Akbar Barakzai

Akbar Barakzai (1939-2022) was born in Shikarpur, Sindh. He is ranked amongst the proponents of modern Balochi literature. His poetry reflects the objective realities of life. Love for motherland, peace and prosperity and dignity of a man are the recurrent themes of his poetry. His love for human dignity transcends all geographical and cultural frontiers. Barakzai is not a prolific poet. In a literary career which spans over half a century, Barakzai has managed to bring out just two anthologies of his poems, but his poetry has depth and reaches out to human hearts with its profundity. Last year, Barakzai rejected the Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) award, quoting  the oppressive policies meted out to his region by the government as the reason.

Interview

In Conversation with Akbar Barakzai, a ‘Part-time Poet’ in Exile

‘The East and the West are slowly but steadily inching towards each other. Despite enormous odds “the twain” are destined to “meet” and be united to get rid of the geographical lines…’

Click here to read.

Poetry

1. The Word: Click here to read
2. Waiting for Godot: Click here to read
3. The Law of Nature: Click here to read
4. No: Click here to read
5. Freedom: Click here to read
6. Who can Snuff out the Sun: Click here to read
7. For How Long: Click here to read
8. Be & It All Came Into Being: Click here to read
9. Mysteries of the Universe: Click here to read.
10. Shorter Poems of Akbar Barakzai: Click here to read.
11. We are All Human : Click here to read.

All his poetry has been translated by Fazal Baloch who has the rights to their translation.