PESHAWAR: Noted bilingual poet and research scholar Prof Izharullah Izhar has called upon poets and writers to use their talent for highlighting real issues of the masses and raise awareness among them of education, protection of environment and heritage, cleanliness and curbing honour killing and child labour.

No poetic journey would achieve its targets unless it underwent new experiences with creating new images filled with messages for masses, and literati should come forward to fulfil their responsibilities through their art of writing, the poet observed while talking to this correspondent.

Prof Izhar, a noted poet and head of Urdu Department of Islamia College University, has 21 Pashto and Urdu books to his credit in addition to numerous research papers. He enjoys a widespread fame and respect among literary circles for introducing new trends.

Poet Prof Izhar says masses should find their voice in literary writings

He has recently introduced a new Pashto poetic genre called ‘Haikeezay’ comprising first five rhymed lines, followed by a three- liner haiku, a literary genre borrowed from Japanese literature, the last line being rhymed with the opening line of the octet. His recent publication titled ‘Zakham Da Gulab Da Cham Sandara Shwa’, which carried his new poetic genre, received great applause from literary critics because of its simple diction and unique composition.

“Popular Pashto folksinger, Karan Khan, has started working on singing my Haikeezay which I believe would lend yet a new blend to it. I am of the view that poets and writers should do new experiments to promote fresh ideas to bring about a substantive change in our society plagued by numerous evils,” the poet said.

Prof Izhar has mastery over both Pashto and Urdu and is known for his qualitative works. He popularised Pashto haiku and many other poets followed his style, but few could match his vision.

Creative writing, he said, was not a luxury, but a social responsibility and it required seriousness, honesty and deep insight especially when it came to social issues. He said masses should find their genuine voice in writings of the literati.

“I have picked up around 50 important topics which have both local and global significance and a few of them are drug abuse, environment, girls’ education, plantation, water preservation, interfaith harmony, intolerance, patriotism and teacher’s respect,” he elaborated.

Mr Izhar added that the video album by Karan Khan would motivate other writers to do such creative ventures and raise awareness among people to draw lessons on important issues and build a peaceful and tolerant society.

An octet against drugs abuse reads: “You have accumulated drug items, You remain engrossed from morn to eve in this ugly trade, You are aware of every single path leading to drugs, Our young boys and girls became victim of your trade, Your drug peddling has overtaken the entire nation, May God bring an end to your this evil job, May drug abuse should find no manifestation, May drug market catch fire.”

Published in Dawn, July 7th, 2019