By Abdus Sattar Ghazali
The Urdu Academy of North America paid rich tribute to the legend Sadeqain.
Mr. Mohammad Ali Naqvi, Founder President of Sadequain Memorial Trust, New Delhi, amused the audience with the poetry of the renowned calligrapher and painter of sub-continent Syed Sadequain Ahmed Naqvi was popularly known as Sadequain.
The monthly literary event of the Urdu Academy was held on October 15, 2017 Chandni Restaurant, Newark CA.
Syed Sadequain Ahmed Naqvi was born in 1930 in Amroha, India, and he died on 10th February in 1987 at the age of 57 years in Karachi, Pakistan.
Sadequain was a world renowned Pakistani Art legend. He was best known for his independent real creative art and novice trends in Islamic Calligraphy. His original superb themes and huge murals dwarf many and some are still regarded as matchless in the world. 
His international recognition was due to introduction of new initiatives and trends in art and particularly poetic calligraphy which was almost nonexistent then.
He was a self-made, self taught painter, completely untraditional and above all, shows no signs of being inspired by any other master of art who lived before him or at his time.
According to the New York-based Aicon Gallery:
"Sadequain's unique visual vocabulary stemmed from the complex merging of Eastern (calligraphy) and Western (figurative) traditions in art, alongside Hindu and Muslim ideology. Sweeps of a calligraphic brush are echoed in the artist's flamboyant approach to painting figures but his forms and themes are mostly biographical. Contortions to figurative style arose from his observation of wild, defiant cacti growing against the odds in the deserts of Gadani (Karachi) which left an indelible impression on the artist and his work. Colors used are simplistic, yet provide strong structural elements through Sadequain's contrast of etched strokes.
"In terms of Sadequain's work in calligraphy, outside of Quranic verses, the artist's affinity to literature resulted in works illustrating the classical poetry of Iqbal, Ghalib and Faiz. With the support of state patronage, Sadequain completed many celebrated commissions, notably the ceiling of Lahore Museum and the ambitious mural "The Treasures of Time" for the State Bank of Pakistan, depicting the evolution of mankind and tracing the history of great intellectuals. Other commissions include The Power House at the Mangla Dam, Geological Institute of India, Banaras Hindu University and Aligarh Muslim University. In 2003, a retrospective entitled "The Holy Sinner: Sadequain" was exhibited at the Mohatta Palace Museum, Karachi.”
Watch Video on You Tube https://youtu.be/VvMXQ-czlEE
Ba Yaad e Sadequain in New Delhi
Jamia Hamdard in collaboration with Sadequain Memorial Trust held an event on March 17, 2017 to pay tribute to the legendary artist Sadequain. Indian Vice President Hamid Ansari graced the occasion with his presence. Three close friends of Sadequain, Abrar Kiratpuri, Ashok Bhowmick and Mateen Amrohvi presented brief reflectiona of the legendary artist. The program ended with a mushaera since Sadequain was a prominent poet too. His illustrated Rubaiyat are unique. The event was also attended by Mohammad Ali Naqvi, founding president of Sadequain Memorial Trust, New Delhi.
Watch Video on You Tube https://youtu.be/pkj1V2DE7QU
