Wednesday marked the 22nd death anniversary of legendary poet Atta Shad. During his life, he was the most renowned poet in Balochistan and was also famous across Pakistan. Atta Shad was renowned in writing poems in Urdu and Balochi. He began his journey in poetry with Urdu poems, but later wrote poems in Balochi, for the promotion of his mother tongue.
The well-known poet was born on November 1, 1939 in Singanisar, a small town of Turbat Kech. His original name was Muhammad Ishaq and Shad was his pen name. He completed his basic education from Government High School, Matriculation from High School Panjgur in 1956 and FA and Bachelors from the Government College University.
Shad tasted fame when people began reading his poetry and praising him. During his lifetime, he had successfully published two collections of Urdu poetry. Shad’s Urdu poetry is a true reflection of Balochi culture and landscape of Balochistan. He created a new poetic flavour in Urdu by bringing Balochi folklores, romantic sagas and other poems by Mahnaz, Shah Murid and Hani, Wafa and Lori. He represented various aspects of Balochi and changes in Baloch society.
During his life, Shad divided Balochi poetry into two parts. He wrote his own poetry in Balochi. He had completely dominated the other poets. That time there were renowned poets, but Shad was known as their leader. He emerged as a great poet in Urdu and Balochi and could speak Persian as well. Through contributing poems, he had gotten many successful achievements.
Rochgir, Shap Sahar Andem, Singaab, Barfaag, Gichain Shairi, Balochi Nama, Dreen, Urdu Balochi Lughat, Balochi Urdu dictionary, Haft Zubani Lughat, Jawansal and Unpublished works of both Balochi and Urdu are some of his most popular and well-read submissions and collections.
He was also the author of several radio and television plays.
He travelled the whole world like Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United States, Australia, Germany, Thailand, Italy, China, England and many more.
He was awarded the Presidential Pride of Performance Award as well as Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Star of Excellence) along with a Special Award from the Information & Broadcasting Radio Ministry.
He also bagged the fellowship for International Training Institute in Sydney.
The writer is a student at Turbat University and can be reached at [email protected]
Published in Daily Times, February 18th 2019.