LAHORE: The Faiz Foundation Trust on Thursday observed the 100th birth anniversary of Baloch poet and politician Gul Khan Nasir at Faiz Ghar in Model Town.

The event aimed to celebrate the achievements of one of Pakistan`s finest poets and express solidarity with the people of Balochistan.

Mir Gul Khan Nasir was a revolutionary poet, journalist, historian and politician who struggled for the rights of the oppressed throughout his life. He held the office of Senior Minister, National Awami Party, and served as minister of education, health, information, social welfare and tourism.

Gul Khan wrote poems in English, Urdu, Balochi, Brahui and Persian and was a close friend ofFaiz. He translated Faiz`s Sar-iWaadi-i-Seena into Balochi with the title Seenai Keechag Aa while in jail, and Faiz`s poem Diya is a translation of Gul Khan`s famous poem Deewa.

The evening commenced with a video on the life and works of Gul Khan. The background voice was that of Adeel Hashmi, who also moderated the evening.

Faiz Foundation Trust chairperson Saleema Hashmi said it was Nov 20, 1984, when Faiz left this world. It was decided by the family that it would celebrate Faiz`s `birthday` on Nov 20 instead of death anniversary. She said the day was a great opportunity to remember Faiz`s close friend, Gul Khan Nasir.

Abdul Saboor Baloch, pro vice chancellor, University of Turbat, in his keynote address said FaizAhmed Faiz and Lahore had an important place in the Balochi literature. Both were inspiring to Balochi literary circle. Lahore had given a cold shoulder to that literary and ideological relation once developed between Faiz and Gul Khan, he regretted.

He said the Progressive Writers Association in the past had a deep relation with Balochistan but over the years that warmth had faded into oblivion. He said Gul Khan`s poetry was the spirit of Balochi literature and also reflective of the political scene of his times. The metaphors and similes he used in his poetry were associated with his land and people, said Mr Baloch.

Human Rights Commission of Pakistan Secretary-General I.A.

Rehman said that after matriculation Gul Khan came to Lahore andstarted doing poetry in Urdu despite the fact that he was from Balochistan and his own language was Balochi. He also wrote poems in English, Urdu and Persian however later he started to say verses in Balochi and then for the rest of his life kept glued to it, Mr Rehman said.

He said Gul Khan was also fond of collecting poetry by other poets.

He said Gul Khan wrote nine books five of which were published during his life and the remaining af ter his death.

He said Gul Khan came to Lahore in 1932 and at that time Faiz also was in Lahore. He said a salient feature of Gul Khan`s poetic journey was that he used to write dates with his poetry.

Afsheen Kamran, daughter of Baloch poet Prof Nadir Qambrani, sang `kalam` of Faiz and Gul Khan.