Ameer Hamza Shinwari

Ameer Hamza Shinwari (Pashto: حمزه شينواری), born in Landi Kotal in the year 1907 and died in February 1994, was a famous Pashtun poet. He Belonged to the Shinwari tribe of the ethnic Pashtuns. Ameer Hamza's work is considered a fusion between classic and modern poetry. He followed the traditional old classical poetry and blended it with the modern spirit, as well as introducing new ideas in Pashto Ghazals and took this genre of poetry to perfection. He is known as the father of Pashto Ghazals.

Early career

At a young age, Ameer Hamza Shinwari dreamt of making a career in film, he wrote the story for the first ever Pashto language film, ‘Laila Majnoon,’ in 1941. The film, which was released in Bombay before the partition, earned him a pittance. But it was during a visit to Ajmer Sharif that he first came into contact with the world of mysticism. He adopted the ‘Chishtia’ order of mysticism, following in the footsteps of Rahman Baba, and blended it with the Pashtunwali, the famous Pashtun code of conduct. The government of Pakistan also honoured him with a posthumous ‘presidential pride of performance’ award, and the NWFP government built the Hamza Baba Cultural Complex in Landi Kotal in homage to his great services to Pashtun culture.

Ameer Hamza Shinwari was also a critic and a playwriter, he wrote 200 plays for Radio Pakistan, Peshawar, a number of features, critical essays and research papers for different literary magazines and newspapers of Pakistan.

Ghazal by Ameer Hamza Shinwari

You may feel the blaze of thy checks in my heart's fire. The blaze, which can't be caught from any other fire.Why my smile reflects on thy forehead,The essence of the mirror is embarrassed and perplexed.Undoubtedly, the mirror has the quality of expression,But it never discloses the mystery of one to another.Since his amazement has a long wait for thee in the mirror,The host will surely sacrifice his life for the reflection.O' Humza! Since I ask for a mirror, we are undeniably apart,(We'll be united) if our faces reflect into one another.

My beloved at night, swing his hairs,Sun came and kissed the Lights of The night,Hairs of my beloved scattered,Spring came and dead plants of jasmine were like jasmine.I said to my beloved, return my heart to me, if you don't like it----My wings will be made of falsehood, hence i am afraid,Otherwise sky is my one yard, i am that flight.