Poetry
Poetry was Sanwal’s earliest artistic expression, published in Urdu literary magazines as a teen in Multan, recited on Radio Pakistan and earned him the status of honorary student in Bahauddin Zakariya University whilst still in school in Multan. Facing envy from his senior counterparts, Musadiq burned most of his public poetry at the age of 17 and left Multan, but continued to compose poetry, with Shayari becoming his most private expression of art. His poems on back of telephone bills, office printouts and random notepads were never consciously compiled except for lyrics produced for theatre dramas, until he took to poetry to engage with the concept of impending death when diagnosed with lung cancer in 2013
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Kitab-e-Muntashir: Ye Natamam si Zindagi jo Guzri hai
Kitab-e-Muntashir: Ye Natamam si Zindagi jo Guzri hai” (This Incomplete Life Which has Passed by) was Sanwal’s first and final poetry collection, compiled by him just before his untimely death and includes a selection of his earlier works as well as his poetry on engaging with death. He left the script with his wife Shehla and was published by her in collaboration with Asif Aslam Farrukhi and Maktab-Dainyal at a launch at the Karachi Literature Festival Backcover portrays a painting by artist Sabir Nazar on Heer’s journey across the water.
Kissay Khabar (Who Knows…)
Kissay Khabar (Who Knows…) Watch a video—audio recording of Sanwal reciting his classic poem Kissay Khabar, produced by Umang Poetry.