Gul Nawaz Khan Khaki: an obituary
CHITRAL, Nov 11: Gul Nawaz Khan Khaki, a prominent Khowar artist, poet, linguist and author, passed away after protracted illness here on Monday. He was 76.
He was laid to rest in his native Singur village on Monday afternoon. Gul Nawaz Khaki had been suffering from cardiac ailment for the last two months and was taken to Peshawar for treatment. His death is certainly a big loss for the Khowar language. During his whole life, Khaki devotedly worked for the promotion of the Khowar language as a singer, radio commentator and writer and an author.
He was considered an authority and an encyclopedia of the Khowar language and culture. Khaki was also included in the committee formed by the KPK governmnet a few years back to prepare the Khowar syllabus for primary schools. He also worked hard for bringing Khowar writers and poets to the platform of Anjuman Taraqi-e-Khowar which he headed as its president for a number of tenures.
Besides his literary activities, Khaki also took active part in politics and was considered to be one of the veteran and old members of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chitral. One of his most praise-worthy attributes was that during his lifetime he never used his status as a prominent artist and political activist to get personal gains or publicity and lived a simple but happy life. May his soul rest in peace.–S. Nazir Hussain
It is unbelievable to hear that the father of Khowar language passed away when he was extremely needful as our new generation gradually forgetting the sweet norms and values of our language and culture. We pray that the soul of our great patron of Khowar language rest in peace, Ameen.
I am deeply shocked to read the sad news of the demise of Gul Nawaz Khaki. He was an icon of Khowar language and literature. May Almighty Allah bless the soul with His mercy in the life hereafter and bestow patience on the aggrieved family. I last met him on October 27 just before my departure for Thailand. On coming back from Peshawar, he was feeling well. Return to the eternity from this sojourn is ultimate destination of every soul.
Dr Inayatullah Faizi,
Bangkok, Thailand
We are deeply shocked to read this bad news. It was previous November when Khaki sab, Faizi sab, Shahzad sab, Ubaid sab, Razi sab, Mumtaz sab and Nigah sab were here in Peshawar and were preparing syllabus for Khowar. They were staying at New Mehran Hotel in Peshawar Saddar and every evening we used to go there to meet them.
They used to debate different topics of syllabus and we used to listen to them carefully as these were very informative and useful for us. Then on late nights they started “Sitar majlis”, daily and sang old Khowar songs. Now when we read this sad news, we are deeply shocked. (Khakis was an artist, a poet, an author and such people never die, he may have passed away in reality but he will always stay alive in our hearts!)
Manzoor Haidar,
University of Peshawar