Pir Gohar

Syed Pir Gohar Ali Shah (8 December 1931 – 4 January 2013), also known as Shaer-i-Aman (poet of peace), was a Pakistani poet, songwriter, critic and freedom activist who primarily wrote poems in Pashto language throughout his life. He is also credited for contributing to the independence movement of Pakistan. He sometimes used to wrote articles and essays under the multiple pen names such as Shilmani and Silani.[1]

Pir Gohar
Possible portrait of Pir Gohar
Native name
پیر گوہر
BornSyed Pir Gohar Ali Shah
(1931-12-08)December 8, 1931
Pirano Daga, Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
DiedJanuary 4, 2013(2013-01-04) (aged 81)
Pirano Daga, Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Resting placeAncestral cemetery, Pirano Daga, Mardan
Pen name
  • Shilmani
  • Silani
  • Shaer-i-Aman
Occupation
  • Poet
  • Critic
  • Songwriter
  • Freedom activist
LanguagePashto
ResidenceMardan
NationalityPakistani
EducationMaster's degree
Home townMardan
PeriodMovement for the Restoration of Democracy
Operation Fair Play
Military coups in Pakistan
Genre
SubjectPolitics, Literature, Patriotism
Notable awardsPride of Performance
Years active19xx–2013

Gohar was actively involved in literary activities. He served as the chairperson of a literary organization called Mardan Adabi Jirga, and a cultural council called Mardan Arts council. Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan described him a "prominent literary personality".[2]

Early life

Gohar was born on 8 December 1931 in Pirano Daga, Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He did his primary and secondary schooling during the period of British rule and master's degree after the nation was declared a sovereign state. He was associated with the Pakistan Muslim League (PML) before started writing poetry.[3] His life is covered by an Afghan writer Aftab Gul Banrr in his book titled "Gouhariyat". A Pakistani poet Ghumgeen Mayari is believed to have covered Gohar's life in her book titled "Shaair – Amn Pan Ao Shakhsiyat".[2]

Literary work

Gohar originally started his career with poetry, literature, comic stories, and fiction stories. He used to spent his time narrating his patriotic poetry on at political events in presence of Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Abdur Rab Nishtar.[1] He was also involved in gazal writing. Gohar wrote about eight books of poetry, including "Haq Shaoor", "Azghun Pasarly", "Walwaly", "Polay Lasoona", and a book on Sufism titled "Taswaf-e-Noorani". His Pashto book titled "Shalghaty" is recognized among the prominent ones he published. While he was associated with radio and television channels, he was actively involved in writing dramas which were aired on Radio Pakistan and subsequently on a state-owned broadcaster Pakistan Television Corporation. His poems were later translated in ten languages, leading him to earn the title of "poet of peace". An army dictator and later president Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq possibly awarded him Presidential Pride of Performance in recognition of his contribution to the Pakistani literature. He was initially associated with the country's politics, and later disassociated himself citing "source of oppression of the poor".[2][4]

Gohar died of cardiac arrest on 4 January 2013 at Pirano Daga village of Mardan. He is buried in ancestral graveyard.[3]

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Pir Gohar at Pakistan Press Foundation

References
  1. Correspondent, The Newspaper's (January 4, 2013). "Pashto poet Pir Gohar passes away". DAWN.COM.
  2. "1931-2013: Poetic peacenik leaves literary void in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa". tribune.com.pk.
  3. "Qul for poet Pir Gohar today". The News International. January 6, 2013.
  4. "مرحوم پیر گوہر( شاعرامن) نے ہمیشہ محبت ، امن ، بھائی چارے اور حب الوطنی کے گیت لکھے -عبدالسبحان خان". UrduPoint.
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