Promotion of Hindko language, culture urged

PESHAWAR: Speakers at the Second Hindkowan Women Conference here on Saturday urged the government to take steps for promotion of the Hindko language and culture.

A literary and cultural organisation, Gandhara Hindko Board, and Gandhara Hindko Academy had arranged the moot at the Archives Hall.Women from various walks of life attended the event, titled “Saanu Fakhar Ay Aapri Zabaan Tey” (We take pride in our language).

Professor Dr Samina Zahid was the conference convener. Hina Tahir, a research officer at the Gandhara Hindko Academy, conducted proceedings of the moot where guests, hosts and main speakers were women.

The conference started with recitation from the Holy Quran by Mariam Zia. Sunbal Tahir recited hamd while Pakeeza Bibi recited a na’at. Dr Samina Zahid welcomed the participants and said arranging the second women conference was an honour for the Gandhara Hindko Board and the Gandhara Hindko Academy.

Dr Samina Zahid, who has taught at a medical college, said that women were 48 percent of the country’s population and their participation in every field would ensure social and economic development of the country. She said the country would progress if both men and women were given equal opportunities to work.

Prominent among the participants were Farhat Jabeen, Professor Farhana Jehangir, Madiha Kashif, Professor Dur-e-Shahwar, Ghazala Yousaf, Professor Samina Effat, Ghazala Roohi and Hina Rauf.

The speakers read out papers and delivered speeches to highlight the importance of the Hindko language, literature and culture. Though the main speakers were women, the representatives of the board and the academy were given the rostrum for a brief time to inform the audience about the literary and cultural pursuits of both the Board and the Academy.

A noted writer, poet, research scholar and general secretary of the Gandhara Hindko Board, Muhammad Ziauddin, exhorted women to come forward and join efforts for promotion of the Hindko language and culture.

Gandhara Hindko Board vice-chairman Dr Muhammad Salahuddin and joint secretary Ahmad Nadeem Awan said the board had been working for the promotion of Hindko language and culture since 1993. They said the board and the nascent academy had published a number of books in Hindko language so far and many more were in the pipeline.

The participants pledged to form a women chapter of the Gandhara Hindko Board to motivate women for Hindko promotion. Students from the City Girls College Peshawar, Kids School System and Peshawari Vines team presented skits and won appreciation. A stall set up on the sidelines of the conference displayed various Hindko language books and publications, which attracted attention of the visitors.