Literary session with Pashto writer Saadullah Jan held

PESHAWAR: The Bacha Khan Research Centre arranged a literary session with noted poet, critic, satirist and playwright Saadullah Jan Barq. Prof Dr Fazal Rahim Marwat, chairman of the Textbook Board Peshawar, was the chief guest at the session held at the Bacha Khan Markaz.
Dr Marwat said Saadullah Jan Barq was a well-read man of letters who immensely contributed to both Urdu and Pashto languages through his hard work and original thought. He said Barq introduced new terms and diction in Pashto literature and it distinguished him from the contemporary Pashto poets and writers. “Barq brought about a qualitative change in Pashto verse and prose and has always played the role of a social reformer,” Dr Marwat maintained.
Prof Rajwali Shah Khattak, director of the Centre of Pashto Language and Literature, University of Peshawar, while addressing the gathering said that Barq despite being a voluminous writer has kept high standards and refinement in his writings whether poetry, prose, fiction, humour and satire. “He has lived a hard life. He has been a daily wager, a homoeopath and a farmer. Even then he contributed to Pashto literature and garnered a unique place in literary circles,” Rajwali Khattak said.
He observed that for the first time Barq presented original research on the origin of Pakhtun race, their history and social fabric in a convincing manner. Prominent satirist and former Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation, Peshawar producer Hamdullah Jan Bismil while paying tributes to his lifelong companion said that Barq used to write the script for the most popular Pashto comedy radio play ‘Ghunchay’ based on social issues that remained on air for many years. “It used to be so fresh and lively that he never repeated any idea for the second time in any form as most senior writers do,” Bismil recalled.
He maintained that many writers stole Barq’s ideas and sometimes dialogues and storyline and presented them as their own but Barq never

wrote or spoke against those plagiarists. Zaland Momand, joint director at the Bacha Khan Research Centre, Mohibullah Shauq, Murad Ali, Prof Nasir Ali Syed, Mushtaq Majrooh, and Feroz Afridi also spoke on the occasion.
Author of 14 books, Barq is well versed in Hindi, Persian, Arabic and Urdu. Born in Dag Besud village of Nowshera district, he launched his literary career at a tender age. His works include Braikhna, Baraan, Gulziarray, Zaghoona, Dukhtar-e-Kainaat and Da Kashmir Ghazi. A large number of poets, writers, intellectuals and fans of Barq attended the gathering. Young writer Nimroz Qais conducted the function in a competent manner.