PESHAWAR: Abdul Ghani Khan, an acclaimed poet and eldest son of red-shirt leader Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, has turned out to be the poet of all generations. As his centenary celebrations are in progress, the local poets don’t tire to pay homage to him for the brave message he gave to the humanity in general and Pakhtunkhwa in particular through his poems.

On Wednesday night, a ceremony followed by musical concert was organised by the Awami National Party as part of the campaign to pay tribute to Ghani Khan. Literary personalities, who planned programmes in Peshawar and other districts of the province, told seminars and poetic sessions to remember Ghani Khan and disseminate his message to Pakhtuns.

Like Khushal Khan Khattak, he came from strong background and thus had the advantage to describe his mind through his poems very freely.

Khan’s couplets carry a strong message, says Yousafzai

Other great poets like Rehman Baba, Amir Hamza Khan Shinwari, Qalandar Momand and lately Rehmat Shah Sail have large following and enjoy respect due to their literary work, but Ghani Khan’s reputation as liberal and broad-minded person and his unique style of poems is quite a different case.

An engineer by profession, Ghani Khan (1914-1996) excelled in several fields like poetry, sculpture, politics, etc he is well known even among the youth. In this era of information technology, people listen to his poems and songs more frequently.

His poetry had led to the popularity of many local singers in the past. The new crooners also thrived on his poetic pieces. His revolutionary songs were liked by people of all times.

Poet Rohan Yousafzai likes Ghani Khan’s visionary style. Each of his couplets carries a strong message. “He was the first among leading poets to raise questions about nature, life and hereafter. His vast study about local and international matters, which is increasingly reflected in his poems, shows his caliber,” says Yousazai.

Ghani Khan, revolutionary to the core, is also known for the political struggle under the leadership of his father. He went to jails and intertwined his poems about the problems of Pakhtuns. However, he developed differences with his illustrious father who wanted to get Pakhtuns’ rights through non-violence.

Towards late 50s, he distanced himself from politics because he wanted to fight for the rights instead of non-violence preached by his father.

“He examined everything in the prism engineering and put it in poetic style which appealed the people. Today, he is acclaimed as most celebrated poet ever born on this soil,” Mr Yousafzai said. Not only he advocated freedom in his books, but he also enjoyed it in practical life.

Once Bacha Khan wrote to his sons from jail in which he asked Ghani Khan that he was free to do whatever he liked.

“I know that giving or not giving advice to you was the same thing. You will do whatever you like,” he said quoting Bacha Khan’s letter from Mach Jail. His poetry depicts his philosophical stature and command on Pakhtuns’ psychology which drew not only educated but also those who never went to schools.

Poet Akbar Sayal agrees with Yousafzai that Ghani Khan was a great poet of all the times. His poems on romance, sophism and political struggle are excellent pieces. Like other poets, he grew in crisis and therefore showcased the issues confronted by the people with broadmindedness.

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2014