LITERARY PERSPECTIVES: FELLOW WRITERS ON THE WORK OF LEHR NIAZI

LITERARY PERSPECTIVES:

FELLOW WRITERS ON THE WORK OF LEHR NIAZI

The literary contributions of Lehr Niazi have garnered deep appreciation from his contemporaries, who recognize his unique voice within the broader landscape of Pakistani literature. Many fellow writers have noted that his English poetry—found in collections such as Dreams in the Desert and The Dancing Leaves—bears a nostalgic flavor reminiscent of the celebrated American poet Robert Frost, marked by a humanist perspective and accessible, powerful diction.

Beyond his poetic achievements, his fellow writers are equally impressed by his mastery of prose. As a dedicated Urdu afsana (short story) writer, Lehr Niazi is highly regarded for his ability to weave complex social realities into his narratives. Fellow writers frequently highlight how he brings the same sensitivity, observational depth, and commitment to human values into his short stories as he does in his poetry, effectively capturing the spirit of his region with both grace and precision. His ability to excel as both a poet and a storyteller has established him as a versatile and well-recognized voice, earning him sincere admiration from the literary community for his multifaceted contribution to Urdu and English letters.

The picture shows me with Gulistan Khan, Lehr Niazi, a promising young poet from Mochh. The book in my hand is the first collection of Lehr Niazi’s English poetry. Like me, Lehr Niazi too is a trilingual poet, playwright and story-writer. He writes in English, Urdu as well as Seraiki.

Lehr Niazi’s collection of English poetry is titled Dreams in the Desert. His poetry carries the sweet nostalgic flavour of the celebrated American poet, Robert Frost, Like Frost Lehr Niazi too is a humanist. He is sure to make his mark in this field.

مرحوم ڈاکٹر اجمل نیازی میانوالی کو حیرتوں کی سرزمین کہا کرتے تھے – کئی حوالوں سے میانوالی واقعی حیرتوں کی سرزمین ہے – پنجاب کی شمال مغربی سرحد پر واقع یہ دُور افتادہ خطہ لاہور اور اسلام آباد میں بیٹھی حکومتوں کی نظروں سے تو ہمیشہ اوجھل ہی رہا – سرکار کے منظورِنظر علاقوں جیسی سہولیات میانوالی کو کبھی نصیب نہ ہوئیں ، اس لیئے دنیاوی لحاظ سے یہ علاقہ غریب ہی رہا ، مگر ربِ کریم نے اس علاقے کے لوگوں کو ایسی علمی ، ادبی، فنی، اور اخلاقی صلاحیتوں سے مالامال کر دیا کہ میانوالی کا نام دُنیا بھر میں مشہور و معروف ہو گیا – اس شہرت میں روز بروز اضافہ ہو رہا ہے –

اردو اور سرائیکی ادب میں مُلک گیر شہرت کے حامل شاعروں اور ادیبوں کے علاوہ انگریزی شاعری میں بھی یہاں کی نوجوان نسل کے چند لوگ شہرت اور مقبولیت کے مراحل بڑی تیزی سے طے کر رہے ہیں – –

موچھ کے لہر نیازی بھی ایک اُبھرتے ہوئے شاعر کی حیثیت میں یہاں کے ادبی اُفق پر نمودار ہوئے ہیں – بہت قلیل عرصے میں اُن کی انگریزی شاعری کے تین مجموعے DREAMS IN THE DESERT , DANCING LEAVES اور MY SAD SONG منظرِعام پر آچکے ہیں – لہر نیازی اُن کا قلمی نام ہے – اصل نام گلستان خان نیازی ہے – لہر نیازی ہائر سیکنڈری سکول داؤدخیل میں سینیئر انگلش ٹیچر ہیں – انگریزی میں خوبصورت مختصر نظمیں لکھتے ہیں – سہل زبان اور دیہاتی کلچر کے موضوعات شہرہء آفاق امریکی شاعر ROBERT FROST کی یاد تازہ کرتے ہیں –

لہر نیازی 6 ستمبر کو اپنی انگریزی شاعری کا دُوسرا اور تیسرا مجًموعہ مجھے دینے کے لیئے میرے ہاں آئے – یہ دو خوبصورت کتابیں 100 مختصر نظموں پر مشتمل ہیں – ان کتابوں پر گورنمنٹ کالج میانوالی کے شعبہ ء انگریزی کے سربراہ پروفیسر ناصر اقبال ، عالمز پبلک سکول کے پرنسپل پروفیسر سید ندیم عالم ، گورنمنٹ کالج آف ایجوکیشن کے وائس پرنسپل اسدفاروق خان نیازی اور تھری ڈیز سکول میانوالی کے ڈائیریکٹر ظفر نیازی کےجامع ریمارکس لہر نیازی کے کامیاب شاعر ہونے کی ضمانت ہیں –

-ہر نیازی کی ہر سطح پر حوصلہ افزائی ہونی چاہیئے – سکولوں اور کالجوں کے سربراہوں سے گذارش ہے کہ لہر نیازی کی کتابیں اپنی لائبریریوں کی زینت بنائیں –

لہر نیازی کے لیئے بہت سی نیک تمنائیں – پروفیسر منور علی ملک

Literary Review of *My Sad Song *

SALEEM FAWAD KUNDI VIEWS ABOUT LEHR NIAZI POETRY

Lehr Niazi seems a new found in the valley of poetry. His book *’My Sad Song’* is packed with rippen ideas routed deeply in his surroundings. Deep Drunk from the literary traditions set by English poets, he performed some rare feats of depicting the colour and creed of people downtrodden and discarded. His world is peopled with strange emotions and his anger and anguish: _Ah! we kill to chill_

How cruel is our will? is fully celebrated on the pages of very very short book. Art is larger than life so his imaginations and poetic devices also make flights of unprecedented nature. Birds are perhaps, the only solace and serene islands where_’The roses releases the scent’_, they

can be stopped? Not at all. It is difficult and daring to escape from the cruel bonds with which the humanity is chained. _’My pot is full of tears now’ ._ The serenity of soul in a junk man makes him equal to the crowns. The diversity of themes in the poems can win him great laurels in the literary as well as critical circle prevailed in the country.

. LIMITATION IS LEHR NIAZI’S STRENGHT …

None is more pleased than I to see the second anthology of poetry by Lehr Niazi. The reason, obviously, is that it reminds me of those days when Gulistan Khan (Lehr Niazi) was student of the 2d year in my class. A simple, frail and country boy as he was, his interest in English language, especially in English poetry was keen. I used to call him a poet in those days just for a fun, but he took it seriously (I think). Going through his poems, I realize how wonderfully Lehr Niazi understands his limitations like great Jane Austen. Limitation is Lehr Niazi’s strength. A native of the heart of rural area, he takes his themes from the life and people he lives among.

Simplicity of rhyme, diction and subject matter make his poems “songs of birds”. Lehr Niazi’s poetry shows a pure mind working behind it.. Living in rural area of remote district of Mianwali and composing poems in English Language are really something! I wish him all the best and pray for success of his art. Ameen! BY Prof. Nasir Iqbal,

Chairman, Deptt. of English,Govt. Postgraduate College, Mianwali.Dec. 18, 2018.

A FEW WORDS FOR MY BRILLIANT STUDENT …

It was in 1997, when a thin bodied plainly dressed boy came to ask me something, on the premises of Government Degree College Mianwali, where I had just finished teaching my 3rd year class in English. I never Knew his name but the same boy kept consulting me on different topics regarding grammar and other miscellaneous things.

Later on, one day I asked his name; he respectfully told me “Sir I am Gulistan Khan from Mochh (Mianwali)”. The name had some affiliation with a great poet of Persia Sheikh Saadi, I thought.A few days back from now, he (The same boy now grown up into a mature teacher himself) came to me with a draught booklet of poetry in English .Seeing his effortØ I became amazed as well as jubilant that he had become a literary father of a child (book). I found Gulistan Khan (Lehr Niazi) keen on studies then and I find him keen on his endeavors now. May he be prosperous and successful in his life! Ameen. BY Abdul Ghaffar Khan Khattak,

Lecturer in English (Visiting),UOS, Mianwali Campus, Mianwali.Ex-Lecturer in English, Govt. College Mianwali.

لہر نیازی شاعری – ظفر خان

آج ہمارے بہت ہی پیارے بھائی گلستان خان (لہر نیازی) نے ہمیں شرف ملاقات بخشا. پیارے بھائی اور انگریزی زبان کے پیارے شاعر لہر نیازی اپنے ساتھ اپنی دو خوبصورت کتابوں Dreams In The Desert اور Dancing Leaves کا تحفہ بھی لائے.

شاعری دل کی آواز ہے جو الفاظ کے ایک مخصوص انداز میں لکھی جاتی ہے. یہ دل کی آواز خود بخود اپنی کیفیت کے شایان شان انداز اور الفاظ ڈھونڈ کر خود کو وجود عطا کرتی ہے اور یہی شاعری کہلاتی ہے.

کتابوں پر مزید تبصرہ کسی اگلی پوسٹ میں ہو گا. ابھی کچھ دن صحرا کے ان خوابوں کے ساتھ سیر پر جانا ہے اور وہیں گرتے اگتے پتوں کے ساتھ رقص بھی کرنا ہے کیونکہ گنگنانے اور رقص کرنے کا شوق ہمیں بھی ہے!

MANSHA KHAN VIEWS ABOUT LEHR NIAZI POETRY

Yesterday I had a meeting with Lehr Niazi (لہر نیازی). You belong to Mochh village of Mianwali. You did MPhil in English. You are not only a poet but also a good writer and teacher. You have published three oetry books. Yesterday, my first face-to-face meeting with you through Matiullah Mujahid Khan. This short meeting turned out to be better than expected. You visited my library and it was a pleasure to meet you. You gifted me three books:

Dreams in The Desert
Dancing Leaves
My Sad Song

Despite the English poetry, you kept alive the culture and traditions of our region. You have tried to describe the reality of life and natural scenes very closely in your poetry. I read part of the book and felt that your poetry has the impression of a natural environment which brings a writer closer to reality. You said that your new book will be published very soon. May Allah bless you with a healthy life and more writing. By Mansha Khan

A Poem from Dreams in the Desert: “The poor in the street”

The poor in the street,

No welcome, no treat.

It’s hobby of the people,

Throwing stones at the dogs;

They think the poor of the town,

In the pool, jumping like the frogs.

We must the poor proper deal,

In the whole machine they are wheel.

Never hurt the ego of the man,

Consult every one when you plan.

To the people never do any wrong,