Moula Nigah is a pioneer of Khowar literature. He dedicated his life to preserving Chitral’s cultural and linguistic heritage.
Literary name: Nigah
Father name: Jahangeer
Date of birth: 12 January 1949
Died on: 5 January 2019
Cast: Reza Khail
Tomb: Singur Chitral
Moula Nigah is one the pioneers of those who have gathered Khowar poems and Khowar Poets. His services and contributions to Khowar Literature are priceless. In this write up you are going to know about a prominent literary writer and researcher. Nigah was the literary name under which this great expert emerged in Khowar literature and culture. He was born on January 12, 1949, in Terich, Chitral. Throughout his life, he dedicated himself to conserving the spirit of the Khowar language, literature, and cultural heritage. His journey from his humble background to his standing as a call of excellence is a story of persistence and passion.
Early Life and Education of Moula Nigah
He was born to Mr. Jahangeer in the Reza Khail family in Terich. Moula Nigah started his career by going to Government Primary School Zundrangam, Terich. Again, in pursuit of thirsting for knowledge, he had changed several schools- government middle schools in Shagram, Warijun, and Mastuj for grade 6, grade 7, and grade 8 respectively. He got the Secondary School Certificate in 1968 from Warijun.
As he was a curious learner, he undertook his master’s from private means through the University of Peshawar. Then, he also studied for a Bachelor’s in Education at Allama Iqbal Open University, depicting how he was really an enthusiast for self-learning and self-improvement. This way he learned enough to serve his community in a good way thus he went back to Chitral with the inspiration of teaching.
Family of Moula Nigah
Moula Nigah had 11 family members, which comprised six sons and three daughters, and they kept accompanying him throughout his magnificent life.
Professional Career
His profession was actually another version of service to his community and culture. He was a PST at Government Primary School Saht, Mulkhow. Moula Nigah spent his life serving education for four decades. He gradually climbed the hierarchy and retired as a highly respected Headmaster/Principal in 2006. Mr. Nigah left behind the light of enlightenment and inspiration in his students’ lives. He also proved himself as a role model for junior teachers to be sincere in their roles. He truel supported young poets like Munawar Zaman and Abdullah Shahab to achieve great for Khowar poetry.
Literary Contributions
Moula Nigah used his wit and educated background to contribute to Khowar Literature. Yes, this is true that he served wonderfully. His literary contributions are vast and profound. His published work, Nuqta Nigah, is a testament to his poetic brilliance. He did translations and interpretations of iconic works like Dewan-e-Baba Siyar which is the actual work of Baba Siyar. His literary archive has more than a hundred essays, lemmas, and unpublished treasures, including:
- Urdu and Khowar poetry collections
- Verses in praise of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
- A Khowar dictionary
- A catalog of Indigenous Khowar words
- An Urdu-language autobiography
Research Endeavors
He once again utilized his educated personality in exploring previous works and preserving current indigenous Khowar. As a scholar, Moula Nigah explored the cultural and historical aspects of Chitral. His research area and topics are:
1. Khowar culture and language
2. The history of Chitral
3. Civilization and folk traditions
4. The genealogy and history of the Reza Khail tribe
Awards and Recognition of Maula Nigah
Moula Nigah’s literary excellence earned him numerous awards and appreciation, according to the details we have so far including:
1. Quaid Tujhe Mera Salaam book-writing competition at the hands of the Prime Minister
2. Shandur Award for outstanding services towards Khowar literature
Literary Positions and Services
The promotional organizations that worked for Khowar Literature came into being because of people like Mr. Nigah. Some of the positions he held are:
a. Anjuman-e-Taraqi-e-Khowar President, Chitral, and Terich
b. Chairman, Department of Publication, Anjuman-e-Taraqi-e-Khowar
Final words for Moula Nigah
Moula Nigah died on January 5, 2019. His death left an indelible mark on Khowar literature and culture as Khowar Literature and Khowar Poetry lost a true representation. His final resting place is in Singur, Chitral, where his legacy inspires future generations of poets, researchers, and educators. Moula Nigah remains an immortal figure through his words, wisdom, and unwavering dedication on the pages of Khowar’s literary history.