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6th International Hindko Conference concludes: Govt urged to promote all Pakistani languages

By Nisar Mahmood
December 11, 2017

PESHAWAR: The participants of the 6th International Hindko Conference on Sunday urged the federal government to promote Indo-Aryan and other Pakistani languages to achieve the national unity.

The demand was made through one of the resolutions passed on the concluding day of the three-day moot, which was themed “Attaining national unity through promotion of Indo-Aryan and other Pakistani languages.”

The Gandhara Hindko Board (GHB) and Gandhara Hindko Academy (GHA) had organised the conference.

Literati from Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, United States, England, Malaysia and United Arab Emirates attended the event.

Another resolution asked relevant federal institutions to arrange a festival next year to highlight the mystic poetry and music of the Indo-Aryan languages.

The launch of a Gandhara Hindko TV, due share for Hindko language in state-run television and radio programmes, establishment of department for Hindko studies at Peshawar and Hazara varsities, inclusion of Hindko language as an optional subject in papers of various competitive examinations for superior services and support for Hindko language newspaper, “Hindkowan” were stressed through other resolutions.

Earlier, a total four sessions were arranged on the last day of the conference.

A researcher of Wakhi language from Hunza, Ali Beg, presided over the first session. Salahuddin Mengal, a Brahvi language researcher, was the chief guest.

Mengal said the national and regional languages were faced several challenges and issues in promotion. He stressed collective efforts for acquiring official backing to have them resolved.

Ali Beg said the 6th International Hindko Conference provided a good opportunity to poets and writers from various parts of the country along with expatriate Pakistanis to come closer and share the problems faced by the respective languages.

Syed Zahir Ali Shah, a senior Pakistan People’s Party leader, was the chief guest at the second session. Qair Javed Iqbal, Nazeer Kasaillvi (Hazara), Nasir Daud(Hazara), Rukhsana Qambar, Tahir Tanoli and Fareeda Fari (Khowar language writer) read out papers.

The third session was on “Unity in diversity.” Prof Dr Sayed Amjad Hussain, Dr Abdul Waheed (England), Qudsia Qudsi (Malaysia) and Raja Noor Muhammad expressed views.

The fourth session participants included all women — Ms Farhat Jabeen, Prof Dr Tazeen Gul, Prof Dr Fahmida Hussain (Sindhi language scholar) Nusrat Hameed, Faseeha Zia. Benazir Awan, a young woman from Peshawar, who is known for paragliding and other adventure sports, was seated with the writers as well. Nusrat Hameed from Azad Jammu and Kashmir read out her paper on Pahari language. Prof Dr Tazeen Gul focused on preservation and promotion of the cultural practices.

Hindko folk music was the last segment of the conference. The singers from different parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa performed and won acclaim.

The conference ended at distribution of souvenir, shields and certificates to the participants.

Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra had inaugurated the moot on Friday. Several research based-papers were read out and presentations made on diverse topics during the moot.

A total of 100 books and 17 publications, brought out by the Gandhara Hindko Academy in and about various native languages, were launched on the occasion.

Director General of the Cultural Centre of Islamic Republic of Iran, Dr Syed Abbas Famouri, attended the conference as well.

Some of the participants included Dr Perveen Malik, Prof Rashid Ahmad Prof Dr Muhammad Kamal Khan, Dr Muhammad Nawaz, Syed Mahtab Shah, Noor Hussain Noori, Ajmal Nazeer Ahmad Nadeem Awan, Tahir Mehmood, Sikandar Hayat Sikandar, Dr Muhammad Amjad Sabir, Nazeer Bhatti, Syed Tassawar Bukhari, Ali Awais Khayal, Dr Muhammad Kamal, Sadia Kamal, Sobia Aslam Inamullah Torwali

There was a special session by Prof Dr Sayed Amjad Hussain, US-based cardiothoracic surgeon from Peshawar, on the historical importance of Peshawar. The doctor, who has to his credit several books, displayed some old and fresh pictures of the cultural landmarks of Peshawar to explain his topic and won appreciation.

Documentaries prepared by the GHB and GHA were screened.

A noted Hindko language writer, poet, research scholar, General Secretary of the GHB, Mohammad Ziauddin, and eminent cultural activist and GHB Vice-Chairman Dr Salahuddin, moderated proceedings of the conference.

GHB Chairman Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi, Senior Vice-Chairman Prof Dr Adnan Gul, executive committee members of the board were on the committee that had organized the conference.