PESHAWAR: The pace of literary activities across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, especially in the provincial metropolis, remained a bit slow in the outgoing year as compared to last year, however, writers continued to hold poetry recitation sessions, book launching ceremonies, study circles, seminars and symposia.

Several private publication houses brought out more than 25,000 titles covering variety of topics in Pashto, Urdu and Hindko languages. The first edition of Peshawar Literature Festival (PLF) held in May under the auspices of Institution of Education and Research (IER), University of Peshawar, instilled a new spirit in Peshawarites.

According to experts, books on Pakhtun history and fiction were shipped to Pashto speaking people living in the Gul and European countries. Books of Wali Khan, Bacha Khan and Ghani Khan’s poetry besides Ajmal Khattak’s Urdu novel remained in great demand.

Monthly magazines, journals tabloids and countless web pages and YouTube channels helped in updating readers and social media users during the year 2022. Prose, fiction, research and literary criticism books, however, provided enough space to readers as compared to poetry.

More than 25,000 titles published in Pashto, Urdu and Hindko

Despite slump in the print market, high inflation and uncertain law and order, the local writers, publishers and bibliophiles contributed to the cause of the written word. Wordsmith and intellectuals continued taking refuge in the magical world of ideas and concepts because books are considered highways to progress of the nation.

Prof Nasrullah Jan Wazir, the director of Pashto Academy, UoP, told this scribe that young scholars completed their MPhil and doctorate theses. He said more than 30 scholars completed their research anchored on different languages of the province, history, culture, social context and syntax.

Prof Abaseen Yousafzai, when asked about the pace of literary events in Peshawar, said that both public and private sector universities arranged well-attended literary events including book fairs and poetry recitation sessions. He said that literary organisations were able to conduct events on different issues.

“I am quite satisfied with the activities of the local literati as they continued brining out books on self-sponsored basis. Bacha Khan Research Centre, Qalandar Momand Research Centre, Pashto Academy and a few other private publication houses are engaged in fruitful research activities. During the year 2022, they have published invaluable books and theses,” he said.

The Peshawar chapter of Pakistan Academy of Letters remained quite active and arranged more than 200 events within its meagre resources in connection with Pakistan diamond jubilee celebrations. The facility was inaugurated during the outgoing year and benefited local poets, writers and scholars.

The woman literati brought out their poetry collections, fiction books and research theses. Different youth societies around Peshawar were engaged in their monthly study circles, promoting the cause of book culture.

The Halqa-i- Arbab Zauq, Da Sahu Leekunkio Adabi Maraka, Pohantoon Adabi Stori and more than a dozen literary bodies kept up their literary activities to motivate budding writers.

Published in Dawn, December 29th, 2022