Hamza Baba’s anniversary being observed today

The 17th death anniversary of father of Pashto Ghazal, Amir Hamza Khan Shinwari, is being commemorated today (Friday).

A multifaceted personality and literary giant, Hamza Baba, attained the status of a classic poet in his lifetime. He influenced almost three generations of poets and writers through his powerful writings.

Born in 1907 in Landikotal, Khyber Agency, Amir Hamza Shinwari could complete only 9th grade education but he kept reading books on a variety of subjects. In his early life he was inclined to leftist views but during a visit to the shrine of Hazrat Moinduddin Chishti in the late 30s, he turned to Sufism and became a practicing Sufi.

He also advocated Pakhtunwali in its true sense in his poetry, which is drenched in modern romanticism as he served as a bridge between the old and the new trends in Pashto literature. Hamza Baba had launched his illustrious poetic career in Urdu but turned to Pashto on the advice of his spiritual guide Syed Abdul Sattar Bacha, who thought young Hamza would contribute more to his mother tongue. He was proved right because Hamza Baba made immense contribution to the Pashto language and literature.

He also penned books in Urdu. He was well-versed in Urdu, Persian and Arabic and was aware of European literature and philosophy through translations. Pakhtunwali and Sufism are a trademark of Hamza Baba’s poetry. He accomplished Pashto Ghazal to the extent that literary critics unanimously conferred on him the most coveted title of ‘Baba-e-Pashto Ghazal’.

Haroon Shinwari, a young poet, recently brought out a book titled ‘An introduction to Hamza Baba’ on the legendary poet. It would be formally launched on the occasion of the Sufi poet’s 17th death anniversary on February 18, 1994.

He has devoted a separate chapter to the most important traits of Hamza Baba’s poetry and prose. The book consists of seven chapters under the topics - love, Nazarmaatey [guard against evil eye], Ghazal, Karachi Mushaira, Sufism, Jirga, Jungarah and Hamza Baba school of thought. Each description gives a clear picture of the late poet’s vision.

Hamza Shinwari was a prolific writer but he managed to keep high standards of his writing whether poetry or prose. He introduced new diction and thought in Pashto literature, which was unheard of before his emergence on the scene as a noted poet.

As a teenager, Hamza Baba wanted to act in movies, but could not fulfil that desire. Instead, he wrote a story line for the first Pashto film ‘Laila Majnoon’ that was released in Mumbai and other Pashto speaking parts of the pre-partition India in 1941.

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