Scholars, poets pay tribute to Hamza Baba

Call for building an auditorium and a museum dedicated to the poet

LANDI KOTAL: Scholars, poets and writers paid homage to renowned Pashto poet, prose writer Ameer Hamza Shinwari, more affectionately known as Hamza Baba or ‘Baba-e-Ghazal’ as his 25th death anniversary was marked in the Khyber tribal district.

In this regard, a function jointly arranged by the Hamza Baba Adi Jirga and the Shalman Adbi Tolna, in his native Landi Kotal village.

Landi Kotal Assistant Commissioner along with literature scholars and Urdu, Pashto and Persian linguists of the province and from across the border attended the event.

While addressing the gathering, famous Pashto writer Dr Yar Muhammad Maghmoom paid tribute to the poet. He said that Shinwari not only promoted Pashto literature through his writings but also left an indelible mark on Urdu and Persian poetry.



“It is a matter of pride for all literature lovers that the University of Peshawar has produced several scholarly pieces on the works of Shinwari, which has put new spirit into the work of such a legend,” Dr Maghmoom said.

While commenting on the spiritual aspect incorporated in Shinwari’s writing, Laiq Zada Laiq said that both Rafiq Shinwari and Hamza Baba were inspired from Abdul Sattar Shah Bacha and tried to spread his message of love and his connection to nature.

During the event, a joint communiqué was also unanimously passed which called for building an auditorium and a museum at the Hamza Baba Complex which can be built on land adjoining his grave and urged the district administration to hire staff for the library at the complex. 

Published in The Express Tribune, February 17^th, 2019.