PESHAWAR: Prominent Urdu and Hindko poet, writer and research scholar, Prof Khatir Ghaznavi died here Monday after a protracted illness and was laid to rest at his ancestral graveyard.
A large number of people from different walks of life attended his funeral prayers. He left behind three sons and as many daughters to mourn his death. He was born on November 5, 1925 in Peshawar; his real name was Mohammad Ibrahim Baig. He got primary education from Bannu where his father was settled.
He started his career, as a clerk, from All India Radio and was promoted to the post of producer and programme organizer. Having Masters degree in Urdu from University of Peshawar, he later joined the same department as lecturer and was promoted as professor and chairman of the department. He did diploma courses in Chinese and Malaya languages. He also visited Malaysia for teaching and had the honour of writing a dictionary of common words in Urdu and Malaya that was published by the Malaysian government.
The late literati worked as editor of various national and local newspapers and magazines and remained Director-General of Pakistan Academy of Letters. Professor Ghaznavi was awarded Presidential Pride of Performance Award for his contribution to Urdu and Hindko literature.
He authored 45 books, including five poetry books besides translating Khushal Khan Khattak poetry. Khwab dar Khwab was his special poetic collection while his last book was Saanp ki Chatri.
He served Hindko and launched the Hindko branch of syndicate of writers in Peshawar. He authored a voluminous book on Hindko, dwelling at length on the geography, history and several other aspects of Hindko. The 450-page book was published by the National Language Authority in 2003 and is considered one of the several authentic books of Hindko. His Hindko poetry was published under the caption of “Koonjan”.
He was a good artist and photographer and had a rare collection of photographs of the Pakistan Movement. These exceptional photographs were published by a literary and cultural organisation of Peshawar-Gandhara Hindko Board in its regular publication titled ‘Hindkowan’.
Leading a distressed life due to his dwindling age, poor health and weak financial condition, he recently donated his rich library of several hundreds books to the University of Peshawar. He donated his collection of literary, academic and research books, including some rare and exclusive volumes and manuscripts to Prof Dr Azmat Hayat Khan, VC, University of Peshawar, when he visited the ailing poet to enquire after his health.
He, while donating his library to the university, showed immense contentment that he was contributing something to this highest seat of learning. Dr Azmat Hayat on the occasion had promised Ghaznavi that a special section would be specified at the Oriental Corner of the Central Library where all these books would be shelved for use of students and researchers. He also said “your contribution and donation will be duly acknowledged by putting the plate of your name with these books”.
Meanwhile, NWFP Governor, Owais Ahmed Ghani, ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan, provincial president Afrasiab Khattak, NWFP minister for sports and culture Syed Aqil Shah, Gandhara Hindko Board chairman Professor Dr Zahoor Ahmad Awan, Idara Farogh-i-Hindko chairman Aurangzeb Ghaznavi and Hindko Adabi Jirga president Haider Zaman Haider expressed grief and sorrow over his death and termed his death a great loss to the province. In their separate condolence messages, they paid rich tributes to the services rendered by the deceased for the promotion of Urdu and Hindko literature.
