A good read, i fear this like many languages maybe wiped out with time unless people work hard to promote it.
Mukhtar Ali Nayyar: Baba-e-Hindko
http://statesman.com.pk/city/city2.htm
By Sher Alam Shinwari
PESHAWAR: There are a few genuine people who rose to the heights of public appreciation and their efforts served a purpose that is both a great asset and a piece of art for the posterity.
Mukhtar Ali Nayyar is one such humble and soft-spoken personality who served a genuine cause. At a precise time, I reached his residence and found the grey hair with a smile and decorum of a typical city host at the entrance.
After formal greeting ceremony he took off with a great pride what he had achieved in his life. “I was born to a scholarly family, my ancestors had migrated from Buner, and so I am the grandson of famous Diwana Baba. I grew up among the writers and poets; naturally my inclination was towards accumulating more and more knowledge” he informed.
Mukhtar Ali Nayyar was born in 1935 in Peshawar. He received his early education from Edwardes High School Peshawar and did his FA and graduation as private candidate. He joined teaching in 1962 and got retirement in 1986 in the same profession. He has written fifteen books on the history, lexicography, evolution and literature of Hindko.
Mukhtar Ali Nayyar is a poet, writer, linguist, researcher, historian and lexicographer.
"According to my research the first ever Hindko poet was Ustad Rahmat Khan Rahmat born in 1592 and died in 1680. He was a resident of Shedo, Akora Khattak. He composed some beautiful charbitas in Hindko. Professor Christopher Shackle, an Oriantalist, writes in his celebrated booklet ‘Hindko in Kohat and Peshawar’ that the Hindko of Kohat is original and ancient.
The first literary Hindko organisation was Bazm-e-Khial founded in 1930 followed by another one ‘Bazm-e-Shaur’. The first combined Hindko Urdu Mushaira was held in 1897. I started publishing my own monthly literary journal in Hindko ‘Hindko Zuban’. I have published 22000 Hindko words in my monthly journal. It took me 25 long years to compile 100000 words in Hindko. A collection of a few thousands words pertaining to a particular dialect can not be termed a full fledged dictionary published by some individuals a few months ago in so-called Hindko. It needs a lot of mental drudging and physical hard labour to compile a dictionary.
The first Hindko film was flopped due to political controversy. Whatever being shown on PTV has no concern with the cultural values of this province. Hindko and Pakhto have become hostage to non-writers", Nayyar said taking a deep sigh.
He is one of the outstanding writers among a host of 167 literary giants from across the country. He has contributed to many Urdu and Hindko magazines and newspapers and has remained a regular columnist for seven years with the daily Mashriq.
Mukhtar Ali Nayyar was decorated with the title of Baba-e-Hindko in 1992 and honoured with presidential award ‘Tamgha-e-Imtiaz’ the same year for his remarkable contributions in the field of literature.
He showed me piles of manuscripts spreading over thousands of pages written on the classical poets, folklore Hindko script, etymology and history of prose in Hindko. His famous TV serial Boloon kay na boloon captivated the Hindko viewers for three years.
His published books include Hindko Nsr Kee Khanian1961, Qadim Hindko Zuban 1965, Tarikh-e-Hindko 1970, Hindko Zarbul Amsaal 1977, Tarikh-e-Zuban Aur Adab Hindko 1980, Hindko Lok Khanian.
“Every language needs an official patronage. Hindko enjoys a rich legacy; its fascinating Harfi and Charbita inspire me very much. Peshawar City is a witness to many historical and cultural events. Linguistically speaking this region is the most ancient place and so its dwellers should be proud of their historical heritage.”
Nayyar has represented NWFP in Iran, China and Afghanistan on several occasions. Mukhtar Ali Nayyar clad in traditional Peshawari waist coat with a pen tucked in its upper pocket ran a hopeful smile on his face coupled with a tinge of satire said, “a son of the Peshawari soil will come soon and will publish all the stuff lying before you. This all was I could in my life time.”
His innocent light mockery at philistines in our society was enough food for thought. His strength and unwavering belief in the sanctity of words made me bold to tell him, “You are the most important personality of my land - Baba you have done your job”.
When he stood up to say me farewell, a big gate closed behind me but a window of new enlightenment opened to my mind and in a state of bewilderment blurted out “should we lose such a talent?”