ISLAMABAD, Jan 16: An online Mir Gul Khan Naseer National Literary Seminar was organised by the Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) on the occasion of the 37th anniversary of the renowned progressive poet, researcher, historian and intellectual of the Balochi language Mir Gul Khan Naseer.

The presidium consisted of Iftikhar Arif and Prof Dr Badal Khan.

Taj Joyo and Ahmed Saleem were special guests while Dr Wahid Bakhsh Buzdar, Dr Abdul Saboor Baloch and Dr Abdullah Jan Abid were the guests of honour.

PAL Chairman Dr Yousuf Khushk gave the introductory speech. Dr Rahim Bakhsh Mehr, Dr Liaqat Sunni, Yar Jan Badeni, Dr Ramzan Bamarri, and Tariq Rahim Baloch expressed their views.

Dr Ziaur Rehman Baloch was the moderator.

Poet Iftikhar Arif said that Mir Gul Khan Naseer’s literary capital is a great asset not only for the Balochi language but also for the Pakistani literature.

He said any mention of Baloch poetry and literature was incomplete without Mir Gul Khan Naseer.

“Mir Gul Khan Naseer was the most prominent poet, intellectual and politician of the Balochi language like Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Sheikh Ayaz and Ajmal Khattak.

“He spent his whole life on a special mission that is a beacon for generations to come,” he said.

Prof Dr Badal Khan said that Mir Gul Khan Naseer was a universal personality. He was primarily a poet. Public and revolutionary colours are prominent in his poetry. He worked on Balochi language and poetry as well as Balochi folk literature and history.

Taj Joyo said that Mir Gul Khan Naseer was an elder of the Balochi language. He is a representative poet of his nation like Sindhi poet Sheikh Ayaz and Pashto poet Ajmal Khattak.

There is an element of thunder in his tone, he added.

Published in Dawn, January 17th, 2021