Reviewed by Sher Alam Shinwari

After tapa, charbeta is the most popular literary genre of Pashto folk poetry. It can stretch from 25 couplets to 200 verses depending on the subject and its stanzas typically comprise four couplets.

Continuity, fluency, coherence and mastery over the language are the hallmarks of a well-composed charbeta. Most charbetay are composed according to musical metres so that they can be easily sung with rabab and mungay in hujras as is the tradition.

Recently, a collection of charbetay Akhun Meer Hassan Ahsan Baba, one of the most significant poets of this genre, has been compiled under the title Charbetay by his grandson, Saidul Amin Ahsan.

Charbetay written in early 17th century were mostly versification of Islamic fables, hymns and stories revolving round the lives of prophets. Some charbeta poets were also inspired by romantic folk tales and Muvaiz Yousafzai is the earliest known charbeta poet. With the coming of the British, a new charbeta trend set in. Although most charbeta poets were illiterate yet the effect of their verses on the public was overwhelming and their poetry soon became a serious challenge for the British officials as poets used charbetay to instigate people against the rulers.

The British authorities would arrest poets and confiscate their works. Bacha Khan — the leader of the Khudai Khidmatgaar movement — used this forum in a befitting manner. He asked the poets to utilise their talent to mobilise people, to encourage them to give up outdated rituals and motivate them to educate women. Akhun Meer Hassan Ahsan Baba (1906-1987) was the first poet who followed Bacha Khan’s advice in letter and spirit.

When Naukhar Pukhto Adabi Jirga, the first Pashto literary organisation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, was founded in 1933, Ahsan Baba became its active member and composed inspiring charbetay on a variety of topics for which he gained widespread popularity. He won an award for his extempore charbeta in 1935 in which he versified the devastating Quetta earthquake. Most of Ahsan Baba’s charbetay are reflective of his lofty imagination drenched in the spirit of the age as he advocated Pakhtunwali, social justice and moral integrity. Ahsan Baba has profusely written against British aggression and social evils plaguing Pashtun society.

Charbetay

(Poetry)

Pukhto Adabi Tolana Kheshgi Naukhar, Peshawar

267pp.