Dept of Hindko Studies demanded for Hazara varsity

MANSEHRA: The participants of a one-day Hindko literary and cultural conference here on Saturday demanded the government to set up a Department for Hindko Studies at the Hazara University.

The demand was made through a resolution passed at the conference. A Peshawar-based literary and cultural organisation, Gandhara Hindko Board, and Gandhara Hindko Academy, had jointly arranged the moot.

The participants — writers, poets, researchers and those from other walks of life — were from Hazara, Peshawar, Islamabad and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.A noted Hindko writer, poet, research scholar and General Secretary of the Gandhara Hindko Board, Muhammad Ziauddin, was the conference coordinator. Muhammad Akhtar Naeem was the convener of the moot while Naz Shah and Muhammad Raza Khan were deputy conveners.

Papers were read out on the occasion to highlight the importance of the Hindko language and culture. There was a special focus on the literature and culture of the Hazara Division.

A United States-based writer, researcher and first vice-chancellor of the Hazara University, Professor Dr Ashraf Adeel, attended the conference through the video link. He shed light on the linguistic and cultural diversity.

Speaking as a chief guest, Hazara University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Muhammad Idrees said all languages were an asset to the humanity and deserved attention. He praised the efforts being made for the promotion of Hindko, which is second largely spoken language of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The vice-chancellor assured all assistance to Gandhara Hindko Board and Gandhara Hindko Academy in pursuing the literary and cultural pursuits. He said the Hazara University would welcome all literary and cultural endeavours with open hands.

Muhammad Ziauddin said that Gandhara Hindko Board and Gandhara Hindko Academy had worked for the promotion of the Hindko language and culture. “We have expanded the scope of our activities to other languages of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as well as we own and respect them all,” he added.

Hindko skits were presented and folk songs rendered at the conference which were enjoyed by the audience. A trilingual poetry recital session was another segment of the conference which was attended by Hindko, Kohistani and Gojri poets.