FLI supported a bilingual poetry session at a government high school in Beory village, Southern Chitral. The majority of the village’s population speaks the Palula language, and this was the first poetry session where they were joined by Khowar poets, a predominantly spoken language in the Chitral valley. Over a hundred people attended the event, including community members of Palula and Khowar, teachers, religious leaders, students, and poets from both language communities.

Four poets from the Palula community and sixteen from the Khowar community presented their poems. The Principal of Government Higher Secondary School, Drosh, Mr. Muhammad Saleem Kamil, was the chief guest on the occasion. He appreciated the concept of holding a bilingual poetry symposium, encouraging the Palula community poets to express themselves in front of the Khowar people. He added that the event would introduce the tradition of enjoying each other’s languages, leading to harmony among linguistic communities and strengthening the linguistic diversity of the valley.

The participants thanked FLI for supporting such a delightful event, which provided a pleasant experience for all.

We are thrilled to announce the publication of three new books in the indigenous languages of northern Pakistan: Khowar, Shina Kohistani, and Palula. These books mark a significant landmark in our efforts to promote and preserve the linguistic heritage of the region.

Orai: A Collection of Khowar Fiction

Farid Ahmad Raza, a FLI trainee and a recognized author, has written “Orai”, a fascinating collection of Khowar fiction. This book is a groundbreaking achievement, as it is the first to utilize the latest font, Nafees Nastaleeq, introduced by FLI to facilitate indigenous language writing. We congratulate Farid on his latest publication, which is sure to inspire young readers from his community and motivate other writers to follow in his footsteps.

Herbs, Vegetables, and Plants of Kohistan

Razwal Kohistani, a seasoned author and FLI collaborator, has authored a comprehensive book on the herbs, vegetables, and plants of the Kohistan area in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This valuable resource not only educates readers about the local flora but also preserves the indigenous wisdom of the region. We extend our warmest congratulations to Razwal for his outstanding contribution to Shina Kohistani literature.

Palula Folktales with Urdu Translation

Naseem Haider, a FLI trainee and staffer, has compiled an interesting collection of Palula folktales, complete with Urdu translations. As a training lead with FLI, Naseem has been instrumental in strengthening not only his native language, Palula, but also other languages of northern Pakistan. We congratulate him on this latest achievement, which follows his previous publications in Palula.

We hope that these new publications will pave the way for a brighter future, providing readers with engaging material in their native languages and inspiring a new generation of writers and linguists.

 

 

 

We extend our warm congratulations to the researchers, writers, and activists of the Balti, Kalkoti, and Bateri languages on their remarkable achievements in literature development.

The Balti language, with its existing writing system, has now unified its orthography, thanks to FLI’s efforts in bringing together representatives from various groups. This milestone paves the way for joint literature development by the community.

Meanwhile, the Kalkoti and Bateri languages have achieved their first publications, marking a significant step forward. Kalkoti, spoken by 15,000 people in Dir Kohistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has transitioned from an oral language to a written one, thanks to FLI’s documentation program and training for community members. Similarly, the Bateri language has begun its journey in literature development.

We commend the dedication of the language activists and community researchers who have worked tirelessly to achieve these milestones. Their efforts have laid the foundation for future literature development, strengthening their languages against the threat of extinction.

FLI remains committed to supporting these communities in their language development endeavors, empowering them to enrich their languages with vibrant literature.