CHARSADDA: Poets and writers gathered here on Monday to pay rich tributes to noted Pashto poet and scholar Prof Jahanzeb Niaz on his fourth death anniversary.

Delegates from parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa participated and read out papers on the life and services of Prof Jahanzeb Niaz, the former chairman of Pashto department, University of Peshawar.

Dr Kashif Niaz, son of the late writer, said that his father was a great scholar but remained humble despite high literary acumen and used to motivate young literati to serve mother tongue. “My father was a good friend in addition to a great poet. He would be always surrounded by his pupils,” he said.

Speakers pay tributes to poet on fourth death anniversary

Dr Kashif said that Prof Niaz had great vision and extensive study on various aspects of Pashto and therefore enjoyed great respect among writers and poets. He said that he was a kind hearted literary figure and an inspiring teacher and produced numerous students.

Veteran writer Salim Raz, who was chief guest at the function, said that Prof Niaz had contributed to Pashto language and literature and also inspired many young poets and writers. He said the late writer had brought out six books, three of them poetry collections while three were prose that were considered very significant in Pashto literary circles.

Amjad Ali Khadim, a progressive poet in his paper, pointed out that in his book Soghat, Prof Jahanzeb Niaz compiled 34 letters of great Pakhtun leader Khan Abdul Wali khan.

He said that the letters had been sent to the author of the book from various locations of the united India, starting from Kalkota in 1940 (pre-partition) and lasting in 1953 from Haripur jail (after independence of the sub-continent).

“We see for the first time Wali Khan as a great writer besides his political status. Ones can see his style of writing and use of beautiful Pashto words with the true spirit of pure literature. Prof Jahanzeb was the one, who preserved that great treasure for us. He was a realist in many ways. He kept the decency of our traditions and language,” said Mr Khadim.

Dr Yar Mohammad Maghmoom, Dr Izharullah, Laiqzada Laiq and Noorul Bashar Naveed also spoke at the event.

Published in Dawn, September 18th, 2019