Young students paints the pain of APS heartrending memories at GCU

Lahore: The young artists of Government College University Lahore (GCU) Fine Arts Department relived the painful and heartrending memories of terrorist attack on Army Public School (APS), Peshawar through their artwork at the poster exhibition opened on Thursday at the university’s Minhas Art Gallery. About 50 artworks of young fine arts students are put on display at the exhibition that is dedicated to the sacrifices and bravery of to 151 schoolchildren and teachers who lost their lives in terrorist attack on APS Peshawar in December last year.

“It’s almost a year but the wounds of APS carnage are still fresh, and I strongly believe that education for all will ultimately be the real revenge, said Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Hassan Amir Shah while addressing the inaugural ceremony of the week-long exhibition.

“It’s education that will wipe out the terrorism; you can fight it and stop it for a period of time but ultimately education will end it, said Prof Shah who was pleased to see that many students have themed their posters on importance of education for fighting terrorism.

He also paid glowing tributes to the soldiers of the country’s armed forces, who are sacrificing their lives in war against terrorism, so that “our children can safely continue the mission of APS martyrs i.e. education.”

Addressing the ceremony, GCU Fine Arts Department Incharge Erfan Ullah Babar said Dec 16 was a Black Day in the history of humanity which could never be forgot. He appreciated the enthusiasm and patriotism of the young artists, saying that “you art clearly depicts that terrorists have failed and the great sacrifice of APS schoolchildren have united us as nation to promote their mission of education. He said a student had beautifully depicted terrorism in his artwork as “ignorant against the innocents.”

Talking to media, the young artists said that it is difficult to draw or create something on APS carnage, because it multiplies their pain and grief over the massacre of innocent schoolchildren. “I have a younger brother and I see the faces of innocent APS martyrs in him,” said Mehwish Saleem, a fine arts student.

The Chinese delegates participating in an international conference at GCU visited the exhibition paid tributes to the sacrifices of APS martyrs. “Chinese and Pakistanis are brothers and they were our children too,” they said.

The exhibition will remain open till Dec 15, 2015 and many school delegations are scheduled to attend it.