Punjabi writers and scholars keep research at bay as if it’s a contagion that would incapacitate them mentally. Thus they churn out piles and piles of poor quality poetry, and interminable stream of banal conversations.

We have a few Asif Khans. Fortunately, we have Dr. Arshad Mahmood Nashad whom we can count among our serious and dedicated research scholars engaged in exploring the diverse aspects of our literary and cultural life that remain hidden or ignored.

“Khoj Lekha”, his latest research-based book, has been published by Punjabi Adbi Sangat, Attock. The book has four sections. The first section has some interesting entries such as some of the Punjabi religious manuals, linguistic face of Chhachhi dialect, Baba Gulab’s Hazronama, Mullah Abul Majeed’s unpublished religious treaty, a forgotten poet Pir Hashim Uddin and Raja Ghulam Khan’s barahmah. Dr. Nashad traces the origins of primers /manuals composed during the Mughal era and how they played an important role in disseminating religious knowledge. His article on Chhachhi dialect is illuminating; it dispels certain misconceptions regarding the dialect popularised by scholars who were neither familiar with the territory it’s spoken in nor its relationship with other dialects of Punjabi language. His historical perspective helps us understand the dynamics of Chhachhi. What is pleasantly surprising about the forgotten poets mentioned above is what they share; use of standard literary Punjabi idiom despite differences in temperaments.

Second section focuses on Waris Shah’s Heer. Dr. Nashad debunks a vicious campaign full of sound and fury against Waris Shah once launched by Chaudhry Afzal Haq (1891-1942) a leader of Majlis-i-Ahrar-i-Islam Hind. Such anti-Waris campaigns are historical phenomena showing orthodoxy’s desperate efforts to counter Waris Shah’s cultural influence. He also has prepared for the first time, he says, the Heer’s index that lists names, places and books/ periodicals we come across in Waris’s composition which has a compendious description of social and cultural life.

In the fourth section, he analyses the structure(s) of Shah Hussain’s Kafis (lyrics) who happened to be the pioneer of this genre and its best representative.

In other articles, he introduces us to the lyrical poetry of Hakim Taib Rizvi. He also brings to light the poetry of Maqbul Elahi, a known translator. A few know that he was also a mystically inclined poet. Another good poet he writes about is Malik Mushtaq Ajiz whose poetry is a blend of folk wisdom and mystic vision. The last section is a treat for researchers and those who are interested in our literary assets. Library of Makhad Sharif, a town on the bank of the river Sindh, has a number of manuscripts of Punjabi language Maulvi Muhammad Ali Makhadi bequeathed.

The last article tells us about the Ameer Jan Library set up by Sahibzada Hasan Nawaz Shah in Narali village, Gujjar Khan tehsil. “One can say this proudly; no other library has such a number of manuscripts of Mian Muhammad’s work,” says Dr. Nashad. ‘Khoj Lekha’ would be a treasure trove for scholars, researchers and students. It is a must for all libraries, public and private.

‘Earthly Matters’ is Nasir Ali Panhwar’s book published by Elsa Publication, Hyderabad. The blurb says “ a prolific writer, Panhwar has penned numerous pieces on social, developmental, climate change, and environmental issues…he is also the founder general secretary of Friends of Indus Forum, a council member of Hisaar Foundation, a member of general body of Thardeep, and the founder executive director of Centre for Environment Development.”

The book comprises the pieces literally on earthly matters written for different English dailies. The pieces are short but quite relevant to the issues we are faced with in our fast changing world. The notion of conquering the nature has obviously become anachronistic; the nature humans conquered lies mauled and plundered. The question of what natural resources our planet contains and how they are being exploited has gained crucial importance. Resources, science-based knowledge tells us, are limited but the prevalent system we live under touts unlimited consumption as the highest human goal. Coupled with this deadly fallacy is population explosion that has further exacerbated the highly fraught situation which can be described as an extremely challenging new phase in human evolution. If it remains unchecked it can prove fatal for all living creatures on the face of this earth.

Mr. Panhwar poignantly points to the endangered biodiversity, ravages of climate change, destruction of ecosystems, drying lakes and rivers, elimination of wetlands, rapid urbanisation and exponential population growth causing misery and increase in poverty. He generally talks in the context of Sindh but his suggestions for the course correction are valid for all Pakistan as the rest of the country faces the similar problems. Those at the helm must take notice of the dire situation the author paints.

One hopes they wouldn’t behave like a crazed man who kills his family and when left alone fearing the void puts pistol to his head.

Jameel Ahmed Paul is a well-known figure in our literary and cultural world. He is a fiction writer, culture and language activist who has spent years struggling for the restoration of legitimate rights of Punjabi language hitherto denied to it by the ignoramus bigwigs of Punjab. He is workaholic and has written a large number of books, pamphlets and manuals in Punjabi. Defying the odds he regularly publishes online daily ‘Lokai’. His latest publication is ‘Media Te Social Media’ brought out by Punjabi Markaz, Lahore. In his foreword Paul writes; “contemporary age is the age of social media. The start of twenty-first century introduced us to a new formula (for gaining power); in order to rule one needs neither force, nor money nor any other traditional means. Now one who knows the art of ruling the media will rule the people.”

Paul examines the various aspects of media and social media. He traces the origins and evolution of social media and how it has impacted traditional media and print media. He also highlights the social and psychological repercussions social media has on our individual and collective life. It’s a pretty useful book. — soofi01@hotmail.com

Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2024