The well-attended reference was addressed by eminent newspaper editors, columnists, scholars, intellectuals and Punjabi writers who paid glowing tribute to late Tanvir Mirza for his outstanding services to journalism, history and literature of Punjab and his life-long mission to make Punjabi language a medium of instruction at least up to matriculation level.
Speakers included I A Rehman, Hussain Naqi, Munno Bhai, Masudullah Khan, Raja Aurangzeb, Tanvir Mirza's daughter Tabshara Bano, Punjabi writers Perveen Malik, Dr Sughra Sadaf and Shanawar Chaddar, LPC President Arshad Ansari and Secretary Zulfikar Ali Matho.
Veteran journalist and intellectual I A Rehman said Tanvir Mirza had devoted his life to the promotion of Punjabi language, culture, literature and journalism. His struggle to make Punjabi language as medium of education in the Punjab was rational and justified.
Well-known journalist, intellectual and human rights activist Hussain Naqi said that during his 45-year-long association with Tanvir Mirza, he found him to be an honest intellectual and professional and a journalist with integrity. Shafqat Tanvir Mirza, he said, had never compromised his principles under duress and made great sacrifices for freedom of expression and free press.
Recalling his life-long friendship with Shafqat Tanvir Mirza, eminent columnist and playwright Munno Bhai said that they were both born in Wazirabad in the same year, they lived and studied in the same colleges and worked together in the same newspapers for several years. "Our likes and dislikes, our ideals, principles , social circles and pursuits were the same."
Another of Tanvir Mirza's friend and a staunch activist of free press and democracy, Masudullah Khan said that late Tanvir Mirza preferred to go to jail than striking a compromise with dictators. "His massive contributions to Punjabi literature, culture, history and language are unmatched. Shafqat Tanvir Mirza will live in history as a true lover of Punjabi language . He was a great humanist, scholar, researcher, writer and analyst."
Another close associate and a relative of STM, journalist Raja Aurangzeb screened some TV interviews of the late scholar to clarify that STM's approach was least parochial but universal. He wanted to interlink regional languages through dictionaries and common heritage and literature in various Pakistani languages. STM's daughter Tabshara Bano broke down while narrating her father's kindness, tolerance, commitment to his profession and the Punjabi language.
President of the Lahore Press Club Arshad Ansari said the club had decided to set up a permanent chair in the name of Shafqat Tanvir Mirza to pay tribute to the late scholar for his great services to journalism profession and Punjabi literature. Secretary LPC Zulfikar Ali Matho also spoke on the occasion.