PESHAWAR: Speakers at a seminar here urged poets and writers to spread message of peace and unity to root out militancy and promote national unity.

They said that literati should advocate positive messages for mutual respect and tolerance in the society. The seminar titled ‘Post-independence literature of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’ was arranged under the auspices of the Peshawar chapter of Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) in its main hall where large number of literati, intellectuals, research scholars, teachers and students turned up.

PAL resident director Khan Badshah Nusrat said in his opening remarks that the services of literati of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were duly acknowledged at national level. He added that efforts were being made to encourage budding poets and writers.

Prof Yar Mohammad Maghmoom Khattak, who chaired the event, said that KP literati produced treasure trove of Pashto literature after the country’s independence and played significant role in promoting the cause of national unity. He observed that literary trends were strengthened after partition and literati were able to build the country’s identity.

Speakers at seminar say efforts are being made to encourage budding writers

He said that poets and writers contributed to society by promoting good values through their writings. He said that different institutions including state-run radio, TV and educational institutes and several other departments including federal and regional chapters of PAL helped literati in promoting peace, unity and mutual respect.

Prof Aseer Mangal in his paper stated that almost all literary genres of prose and poetry were produced during the last over 70 years and Pashto stood out as a rich body of literature featuring poetry, research and fiction, that could be placed alongside world class literature.

Kalsoomzeb said that Pashtun woman poets and writers equally contributed to language and literature during the last 76 years after partition “Credit also goes to the regional body of PAL for encouraging KP woman literati to contribute to huge bulk of literature showcasing issues of women,” she added.

Prof Malik Arshad Hussain said on the occasion that post-partition literature of Hindko covering all literary genres in Peshawar, Kohat and Hazara belts contributed to the country’s positive image. He maintained that Hindko literati both male and female produced and introduced new expressions in the language and literature.

Aziz Ejaz in his remarks said that KP poets and writers were never short of creating the best images. He said that literary figures including Ahmad Faraz, Mosin Ehsan and Prof Khatir Ghaznavi created world class literature. KP woman writers were not lagging behind either in contributing to the cause of Urdu at national and provincial levels.

The seminar was followed by a trilingual poetry recitation session of Pashto, Hindko and Urdu in which noted poets including Asmat Surani, Azeem Niazi, Amjad Ali Khadim and Qudratullah Khattak read out their patriotic poems.

Published in Dawn, September 11th, 2023