Syed Zahoor Shah Hashmi
Syed Zahoor Shah Hashmi, commonly known as Syed Hashmi, was a Pakistani Baloch poet, scholar, writer and philosopher who is widely considered one of the most important figures in Balochi language and Balochi literature. He wrote in Balochi, Urdu, Persian and Arabic. Hashmi was posthumously awarded the prestigious Pride of Performance award by the government of Pakistan for his contribution in the field of literature.
Early life and education
Hashmi was born on 21 April 1926 in Gwadar, Sultanate of Muscat and Oman into a Baloch Syed family of Arab descent tracing their lineage to the bani hashim clan, to which the final Islamic prophet Muhammad belonged. At the time of his birth, Gwadar was ruled by Oman, it was bought by Pakistan in 1958.After completing his early education, he studied at the University of the Punjab in Lahore. He was influenced by the work of Muhammad Iqbal and Rumi.
Contribution to Balochi language
Hashmi is well known for his contributions to the Balochi literature. One of his most recognized work is "Sayad Gunj", the first ever Balochi language dictionary. He also wrote several books on Balochi language and its literature's history in Urdu and Balochi. His works also include novels, short stories and translations.Books
Syed Zahoor Shah Hashmi authored several important works on Balochi literature, linguistics, and regional history. His books are frequently cited in Balochi literary histories, academic research, and university curricula. His most widely documented works include:Diwan-e-Hashmi – A collection of Balochi poetry.Tareekh-e-Makran – A historical study of the Makran region.Sayyadon ki Tareekh-e-Makran – A historical account of Sayyid families in Makran.Balochi Zaban-o-Adab ki Tareekh – A scholarly work on the history of the Balochi language and its literature.Balochi Lughat – A lexical work contributing to the documentation of Balochi vocabulary.In addition to these books, Hashmi wrote numerous articles, essays, and research papers, including literary criticism and historical studies, which played a significant role in the intellectual revival of Balochi language and scholarship.