“I believe that we can bring change in the world through our pens. I believe that a pen is mightier than a sword.” — Perwaiz Shaharyar
Every writer has a first teacher. Sometimes it is a favorite author discovered in a library, a devoted mentor who recognizes hidden talent, or a life-changing book that awakens the imagination. But for many, the earliest lessons come much closer to home. They are learned not in classrooms but around the family table, through quiet observations and ordinary moments that later reveal extraordinary significance. Before a writer ever finds their own voice, they often witness someone else's words carrying meaning, inspiring admiration, and touching the hearts of others. For Indian poet, editor, literary critic, educator, and publisher Perwaiz Shaharyar, that first lesson came from the person he admired most—his father.
Long before he became an internationally respected literary figure, Perwaiz was simply a curious ten-year-old boy fascinated by a world he could not yet fully understand. His father was a poet and creative writer whose works regularly appeared in literary magazines. Around him, literature was not an abstract concept but a living presence within the home. He vividly remembers watching his older brothers and sisters eagerly discuss their father's newly published poems, speaking with admiration about the beauty of his writing. Although he was still too young to grasp the deeper meanings hidden within the verses, something else captured his imagination.
"My father was a poet and creative writer, and when I was only ten years old, I saw my elder brothers and sisters talking about the poems of my father which were published in literary magazines. I also read those poems but could not get any inference except that the wordings were very strange to me. But I was fascinated by the magazine and decided I would also write something and get published so that my brothers and sisters could appreciate me."
Looking back today, Perwaiz smiles at the innocence of that childhood dream. He was not yet thinking about literary excellence or changing society. He simply wanted to experience the same joy he saw reflected in his family's eyes whenever his father's work appeared in print. Yet that simple desire quietly planted the seed of a lifelong vocation.
Years passed, and the dream continued to grow.
Then, on September 6, 1980, something extraordinary happened. One of his stories was accepted for publication in a fortnightly newspaper. For many writers, the first publication is unforgettable, but for Perwaiz it represented much more than seeing his name in print. It became the moment he realized that the dream born in childhood could become reality.
"I was extremely glad to see my story in that fortnightly newspaper. I was very satisfied that my story was published without any cutting or change in my write-up."
That experience transformed admiration into determination.
"Since then I decided to be a great story writer like Prem Chand, who is called the king of story writing."
Inspired by one of India's greatest literary masters while continuing to draw strength from his father's poetic influence, Perwaiz gradually discovered that literature could become more than artistic expression. It could become a lifelong commitment to understanding people, preserving their experiences, and giving voice to emotions often left unspoken.
That childhood fascination would eventually lead him far beyond the pages of his first published story. Over the years, Perwaiz Shaharyar established himself as a respected poet, educator, editor, literary critic, publisher, and cultural leader, dedicating decades to literature not only through his own creative work but also by supporting writers, promoting literary dialogue, and strengthening cultural exchange across communities and nations. Yet despite these accomplishments, the foundation of his journey has never changed. Every chapter of his remarkable career can be traced back to a little boy watching his father inspire others through poetry.
Sometimes a lifetime is shaped not by a single conversation, but by a quiet example. Perwaiz Shaharyar's father may never have imagined that his published poems were also writing the opening chapter of his son's future. Yet those early moments taught a lesson that would guide Perwaiz for the rest of his life: words possess the power to inspire, and one generation's passion for literature can become the next generation's purpose.
Literature Became a Way to Serve Humanity
There are writers who seek recognition, and there are writers who seek understanding. While some are remembered for the beauty of their language, others are remembered because their words offer comfort to people carrying unseen burdens. As Perwaiz Shaharyar's literary journey matured, he gradually realized that writing was never meant to be an exercise in self-expression alone. It was an opportunity to serve humanity by giving voice to the emotions, struggles, hopes, and quiet victories that unite people across every culture and generation. What began as a childhood dream of becoming a published writer slowly transformed into a lifelong commitment to making literature a source of healing and human connection.
Following the publication of his first story, Perwaiz immersed himself in literature with renewed determination. Like many aspiring writers, he searched for masters whose works could guide his artistic growth. Among them, one name stood above all others: Munshi Prem Chand, the legendary storyteller whose realistic portrayals of ordinary people profoundly influenced generations of readers across the Indian subcontinent.
"Since then I decided to be a great story writer like Prem Chand, who is called the king of story writing."
Yet as his understanding of literature deepened, another influence became equally significant. While Prem Chand demonstrated the power of storytelling, Perwaiz's father had already introduced him to poetry. Together, those influences gradually led him toward a broader philosophy—one rooted not simply in literary excellence, but in compassion.
He found that philosophy through Sufism, a spiritual tradition emphasizing humility, love, selflessness, and service to humanity.
"I have been influenced by my father's poetry. I was impressed by Sufism which teaches to serve human beings. It was amazing to serve humanity with your pen."
Those few words beautifully explain why Perwaiz's writing evolved beyond artistic ambition. Literature became more than a profession or creative pursuit; it became a form of service. Every story offered an opportunity to preserve human dignity, to reflect life's realities honestly, and to remind readers that they were never alone in their experiences.
Reflecting on this transformation, Perwaiz explains that literature possesses a unique ability unlike any other form of communication.
"Only literature can explain the feelings and emotions of human beings."
This realization became the foundation of his life's mission.
"This idea was such degree impressive to me that I vowed to myself to dedicate my entire life to serving human beings by expressing their sorrows and joys in my stories."
That promise continues to define his literary voice today. Rather than writing only about extraordinary individuals or dramatic events, Perwaiz became deeply interested in the emotional realities of everyday life. His stories recognize that every person carries invisible struggles, private grief, cherished memories, and dreams that deserve to be acknowledged. Through literature, he sought to transform those individual experiences into shared human understanding.
One of the concepts that resonates most strongly throughout his philosophy is catharsis—the emotional release readers experience when they recognize their own lives reflected in a story.
"When we read a story similar to our own pains and agony, we feel catharsis of our own pains and feel relieved from such sufferings and difficulties."
This simple yet profound observation reveals why literature has remained central to his life's work. A well-written story does more than entertain. It comforts. It reassures readers that their struggles are understood. It reminds them that pain can be transformed into wisdom and that hope often emerges from the most difficult experiences.
For Perwaiz Shaharyar, this is the highest purpose of writing. Stories become companions during life's darkest moments, helping readers discover strength within themselves through the experiences of others. It is a belief that has guided every chapter of his literary journey and continues to inspire his unwavering dedication to the written word.
Today, after decades devoted to poetry, storytelling, criticism, education, and publishing, Perwaiz remains faithful to the promise he made to himself many years ago. He still believes that every story carries the possibility of healing another human being, and that every sincere writer has the opportunity—and perhaps the responsibility—to make the world a little more compassionate through the simple yet extraordinary power of literature.
Building a Home for Literature
A writer's influence is often measured by the books they publish, but some literary figures leave an even greater mark through the opportunities they create for others. They understand that literature is not sustained by individual achievement alone. It flourishes when writers encourage one another, when editors nurture emerging voices, when teachers inspire curiosity, and when literary communities become places where ideas can grow freely. As Perwaiz Shaharyar's career expanded beyond writing stories and poetry, he embraced a broader mission—one that transformed him from an author into a literary mentor, editor, educator, critic, and cultural builder committed to strengthening the future of literature itself.
His early dream had been simple: to become a great storyteller. Yet over time, he realized that serving literature meant far more than writing books. It meant helping others discover their own voices, preserving literary standards, encouraging thoughtful criticism, and creating spaces where creativity could continue to thrive. This wider responsibility naturally led him into education, editing, publishing, and literary criticism, fields through which he could contribute not only as a writer but as a guide for fellow authors.
Throughout his journey, Perwaiz came to understand that literature grows through dialogue. Every poem, story, or essay becomes richer when shared, discussed, and appreciated by others. His work as an editor and literary critic therefore became an extension of the same philosophy that had guided him since childhood—the belief that words possess the power to transform lives.
Behind this commitment lies an important realization. Great literature is never created in isolation. Every accomplished writer has benefited from teachers, editors, mentors, readers, and literary communities willing to invest time in their growth. Recognizing this, Perwaiz dedicated himself to giving future generations the same encouragement that had once inspired him.
His literary leadership reflects the values he first learned from his father and later strengthened through his admiration for Prem Chand and the humanistic teachings of Sufism. Rather than treating literature as a competition, he views it as a shared responsibility. Every new writer represents another opportunity for society to better understand itself, another perspective capable of enriching humanity's collective experience.
This belief has guided his work across multiple roles. As an educator, he has encouraged students to recognize literature not merely as an academic subject but as a living conversation about human experience. As an editor and publisher, he has helped shape manuscripts while ensuring that authentic voices continue reaching readers. As a literary critic, he has approached writing with fairness, intellectual curiosity, and respect, recognizing that thoughtful criticism should illuminate rather than discourage. And as a cultural organizer, he has contributed to literary initiatives that bring writers together across languages, cultures, and generations.
His commitment to literary service reflects the same philosophy he expressed when speaking about the healing power of stories. If literature has the ability to comfort readers, then those who nurture literature also become participants in that healing process. Every writer encouraged, every manuscript improved, and every literary event organized contributes to a culture where empathy, dialogue, and imagination continue to flourish.
Looking back, it is remarkable how naturally this chapter of his life evolved. The little boy who once longed to see his own story published because he admired the respect his father's poetry received eventually became someone dedicated to helping other writers experience that same sense of fulfillment. His success was no longer measured solely by his own publications but by the literary communities he helped strengthen and the countless conversations his work inspired.
For Perwaiz Shaharyar, literature has always been larger than any single writer. It is a shared inheritance passed from one generation to the next, enriched by every voice willing to contribute with sincerity and compassion. By choosing to serve not only as an author but also as an educator, editor, critic, and mentor, he has demonstrated that the greatest literary leaders are those who understand that their own success becomes truly meaningful only when it opens doors for others to follow.
The Legacy of a Pen That Serves Humanity
Every writer eventually reaches a point where they begin to reflect on what will remain after the final page has been written. Books may continue to sit on library shelves, poems may be recited by future generations, and awards may preserve a name in literary history. Yet for those who dedicate their lives to something greater than personal achievement, legacy is measured differently. It is found in the people who have been comforted, the minds that have been awakened, and the lives quietly transformed through the written word. For Perwaiz Shaharyar, literature has never been about building a reputation. It has always been about building a more compassionate world.
Looking back across decades devoted to poetry, storytelling, education, editing, literary criticism, and publishing, one conviction has remained constant: literature exists to serve humanity. Every stage of his journey—from the little boy fascinated by his father's published poems to the accomplished literary figure he is today—has reinforced that belief. His stories have never sought merely to entertain readers; they have sought to understand them, to accompany them through suffering, and to remind them that hope can emerge even from life's deepest struggles.
Reflecting on his lifelong mission, Perwaiz returns to the same promise he made to himself many years ago.
"I vowed to myself to dedicate my entire life to serving human beings by expressing their sorrows and joys in my stories."
That promise explains why his literary philosophy continues to resonate so deeply. For him, stories are not escapes from reality but mirrors through which people discover that their own experiences are shared by others. Whether writing about joy or sorrow, victory or disappointment, his purpose has always been to create understanding. In doing so, he believes literature offers one of humanity's greatest gifts: emotional healing.
The concept of catharsis, which has guided much of his thinking as a writer, remains central to this belief. When readers encounter characters whose struggles resemble their own, they often find relief in realizing they are not alone. Literature becomes more than language—it becomes companionship.
This conviction also shapes the advice his life quietly offers to future generations of writers. Success, he suggests, should never be measured solely by publication, recognition, or literary acclaim. Those achievements are meaningful, but they remain secondary to a writer's responsibility toward society. The greatest stories are those that preserve human dignity, encourage compassion, and inspire readers to see one another with greater understanding.
Throughout his remarkable career, Perwaiz has demonstrated that the pen carries responsibilities far beyond artistic expression. As a poet, educator, editor, literary critic, and publisher, he has consistently chosen to use words not as instruments of division but as bridges connecting human experiences. Whether mentoring aspiring writers, contributing to literary discourse, or creating stories that illuminate life's emotional truths, he has remained faithful to the values first inspired by his father and later strengthened through the humanistic teachings of Sufism.
His journey reminds us that literature possesses a quiet yet extraordinary influence. It rarely changes the world through force. Instead, it changes individual hearts, one reader at a time. A single poem can awaken compassion. A story can restore hope. A sentence can remain with someone for a lifetime. These seemingly small transformations eventually shape families, communities, and societies in ways no sword ever could.
Perhaps that is why Perwaiz Shaharyar continues to believe so deeply in the enduring power of the written word.
"Now, I am fully devoted to this idea and I believe that we can bring change in the world through our pens. I believe that a pen is mightier than a sword."
Those words are more than the conclusion of an interview—they are the philosophy of an entire life. The young boy who once dreamed of seeing his name in print because he admired his father's poetry eventually became a writer who understood that the greatest inheritance a parent can leave is not fame, but values. Through his stories, his teaching, and his unwavering commitment to serving humanity, Perwaiz Shaharyar has shown that a father's words can indeed shape a lifetime—and that one life, faithfully dedicated to literature, can in turn inspire countless others.