PESHAWAR: Participants of a literary debate here on Sunday termed contribution of Ameer Hamza Khan Shinwari to Urdu literature a precious asset and urged budding Urdu literati and research scholars to learn from it.

They said that Hamza Shinwari launched his literary career from Urdu in his schooldays and his teachers would jokingly dub him ‘little Ghalib’ owing to his deep poetic thoughts.

A participant said that his teachers suspected him of copying down verses from poetry of Mirza Ghalib but later it dawned upon them that he was genuine and even foretold him that one day he would become a great poet.

He said that Hamza Shinwari’s poetry collection titled ‘Bad-i-Khyber’ spoke volumes of his vision and mastery over Urdu while his articles and features on variety of literary issues might inspire young literati.

Speakers advise young writers to learn from his writings

“It was upon advice of his spiritual mentor Syed Abdul Sattar Bacha that he switched over to Pashto. However, Urdu translation of his own books and earlier poems in Urdu showed his strength and literary acumen in Urdu,” said Riaz Ahmad, a participant of the debate who had conducted MPhil thesis on contribution of Hamza Baba to Urdu literature.

He said that during his work on Urdu contribution of Hamza Baba, he found wonderful treasure trove lying scattered and required to be retrieved and published for young poets and writers. He urged quarters concerned to bring to forth the precious asset.

Riaz Ahmad said that Hamza Baba’s poetic rendition of Rahman Baba’s poetry in Urdu and his regular contact with Urdu poets and writers reflected on his deep insight and vision as he had been under the impact of Urdu classic like Khawaja Mirdard, and Ghalib.

Prof Syed Zubair Shah, a noted Urdu writer who chaired the event, said that Urdu literary works of Hamza Baba showed his mastery over Urdu language alongside Arabic and Persian as he had touched upon topics and had introduced innovative way of poetic expression. He said that Hamza Baba’s diction and use of Urdu phrases were typical of Urdu classic literati.

He regretted that most readers were unaware of huge contribution of Hamza Baba to Urdu language and literature. His poetry in Persian though little in quantity but great when it came to quality and sublime of thoughts, he said.

Prof Zubair said that Iqbal Academy in Lahore had selected Hamza Baba for translating Allama Iqbal’s two master pieces --Armughan-i- Hijaz and Javednama -- into Pashto verse form owing to his scholarship and deep understanding of Urdu.

“Hamza Baba’s earlier poetic expression is matchless and sublime. His way of expression is unique and subjects including deep Sufi thoughts blend of romanticism, expert usage of literary terms exhibit that he had great love for Urdu language. In pre-partition era, Hamza Baba used to recite his Urdu poetry before senior Urdu poets in Delhi and Lucknow while in Karachi, he enjoyed a high status in Urdu literary circles,” he said.

Published in Dawn, August 12th, 2024