PESHAWAR: Speakers at a literary session here on Thursday termed Sufi Pashto poet Hamza Baba a source of inspiration for people, who revered him not only as a noted literati but also as a practical mystic

The writers, poets and fans of Hamza Baba gathered to remember him on his 24th death anniversary. The event was organised by Peshawar chapter of Pakistan Academy of Letters.

The speakers showered accolades on Hamza Baba and said that he authored more than 40 books both in Pashto and Urdu on variety of topics including poetry travelogue, drama, fiction, prose and Sufism. They said that he impacted a host of generations of poets and writes by founding his own school of thought.

Being a prolific writer, Hamza Baba had penned down around 250 plays for radio Peshawar, a record in the history of broadcasting, on different social issues that showed his deep understanding of people and their problems around him, they said.

Speakers say the Sufi poet impacted several generations by founding his own school of thought

The speakers said that Hamza Baba always advocated universal brotherhood, genuine Pakhtun values and social justice through his writings and motivated numerous literati to use their talent for the reformation of the society.

“Pakhtunwali, Sufism and humanism were the hallmarks of Hamza Baba’s works. Being a bridge between old and modern Pashto literature, he carried on the legacy of Khushal Khan Khattak and Rahman Baba and also introduced new dimensions in the literary expressions of all genres,” they said.

Prof Aslam Taseer, who chaired the event, said that about 12 scholars completed decorate theses on various aspects of life and works of Hamza Baba from Area Study Centre, Pashto Academy and Pashto department, University of Peshawar during the last over a decade. He said that a woman scholar done her decorate thesis on the letters, Hamza Baba had written to different writers.

Prof Zar Mohammad Sangar on the occasion said that Hamza Baba’s works still offered much to the research scholars because most shades of his life and literary services required to be explored.

He said that Hamza Baba was an unending fountain of good sense and inspiration as he was a practical Sufi and believed in what he had advocated and preached in his writings.

Prof Hasam Hur in his remarks pointed out that Hamza Baba began his poetic journey from Urdu when he was student of 8th grade in Islamia Collegiate School. He said that his spiritual guide, Syed Abdul Sattar aka Bacha Jan advised him to switch over to Pashto. “Baba’s writings too carry depth and scholarship, therefore he enjoyed respect among Urdu literary circles,” he added.

Khan Badshah Nusrat, the assistant resident director of PAL Peshawar chapter, Prof Abdul Sattar Khan Lawaghari, Prof Aseer Mangal, Mohammad Ali Sabir and Amjad Ali Khadim also spoke on the occasion.

Later, a group of poets including Yousaf Ali Dilsoz, Noor Ilahi Taimur, Arshad Iqbal, Ilyas Thalwal, Asmat Sorani, Muqadar Shah Afridi, Jabbar, Fida Majboor and Munawar Gauhar presented poetic tributes to the great Sufi poet.

Published in Dawn, March 1st, 2019