Farigh Bukhari, Raza Hamdani remembered for literary contributions

PESHAWAR: Speakers paid rich tributes to late Farigh Bukhari and Raza Hamdani, the two men of letters from Peshawar, for serving Urdu, Pashto and Hindko and making rich contributions to the literature of all these three languages.
They were speaking at a special function arranged by the Cultural Centre of the Islamic Republic of Iran in memory of the duo that contributed to the three languages for a long time.The local chapter of the Pakistan Academy of Letters had extended collaboration to the Khana-e-Farhang-e-Islami Jamhoori Iran in arranging the well-attended gathering.
The speakers said Farigh Bukhari and Raza Hamdani served Urdu, Pashto and Hindko and literature of these languages alike without any discrimination. “They did not believe in linguistic prejudices and were free from narrow-mined considerations. They served the humanity,” said a former governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and senior leader of Pakistan People’s Party Barrister Masood Kausar, who was the chief guest on the occasion.
Recalling the role of the poets and writers in the Independence struggle, he said during those difficult times poets and writers used to devote pieces to the national and local issues, adding Farigh Bukhari and Raza Hamdani were part of that literary movement.
Noted poet, writer and general secretary of Anjuman Tarraqi Pasand Mussanifeen and Chairman of the World Pashto Conference, Salim Raz, said Farigh Bukhari and Raza Hamdani believed in equality of all human beings and preached the lesson of humanity. “They launched a jihad against social evils in the society and served the humanity through their pen,” he added.
Saleem Raz said besides wrings in Urdu and Hindko languages, Farigh and Raza had the credit of introducing Pashto literature across Attock through translation in Urdu.
A known writer, cultural activist, columnist and Vice-Chairman of Gandhara Hindko Board, Dr Salahuddin, said Farigh Bukhari and Raza Hamdani were a literary asset whose

trilingual contributions earned them a wide respect.” Hindko was the mother language of the twosome but they also served Urdu and Pashto at a time when the literary pursuits were direly needed in this part of the country,” said the writer.
Dr Salahuddin said Gandhara Hindko Board did not believe in lip-service and had practically proved its respect and love for Farigh Bukhari and Raza Hamdani by publishing their Hindko books of poetry - “Trumey Trumey” and “Kaali Dhup”. He said the board would publish in the book forms the theses done at the university level on these great literary figures along with a book of columns penned by the son of Farigh Bukhari and a late Pakistan People’s Party leader, Qamar Abbas.
Director General Iranian Culture Centre Ali Yousefi, paid tributes to the late writers and poets by saying the soil of Peshawar was very rich for having literary figures like Farigh Bukhari and Raza Hamdani. He said to remember the great literary figures Khana Farhang-e-Iran in collaboration with Pakistan Academy of Letters had launched a series of programmes and it was the first function of the series.
“Literati, including Ahmad Faraz, Prof Mohsin Ihsan, Prof Dr Elahi Bakhsh Awan, Prof Taha Khan, Yousuf Raza Chishti would also be remembered,” said the cultural diplomat.
Ali Yousefi said that late Adeeb Peshawari had earned a name and was among the best Persian poets and writers in Iran. But it was astonishing to know that few people in Peshawar, the place of birth of Adeeb Peshawari, were aware of his literary status. He suggested that a road, building or educational institution should be named after Adeeb Peshawari as he hailed from Peshawar city.
A writer and scholar of Persian language, Prof Ghayur Hussain, said Farigh Bukhari and Raza Hamdani were the great people who had devoted their life to serve the humanity and promoting the rich languages and cultures of the region. They served and promoted Urdu, Pashto and Hindko languages equally, he added.
Said Wali Khyal Mohmand, Resident Director Pakistan Academy of Letters (Peshawar chapter), Mushtaq Shabab, Prof Khalid Sohail Malik, Kulsoom Zeb also paid tributes to the late poets and writers and shed light on their literary, social and journalistic contributions.
While TV producer Aziz Ijaz, Sajid Sarhadi, Zafar Iqbal Athar and Wadood Hashtnagri paid poetic tributes to Farigh Bukhari and Raza Hamdani.