Preserve Cultures

Preserve Cultures

Azhar Ali Azhar a Khowar Poet

A portrait of Azhar Ali Azhar, a Khowar poet from Chitral, in traditional attire with a thoughtful expression, reflecting his literary depth and cultural heritage.

Name Azhar Ali

Literary name Azhar.

Date of birth: 24 April 1990

Birthplace: Morder

Father name: Saad Tauqi (late).

Azhar Ali Azhar is a talented and emerging poet of Khowar Literature. He is a poet whose charm resonates in Khowar poetry. He was born on April 24, 1990, in Morder, Mulkhow village of Chitral Upper. The story of Azhar is about heritage, love, and poetic abilities. Even in Chitral’s darker times, his family was devoted to education, and Azhar was born into an educated and enlightened family. 

Early Life and Family

Azhar Ali Azhar starts his life in his birthplace Morder. He was born to Saad Tauqi (deceased), a Junior Commissioned Officer in the Chitral Scouts. Who by his disciplined yet nurturing influence laid the foundation for Azhar’s character. Intellect and achievement mark the family legacy, with his brothers being excellent in their respective fields. Dr. Saad Muluk, Taj ul Muluk (Head of RSDU Mastuj), Zain ul Muluk (Manager of Curriculum at Aga Khan Board, Karachi), Abid Ali Muluk (Banker), and Basharat Ali Muluk (Engineer). He was brought up in a family where education and culture were held in great esteem along with his four sisters. 

Educational Journey of Azhar Ali Azhar

Like many in his family, he started in a school founded by his family member some years before his birth. Azhar Ali Azhar started his educational journey from Islamia Model School Kosht. He was a very curious child who always wanted to know about the world and was not satisfied with mere knowledge. He completed his matriculation from 1995 to 2006. Then, he went to Government Degree College Chitral from 2006 to 2010 for his higher education. His career aspirations further led him to Peshawar University, where he earned a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree. 

Professional Career of Azhar Ali Azhar

Azhar was an entrepreneur and ran a business for a very short span of time. However, the hardships of life made him take up a stable career. Now he works as a respected staff member of the Aga Khan Education Service Pakistan as part of the administrative staff. 

Poet journey of Azhar Ali Azhar

Azhar’s familiarity with poetry began in 2008 when he was still a young man. The second reason for early contact with the field of literature is the kinship of Baba Siyar. That naturally brought him closer to the literary world, especially Khowar Literature. In the light of giants such as Amin Chughtai, Muhammad Irfan Irfan, Zakir Muhammad Zakhmi, and many others, Azhar wrote poems as he thought and felt. He once recited at a mushaira the following lines: 

Taty Maloom Na Zhan Qalipar Nisir 

Tu ma Hardi No Re Ma zhan Kicha Rem? 

Translation; 

Oh! My beloved don’t you know that soul leaves the body 

So, how can I call you my soul instead of my heart? 

These verses, which Dr. Inayat Ullah Faizi praised, were the beginning of Azhar’s rise to the position of the most popular poet in the region. His first ghazal, sung by Zafar Hayat, became very popular, and he became a name in the hearts of the listeners of Khowar

A Musical Connection of Azhar Ali Azhar

Alongside writing Azhar Ali Azhar also likes to listen to music and has a unique taste of music. Music and poetry go hand in hand for him. He admires singers like Mansoor Ali Shabab, Zafar Hayat, and Ziad Wali Zia, while young talents such as Syed Azhar Uddin, Shahzad Ayubi, Irfan Ali Taj, and Mir Salim inspire him deeply. Azhar’s poetic compositions often find life in the melodies of these musicians, creating a coordination that resonates with his audience. 

The Guiding Stars for Azhar Ali Azhar 

Azhar attributes much of his poetic development to the late Fida Ur Rehman Fida, who encouraged and elevated him at every stage. His respected teachers, the late Ubaid ur Rehman and Murad Ali of Degree College Chitral, also played a great role in his intellectual journey. Though his main concentration is on Khowar poetry, Azhar occasionally explores Urdu literature, appreciating some great names such as Ahmed Faraz and Jaun Elia. He also admires contemporary cultures. 

Inheritance and Aspirations

Azhar Ali Azhar’s life is a testament to poetry’s resilient power to articulate the unarticulated. This is, of course, to fill the vacuum between tradition and modernity and to celebrate the inherent beauty of language and culture. Through this voice, Azhar inspires a new generation of poets and musicians, especially Khowar Poets and Musicians. Thereby, he is leaving an indelible mark on Khowar literature
In today’s rich cultural heritage of Chitral, Azhar Ali Azhar is like a bright thread that interweaves love, loss, and longing with an enduring charm.

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