He also wrote treatises on mechanics, geography, mineralogy, music and Islamic theology and lived from May 18, 1048 to December 4, 1131. The documentary gripped the audience so tightly that they were unaware of their surroundings. The 'Rubaiyat' of Omar Khayyam were recited in Persian, with English translation by Usman Qazi. The translation of some of Kayyam's verse, reads: It is dawn, O my sweetheart, rise! Gently drink wine; gently play the harp. For those who dwell here will not last very long. And of those who leave, none shall return.
Another beautiful Rubayi reads: Oh, come with old Khayyam, and leave the Wise. To talk; one thing is certain, that Life flies; One thing is certain, and the Rest is Lies; The Flower that once has blown for ever dies. Following this, a specially prepared mime directed by Indu Mitha was presented by students and friends of 'Mazmoon-e-Shauq', which thrilled the audience and they could help praise the performance of the erstwhile artists.
Irfan Ahmed Qureshi, a Lahore-based artist presented a description about his calligraphic paintings. He said that it's the second exhibition of the last series as the first one was about Maulana Jalauddin Roomi. He said that the life of Khayyam was always in spin and never faced stagnation. Pakistan is passing through a crucial phase of history and its economy is not only standstill but is also deteriorating. Such events give an impetus to the thinking minds to move ahead with vigour when the country needs them the most. "Khayyam's poetry is a reflection of continues change and bogged down by the gale of stagnation", he added.
Britta Petersen, country director of Henrich Boll Stiftung who was the chief guest said that in every verse of Khayyam's poetry carries a message for all of us to move ahead with rejuvenated strength. "He always stood up against fanaticism and it's something we need to promote to get the world particularly Pakistan out of the alligators' jaws [and] we all must join hands to make it moto", she maintained.
Omar Khayyam was an eminent mathematician, a astronomer and a philosopher, as well as a poet, she said, adding that most people today know little about his philosophical work, life and thought. Khayyam's poetry touches the very foundation of human life; its direct and plain expression actually gives depth to it as well. Khayyam's message is joy and trust in life, she concluded.