The simple and beautiful diction of his poetry originates from a rich childhood he spent in a small village near Kanganpur, Chunian, where he was born and raised. Punjabi poet, researcher and political activist, Ibad Nabeel Shad, was groomed by his grandfather, a retired schoolteacher with a taste for poetry.

“I was an average student who would bunk school for swimming in the canals around the village and spending long hours in the woods. My grandfather introduced me to poetry of Iqbal, Ghalib and Mir Taqi Mir. I had no idea of the concepts of poetry but memorised hundreds of their verses to please my grandfather when I was in junior school. Winning poetry recital competitions gave me a distinct status at school and I developed a passion for reading,” he recalls.

Meeting popular Punjabi poet of Kasur, late Khaleel Aatish, was a watershed moment in Shad’s life.

“I opted for Punjabi literature in the college but like many other writers of Punjabi origin I was composing poetry in Urdu. Khaleel Aatish convinced me to write in Punjabi and it became a life long commitment,” he says.

“A literary organisation, Bismal Art Concern, founded by Sabir Bismal in Kasur played a major role in shaping up my literary expression. I remained an active member of this literary group during my stay in Kasur for studies,”he says.

“I developed a pro-people approach towards life and an understanding of fabric of society through interaction with prominent activists of MKP (Mazdoor Kissan Party), including Ghulam Nabi Kalu, Chaudhry Lateef , Rasheed Dholka, Sardar Siddique Dogar and Ameer Hamza Virk”, he acknowledges.

His first book of poetry Suli Tangia Suraj was printed in 1994 followed by Jag Pia Unthar Tha Mousam in 2003. He earned a Phd from University of Punjab in 2010. A part of his research work narrating the tradition of autobiography in Punjabi was published last year.

After joining education department as a lecturer he moved to Lahore in 1994 where he is an assistant professor.

“Teaching Punjabi literature for more than two decades gave me a deep insight into the importance of the Punjabi language. I realised that the students love their language and feel very comfortable with the subject. It must be the medium of education in Punjab, this is the only way to improve the literacy. Many people have developed books in various dialects (of Punjabi), which can be instrumental in teaching in almost all districts of the province, but the policy makers are not interested in teaching Punjabi at junior school level”, he believes.

Vocal and active for the promotion of Punjabi language, Shad has been working as Punjabi Adbi Sangat secretary for almost two decades.

“We conduct weekly reading and criticism sessions to educated readers and groom the young writers. I organise it on my own, without any financial support from any individual or organisation,” he says.

“I convinced Ali Anwar Ahmad and Tajamal Kaleem to write in Punjabi, and now they are big names of Punjabi short story and poetry,” he added.

He considers Bulleh Shah and a contemporary Punjabi poet, Rafaqat Hussain Mumtaz, as rich sources of inspiration for him to create poetry.

Except for his earlier works which carried a deep impression of Urdu ghazal, he was exposed to at a tender age, all his poetry relates to the agony of common man being exploited by the state and ruling classes. He challenges the class conflicts and state oppression causing misery for the people. His diction remains simple to which common folks can easily relate. Narrating all the miseries of mundane life, Shad remains optimistic about the future, with a firm belief in his pro-people leftist ideology.

Published in Dawn, October 7th, 2018