By Syed Shams Uddin Sarfaraz Aakash, a distinguished Urdu poet hailing from Damote, Sai Valley, Gilgit, made his long-awaited public appearance recently, thanks to the commendable efforts of the Gilgit Media Network (GMN). The network deserves immense recognition for bringing to the spotlight a poet of such grand stature, whose reclusive nature has kept him away from the public eye for far too long. Special acknowledgment is also owed to Sher Alam Shehbaz, who played a pivotal role in reaching out to Sarfaraz Aakash and persuading him to share his poetic gems with the world. Aakash, known for his aversion to publicity and his quiet dedication to the craft, has finally graced us with his profound literary presence. In a remarkable display of poetic prowess, Aakash introduced himself to the audience with a striking couplet that immediately commanded attention, offering a glimpse into his mastery over composition, diction, and the grandeur of his expression. The sheer sophistication of h
By Syed Shamsuddin One cannot help appreciating Walir ur Rehman Hami of Markhor Times for connecting with Syed Najam Ul Hassan, a retired teacher from Sakwar village near Gilgit city. Notably, Syed Najam also happens to be a poet who has showcased his remarkable poetic works in the poetical symposia organized by the Literacy Circle Gilgit, thereby establishing a distinguished place for himself in the literary domain. With a deep aspiration to carve out a niche in the Shina language, he began contemplating this goal in December 1978 and successfully achieved it. He states that he seriously commenced the translation of the Holy Qur'an in 1998, adhering to the research principles followed by numerous previous translators of the Holy book. During the interview, he reads out portions of his stupendous work, highlighting the lucidity of the original phraseology in the Shina language. Listeners or readers can appreciate that the carefully chosen Shina words are so captivating that every