25th anniversary of Bab-e-Ghazal celebrated in Landikotal

By Ashrafuddin Pirzada

LANDIKOTAL: To pay homage to the legendary Pashto poet and "Baba-e-Ghazal" poets from across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and poetry enthusiasts gathered in Landikotal Jarga Hall and celebrated the 25th death anniversary of Ameer Hamza Khan Shinwari on Saturday.


Besides the family members and lovers of Hamza Shinwari, a score of scholars, poets and poetry enthusiasts across from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa participated in the seminar.

Doctor Yar Muhammad Maghmoom Khattak chaired the event who shed light on the life and poetry of Hamza Baba.

Doctor Haneef Khalil, doctor Laiq Zada Laiq, doctor Ali Afridi, Doctor Kaleem Shinwari, doctor Tawab Shah Masror, Doctor Aslam Taseer, Landikotal press club president Khalil Afridi and many others delivered their speeches on the occasion.

The speakers put light on the literary life of Hamza Baba and highlighted his influence on Pukhtun society.

The scholars said Hamza had influenced and inspired a large number of poets who came after him as he was the Pashtu poet of the century

Regarding the theme of Hamza’s poetry, Dr, Yar Muhammad maintained that nationalism, sufism, romanticism and pashtunwali were the common themes in Hamza Baba poetry.

“It was only Hamza Shinwari who gave Pashto a a new life and it was his prime quality that he worked on multiple poterical themes,” doctor Yar Muhammad said.

Regarding Hamza Baba’s social contacts, dr, Maghmoom said that like Khushal Khan Khattak, Hamza Shinwari was not unfortunate as he had made many literary friends.

Mushaira (Poetry recitals) was also held on the occasion which amused the spectaters and attracted considerable praise and applause from them.

Meanwhile, Shilman Adabi Jirga president, Jamal Shalmani and Manzoor Shinwari presented their resolutions in which they demanded the government to address the issues in Hamza Baba complex in Landikotal.

It may be added here that unfortunately none of the culture department officials,elected representative,deputy and assistant commissioners of Khyber tribal district and other designated person attended the event to morally support and honour Hamza Baba struggle and contributions for Pashto language and its poetry.

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