KHYBER: Writers, poets and scholars here on Sunday stressed the need for popularising and spreading across the world the thoughts and writings of Baba-i-Pakhtu Ghazal Amir Hamza Khan Shinwari.

They were addressing a ceremony arranged by Khyber Youth Organisation in collaboration with local literary organisation to observe the 31st death anniversary of Hamza Baba at his mausoleum in Landi Kotal.

Speaking on the occasion Prof Aslam Taseer said that Hamza Baba was not only a renowned poet and writer but he was also an economist and a psychiatrist alongside being a Sufi in his own right.

He said that it needed a lot of time to cover every aspect of his illustrious poetry and writings on Sufism. He said that poetry and writings of Hamza Baba were for all and sundry and would be read and remembered for long.

Participants of his 31th death anniversary demand publication of his entire works

Prof Hanif Khalil said in his speech that personality of Hamza Baba was a complete ‘period’ in itself and it was very difficult to cover all aspects of his life and literary contributions. He said that Hamza Baba was a beacon of literary works for students of Pashto literature and those, who had either lived with him or had studied his writings, had also become a role model for the Pakhtun society.

Prof Manzoor Afridi said that Hamza Baba mixed classics with contemporary poetry and Pashto literature, enabling the younger generation to seek guidance from his teachings.

Prof Yar Mohammad Maghmoom, who was chief guest on the occasion, said that much of Hamza Baba poetry was yet to be explored and understood. He said that the younger lot of Pakhtun literati had not yet fully read and understood his thoughts and philosophy.

He said that Hamza Baba was genuinely a national poet of the Pakhtun nation alongside Rehman Baba and Khushal Khan Khattak. He, however, regretted that most of the research conducted on the poetry of Hamza Baba was yet to be completed as most of the scholars were finding it difficult to comprehend his writings.

At the end of the session, participants unanimously passed several resolutions and called on authorities to build a Mushaira Hall and a mosque at the Hamza Baba mausoleum alongside allowing people to use the library at the said site.

One of the resolutions demanded publication of all the 58 books of Hamza Baba and called for keeping an eye on the market to cover for the shortage of his books to the requirement of Pashto readers.

Published in Dawn, February 24th, 2025