PESHAWAR: The news of a brief health scare concerning octogenarian Pashto poet, essayist and critic Dr Mohammad Israr recently sent waves of anxiety across literary circles and alerted his huge fan following throughout the global Pakhtun diaspora and literary circles at large.
However, admirers can now rest easy, as poet and Awami National Party (ANP) culture secretary Akbar Hoti confirmed to Dawn on Sunday that the veteran writer was in good health.
The reassuring update brought immense relief to scholars, writers and cultural figures across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and overseas, who expressed gratitude for his well-being and celebrated his enduring contribution to Pashto language and literature. Mr Hoti said that Dr Israr vowed to continue contributing to Pashto literature despite being an octogenarian.
Born on December 15, 1938, in the historic town of Hoti in Mardan, Dr Israr was raised by his father Syed Shamal Shah Bacha. Growing up in an environment deeply influenced by local cultural traditions and progressive ideals of Bacha Khan’s Khudai Khidmatgar movement, his early creative sensibilities were forged at the intersection of social consciousness and regional heritage.
Octogenarian writer pledges to continue contributing to literature
Demonstrating exceptional academic versatility early in life, Dr Israr earned his MBBS degree from the prestigious Khyber Medical College (KMC), Peshawar, followed by advanced scholarly credentials, seamlessly bridging the worlds of medical practice and humanistic inquiry. Throughout his career, he remained closely tied to his roots while making foundational contribution to the region’s literary landscape.
Dr Israr is widely celebrated for his groundbreaking work in both poetry and prose. His landmark poetry collection, Da Zhwand Naghma (song of life), first published in 1988 and reprinted in 2009, features an exquisite selection of ghazals and poems.
Critics frequently describe his verse as a calm ocean harbouring deep emotional and philosophical reflections on human nature and existence. Inspired in boyhood by local music gatherings and revolutionary poetry, his ghazals possess a natural, spontaneous flow that has profoundly shaped modern Pashto poetic traditions.
In prose, Dr Israr holds a towering position as a master of ‘Takal’, the modern Pashto light essay. His acclaimed collection ‘Da Takal Pa Takal Kay’ stands as a landmark milestone in contemporary Pashto literature. Beyond essays, he has produced extensive critical studies, translations and analytical articles on literary, political and religious themes, contributing hundreds of papers to various scholarly journals.
For decades, Dr Israr has also served as the chief editor of Pasoon, a respected Pashto literary journal published from Mardan. Through Pasoon, he has provided a vital platform for emerging talent, sustained high standards of intellectual discourse and championed standard Pashto orthography.
As a practitioner of both medicine and letters, Dr Israr exemplifies the quiet, dedicated scholarship that keeps a language vibrant, continuing to inspire Pashto readers across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and around the world.
Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2026
