdu Department Chairperson Dr. Shafeeq Aajmi.

Addressing the seminar, Prof. Khaleeq said that the GC University is proud to be the alma mater of great poets and men of letters like Allama Muhammad Iqbal, Prof. Ahmed Shah Bokhari 'Patras' and Faiz Ahmed Faiz and will keep their traditions alive. He said the literary works of these great men are like lampposts which guide them to peace and progress. The Vice Chancellor also highlighted the various aspects of 'Patras' and Faiz’s personality.
Speaking on the occasion, Ali Madeeh Hashmi remembered Prof. Ahmed Shah Bokhari 'Patras', as Professor of English at Government College Lahore, was merciless on students who did not display originality of thought. One former student, author Kanhaiya Lal Kapoor, writes in an essay: "In my first exam, I wrote several quotes from famous critics and writers. Mr. Bokhari gave me a zero and wrote 'you have written verbatim quotes in several places from FL Lucas and Professor Quiller-Couch. They were my teachers in Cambridge and obviously I am not qualified to be their examiner. I am examining you.'"

He said that 'Faiz’ and ‘Patras’ had a close personal friendship in addition to a student-mentor one. While Faiz always spoke reverently of his teacher, Bokhari, in typically irreverent style, once wrote to Faiz's wife Alys from London a few months before his death in 1958: "I would love to hear news of your household but also know that he [Faiz] never will write since he is an intoxicated poet ["shair-e-must"]. I heard somewhere that he is being sent to jail then heard that the offer of hospitality had been withdrawn. I cannot decide what I find funnier, that they are going to lock him up or that they are not. You and I would prefer, of course, that he remain with us rather than us going around filling forms to see him."

Speaking on the occasion, Faiz’ daughter Muneeza Hashmi shared her childhood interactions with legendary Patras Bokhari who had come to share a few moments with a pupil he loved dearly, Faiz.

Noted critic Dr. Saadat Saeed and GCU Urdu Department Chairperson Dr. Shafeeq Aajmi also paid tribute of ‘Patras’ and ‘Faiz’.

The Debating Society’s public-speakers presented an oratorical rendition of Faiz’s verses and Patras Bokhari’s literary writings in the tradition of the legendary Zulfiqar Bokhari and Zia Moeud Deen, while the musicians and singer of GCU Nazir Ahmed Music Society also presented Kalam-e-Faiz.