Labour of love: Linguist wants M.Phil, PhD courses in Hindko

Sultan Sakoon won presidential award for compiling first Hindko dictionary

ABBOTABAD:

“Driven by a passion to promote my mother language, I was motivated to compile Hindko adages for the first time after drawing inspiration from a single Hindko word “Ril Bril” (disunited/scattered) when one of my relatives articulated his feelings regarding differences within the family of one of my friends,” claims Sultan Sukoon, a famous linguist, poet and writer while talking to The Express Tribune.

Sukoon was honoured with presidential award of pride of performance on March 23 at Governor House K-P for his literary services. He has several Hindko and Urdu poetry books including first Hindko dictionary to his credit.

Sultan Sukoon whose actual name is Sultan Muhammad Sukoon was born on November 23, 1938 to Muzaffar Khan, an agriculturist by profession from the village Kothiala in Lower Tanawal area of Abbottabad. He completed his matriculation from Islamia High School for Boys Abbottabad in 1953.

Before joining the education department in 1957 as accounts clerk, Sukoon worked for small periods in the revenue and food departments. He worked at the education department for over 3 decades and retired in 1993 as Account Officer.

“It took me over one and a half decades and a lot of hard work to produce first complete book in my mother language – Bujh meri bujharat (answer my riddle) – in 1987. It comprises of over 175 riddles of all the major dialects of Hazara Hindko,” he said.

Sukoon’s second Hindko book “Kari de gal” was authored and published in 1996.

His unique literary work “Hindko zarbul amsaal” consisting of Hindko adages was declared the best book of the year by Muqtadra Qaumi Zuban in 1999. He published “Koi khwab ha na khayal ha” in 2001, followed  by “Tara loee wala” (shining star) in 2002  In recognition of his work the Abaseen Arts Council Peshawar awarded him with gold medals.

The year 2002 added another feathewr to Sukoon’s cap when he completed his Hindko dictionary which he claims is the first one ever published in the country. He disclosed that he had worked for three decades to compile the dictionary which has all the major Hindko dialects common in Hazara and other regions.

His other publications include  “Dil sothay” and “Koozay bich dariya” which won gold medal from Abaseen Arts Council Peshawar

Sukoon disclosed that he is now working on a Hindko grammar book and would publish a paper on Hindko words that are in daily use.

“I have promoted my mother language lifting it on my shoulders while others used the shoulders of Hindko to enrich themselves,” he claimed without naming any of the political or literary figures of the province.

“They must work on introducing M.Phil and PhD courses because two higher education institutions – Hazara University and University of Haripur – are in areas predominantly inhabited by Hindko speaking people. They owe great responsibility to promote the language of Hazarawals,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 9^th, 2015.