Speakers at a literary function have stressed the need for reviving the glory of neglected Hindko language.
Speaking at the function organised for the first time in the literary history of the Hindko language on August 15, they pledged to work for the promotion Hindko language and culture till the time the government set up a Hindko Academy and a Department for Hindko Studies.
On the occasion, five Hindko books were launched. NWFP Chief Secretary Aijaz Ahmad Qureshi was the chief guest while the Frontier Education Foundation Managing Director Syed Mazhar Ali Shah presided over the function.
Mohammad Ismail Awan spoke on the 130-page book, "Turmey Turmey" by Raza Hamadani, and Sajjad Babar commented on the 150-page Hindko poetry, "Sina Shehar Tey Thandi Dhup" by Sahir Mustafai.
Ahmad Nadeem Awan expressed his views on the 185-page book "Such Dey Deway" by Sabir Husssain Imdad, while Malik Arshad spoke on the 155-page book, "Husdey Gham," by Aslam Tariq.
Professor Ashraf Bukhari shed light on the 185-page versified Hindko translation of the classic English poets works "Daffodil See Motiay Tak" by Malik Arshad Hussain.
NWFP Chief Secretary Aijaz Ahmad Qureshi said literatures were an asset to the country and its civilisation, adding the Gandhara Hindko Board (GHB) was doing a great work by bringing to fore the men of letters and publishing their works.
He said the NWFP had a rich talent that needed to be hunted and encouraged, adding launching of five Hindko books was no small achievement of the board.
The Chief Secretary greeted the board and all those Hindko-lovers who helped it financially to accomplish the task.
While pledging to help the board, he announced a donation of Rs 10, 000 for it.
Presiding over the function, Syed Mazhar Ali Shah said every thing could be made possible through the willpower and sincerity.
He said literary-cum-cultural work, being done by the privately run GHB, was praiseworthy and must be emulated.
Shah said Peshawar had three legends - Pitras Bukhari, Yousuf Khan (Dilip Kumar) and Guljee. He suggested to the NWFP Cultural Department to preserve the houses of those celebrities and honour them by naming places after them.
Earlier, the function started with recitation from the Holy Quran. A prominent Hindko/ Pushto singer recited a Naat.
Frontier Schools Managing Director Khwaja Yawer Nasser, in his welcome address, enumerated the services of the GHB for the language, and said what it had done in months could not have been done by the government-run bodies even in years. Publishing five books in as many months and their simultaneous launching was a great achievement, he added.
Yawer talked of the future plans of the board, and vowed to revive the glory of officially neglected Hindko language.
GHB Chairman Professor Dr Zahoor Ahmad Awan, speaking next, said it was a matter of joy that five Hindko books had been launched. "It is the practical proof of the work being done by us," said Dr Awan who has 40 books to his credit.
Zahoor said the Hindko-lovers had put trust in the board by extending it financial support and "we have fully utilised the money." He also announced to launch 10 Hindko books in future.
GHB General Secretary Mohammad Ziauddin said the lack of official patronage to Hindko forced us to set up the GHB in 1993, adding the body was being run on a self-help basis.
Zia said the board would continue to work for the Hindko language and culture till the time the government sets up a Hindko Academy and a Department for Hindko Studies.
He said five Hindko books had been published with the financial help from the Hindko proponents.
He thanked Khwaja Khalid Sultan, Haji Haleem Jan, Adeel Rauf, Mohsin Aziz and Khwaja Yawer Naseer for their financial co-operation to the board.
A message from Professor Dr Elahi Bakhsh Awan, a UK-based linguist and a research scholar of Hindko from the Walled City of Peshawar, was read out to the audience.
He greeted the board on its achievements and offered his services if the government set up a Hindko Academy, Department for Hindko Studies or a Hindko Research Institute.
Earlier, noted Hindko poets Khwaja Yaqoob Akhtar, Mohammad Akbar, Mushtaq Shabab, Zaffar Iqbal Athar and Yousaf Aziz Zahid garlanded the authors of the books.
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