Speakers at a well-attended literary gathering held here on Wednesday sought official patronage for Hindko language and establishment of the Hindko Academy which had already been approved by the federal government way back in 1987.
The demand was made through a resolution passed at the function organised by Gandhara Hindko Board to launch a comprehensive 30,000 words Hindko dictionary, compiled by Professor Dr Elahi Bakhsh Awan, an eminent England-based lexicographer, research scholar, linguist, poet and writer from Peshawar who did his doctorate in Linguistics from University of London in 1968 by researching on Hindko phonology.
The literati, gathered at the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industries (SCCI) building, said in the resolution that Hindko was the second main language of the province and was in dire need of official patronage. The largely attended function was presided over by SCCI president Muhammad Asaf while NWFP Food Minister Muhammad Shuja Khan was the chief guest.
Earlier, the speakers showered praise on Professor Dr Elahi Bakhsh Awan for compiling the Hindko dictionary that signified the linguistic research conducted by the noted lexicographer, extending over almost four decades. Professor Dr Zahoor Awan said the Hindko dictionary was prepared in accordance with international standards. "It has main entry, pronunciation, followed by information about the origin of the word and its grammar status, leaving out the sub-entries," he pointed out while enlisting the salient features of the publication. He said the bulky dictionary had been prepared after studying Instrumental Linguistics and products such as Sonogram, Tonogram and Pitch, etc that lent it more credibility and authenticity.
The compiler, Professor Dr Elahi Bakhsh Awan, Director of Linguistic Academy of Pakistan-United Kingdom and associate of Institute of Linguists, London, said the efforts launched by the youths for the preservation and promotion of Hindko had given him extra vigour to explore several other aspects of Hindko, which was an ancient language of the Gandhara region. SCCI President Muhammad Asaf said languages were an asset to humanity and all efforts should be made to preserve and promote them in unbiased manner.