RECORDER REPORT

PESHAWAR: A joint Seraiki-Hindko Conference arranged here demanded of the government to set up a Department for Seraiki Studies at the Gomal University (GU) and Hindko Academy in Peshawar to work for the promotion of these two native languages.

The conference was organized by a Peshawar-based literary, cultural and social welfare organization, Gandhara Hindko Board at the Dera Ismail Khan District Council Hall in collaboration with Seraiki language and cultural activists.

Gandhara Hindko Board Chairman Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi presided over the event. Dera Ismail Khan Division Commissioner Mushtaq Khan Jadoon was the chief guest of the programme which was attended by 400 people, 100 of them women. The day-long conference, financed by the Gandhara Hindko Board and convened by Dr Shahid Masood, comprised of four sessions. The first session had speeches from the Seraiki and Hindko writers.

The Seraiki language activists, including Dr Shahid Masood, Aslam Awan, deputy convener of the moot, and others shed light on the significance of Seraiki language and culture. They said Seraiki is an important language as it is spoken in all the provinces of the country. They demanded tangible steps from the provincial government for the promotion of Seraiki language and culture.

The Hindko writers and poets, including Mohammad Ziauddin, Dr Adnan Gul, Dr Salahuddin, Sheen Shaukat, Atif Haleem Jan, and others talked about various aspects of the Hindko language and culture. They said Hindko writers and poets have always worked for the promotion of language and culture, adding, it is time for the government to come forward and give official backing to the efforts being made by the literati for its promotion.

The second session was reserved for research-based papers. The literati from the two languages, numbering 15, read out papers on different aspects of the two languages. Three of the papers were by women writers. There were also participants from Bahawalpur apart from those from Dera Ismail Khan and Tank districts of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Noted Seraiki writer and academician, Professor Akhlaq Ahmad and Aftab Ahmad co-conducted the session.

A Seraiki-Hindko Mushaira or poetry recital session was held in the third session of the conference. A total of 25 Seraiki and Hindko poets recited pieces of poetry in respective languages and won appreciation. Muhammad Ali Shah facilitated the session.