PESHAWAR: Noted Urdu and Hindko poet of international repute Sajjad Babar breathed his last in his home at Ashrafia Colony in Peshawar city on Tuesday, family sources said. He was 79.

He had been suffering from multiple health complications since long. He left behind a widow, Mrs Nisra Babar, and three daughters Shumaila, Atiqa, and Mahwesh to mourn his death. The late poet was laid rest in the graveyard on Eidgah Road the same day. Poets, writers, intellectuals, fans and notables of the area attended his funeral.

Mr Babar had represented Pakistan at numerous literary seminars and mushaira sessions held in India, US, UK, and Gulf States and earned a high reputation among the Urdu literary circles for his distinct literary style of expression. He used to contribute his poetic pieces and articles to prominent Urdu journals, including Funoon, Naqoosh, Afkar, and Bayaz. Mr Babar was a shining star among his contemporary literary figures, said Prof Syed Zubair Shah.

Literary circles expressed deep sorrow over Mr Babar’s demise and termed it an irreparable loss to Urdu and the country. Two of his poetry collections titled ‘Rahru’ and ‘Maraahil’ were published during early 70s and late 90s while his Hindko poetry collection ‘Haftzubaan’ could not see light of the day.

Mr Babar had been affiliated with many national and international Urdu literary organisations, including Halqa-i-Arabe Zauq, Peshawar chapter, and Bazme Bahar-i-Adab, Hindko. He was born on January 6, 1939 in Hassanabdal where his father was an employee in a cement factory. After his father retired on superannuation, his family shifted back to Peshawar and Mr Babar got admission to Islamia College, Peshawar where he got an opportunity to join the company of Ahmad Faraz, Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi and a number of other great literary luminaries, said Prof Nasir Ali Syed, his close friend.

His prose and fiction pieces in Urdu, Hindko and even Pashto would be published posthumously, said Yousaf Azeez Zahid, a noted writer.

Published in Dawn, December 19th, 2018