Wordsmith extraordinaire: Hindko poet Sain Baba’s anniversary observed

Gandhara Hindko Board holds recital in memory of Sufi poet .

PESHAWAR:

The 74th death anniversary of Sain Ahmad Ali, popularly known as Sain Baba, was observed at the office of Gandhara Hindko Board at Deans Centre on Monday.

Several poets and writers attended a poetry recital to pay tribute to the Sufi poet who was born in the walled city in 1842 and passed away in 1937 at the age of 95.

The Gandhara Hindko Board, a literary, cultural and social welfare organisation which works for the promotion of the Hindko language and culture, observes Sain Baba’s anniversary every year.

Senior academic Professor Dr Gul Naz Arshad was the chief guest on the occasion, while poets Sheen Shaukat, Ahmad Nadeem Awan, Sikandar Hayat Sikandar, Muhammad Ziauddin, Sadiq Saba, Sajid Sarhadi and Tasleem Hussain were also in attendance.

Gandhara Hindko Board Vice-President Dr Salahuddin presented a three-point resolution which was fully supported by the participants.

The participants demanded the government set up a library in Sain Baba’s remembrance, name City Circular Road after him and honour its earlier promise of constructing a befitting shrine for the Sufi poet.

“The poetic compositions of Sain Baba run into thousands, but only a fraction of these are known currently and that too because they have frequently been recited through the years,” said Muhammad Ziauddin, a noted Hindko writer, poet and researcher.

“He was a mystic poet and his poetry has earned the status of folklore. There is a lot that we can learn from his work,” said Ziauddin. He added Sain was born in Peshawar but later moved to Rawalpindi and settled in the Pothohar region, therefore, he is equally popular among the people of both areas.

“His Harfis or poetic verses are recited with great respect,” maintained Ziauddin.

The writer added the Gandhara Hindko Board published several books on Sain Baba’s life and poetry and was currently working on producing a documentary film about him.

“It is also the government’s responsibility to carry out further research on the life and works of the great Hindko poet.

Earlier in the day, the poet’s devotees gathered at his shrine near Kohati Gate to pay their respects.

Sain Ahmad Ali enjoys a distinguished status in Hindko poetry. His works have been translated into Urdu and Pashto, and published in the form of two voluminous books.

The poet’s mausoleum was recently constructed by his devotees on the basis of self-help.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 15^th, 2014.