PESHAWAR: The Khyber Literary and Debating Society, Islamia College Peshawar, arranged its annual open air moonlit bilingual mushaira at its main cricket ground. About 50 Pashto and Urdu poets from different parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa participated in the event held late on Monday night.

Young student poets also recited their poetic verses. Prof Qibla Ayaz, the vice-chancellor Islamia College Peshawar, was the chief guest on the occasion.

Senior poets Ghazi Sial, Aziz Ejaz and Prof Aseer Mangal were the guests of honour. Most poets focused on peace and tolerance in the militancy-plagued society.

Expressing his views, Prof Ayaz said that arranging such creative events could help fire the imaginative flight of the young students, adding that the historic Islamia College had produced a large number of literati due to its qualitative academic environment.

He advised students to take advantage of facilities and forums being provided by the institution.

Poetry recital held at cricket ground of Islamia College

The VC said that the college had recently completed its 100 years of yeomen services, which was a proof its excellent academic performance.

He said that the prestigious seat of learning would continue to inspire young brains to work for the better future and prosperity of the country.

The Islamia College shall remain a perpetual fountain of inspiration for the knowledge-seekers in the time to come, Prof Ayaz maintained.

Shahid Khan Taswar, a young poet, said, “It’s my fourth time to attend this event. I am now a senior student of the college. Since my first participation, I have composed poetry both in Urdu and Pashto because the annual event has provided me a platform where I could pour out my heart in front of hundreds of people.”

A senior faculty member wishing not to be named told Dawn that the event annual had gained such a widespread popularity among the people that the college administration had either to cancel it or delay it because of financial constraints and security reasons owing to huge participation even from the surrounding areas of Peshawar. “It was due in April this year but got delayed.

However, then the college administration succumbed to students’ pressure and despite restrictions the number of participants exceeded 4,000,” he claimed.

Young noted blind poet Shahid Ali Shahid recited his romantic poem, ‘Dama’ (a dancing girl) for which he received applause from the audience. The poet envisioned that peace time would come soon and people would take a sigh of relief.

Two Islamian poets, Kashif Shah Wijdan and Jalal Khalil, too garnered appreciation for their pieces. Tariq Danish, a senior poet from Bannu, however, stole the moonlit mushaira event by reciting his long Pashto poem titled, ‘Bangree’ (bangles) in which he elaborated that his beautiful golden bangles that he bought were not for any damsel or a beloved darling, but for all those so-called men who betrayed this country and its people at large.

Prof Abaseen Yousafzai, chief organiser of the event, urged the poets to use their talent for highlighting issues of the poor.

He said that poets and writers could play an effective role in shaping the ideas of people, especially youngsters.

Shahab Aziz Arman, poet and faculty member, told the audience that Pakistan was in dire need of peace and the poetry recital could be the best forum for spreading the message of peace.

Prominent poets, who read out their poetic pieces, included Rokhan Yousafzai, Zar Mohammad Sangar, Dr Zubair Hasrat, Fitrat Buneri, Fayyaz Mashal, Neeroz Qais, Prof Nasir Ali Syed, Prof Hassam Hur and Sajjad Babar. The four hours long open air moonlit Urdu-Pashto mushaira kept the Islamians glued to their seats.

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2014