PESHAWAR: Senior progressive Pashto poet Shamsul Qamar Andesh breathed his last due to cardiac arrest at his home in Mardan on late Sunday night. He was laid to rest at his ancestral graveyard on Monday in Mardan city.

A large number of poets, writers, intellectuals and notables from Swat, Swabi, Charsadda, Nowshera and Peshawar attended his funeral prayers. Andesh is survived by his wife and two daughters.

Hazrat Zubair, a young poet and maternal nephew of Shamsul Qamar Andesh, told this scribe that he would publish complete works of his Baba spanning over 500 pages in near future.

He said that Sara Junda (Red flag), a poetic pamphlet in Pashto, written by Shamsul Qamar Andesh was published in 1970 while a versified tribute to Bacha Khan, leader of Khudai Khidmatgar Tehreek, was published in the late poet’s life time titled ‘Fakhre Afghan’ in 2005.

“He had written a few short stories but poetry was his mainstay,” Mr Zubair said.

Faizul Wahab, another poet, said that Andesh Baba was pioneer of modern phraseology and diction in Pashto poetry. Being a poet of substance, he said, Andesh Baba used to contribute his poetic pieces to various literary Pashto journals and enjoyed a widespread fame among literary circles and high status for his trendsetting thoughts.

Mr Wahab said that Andesh Baba had founded Olasi Adabi Tolana (OAT), Mardan in 1980 on the advice of Ajmal Khattak. He groomed up young poets and writers.

Mushtaq Majrooh, research scholar and close friend of Andesh, commented that the late poet was a staunch nationalist and proponent of Pashto. He said that Andesh sahib’s unique literary style inspired other poets to portray sufferings of the poor masses in their writings.

“Andesh sahib was not in favour of long literary critical sessions. Instead, he used to advise us that we should take practical steps for promoting our mother tongue by visiting local schools and colleges so that young students could be educated on importance and value of Pashto,” he added.

Mr Zubair told this scribe with misty eyes that his Baba, being an unassuming person, was never interested in self-projection and he would always keep a low key profile.

“A month ago, his fans persuaded him to bring out his poetry volume. A week ago, it was compiled into a manuscript ready for publication. It was just a matter of a suitable title for the poetry book that he suffered a severe heart attack,” he added.

Shamsul Qamar Andesh born in village Mayar, Mardan in 1934 was graduated from University of Peshawar in 1967. He had command over English, Persian and Urdu languages besides Pashto being his mother tongue. He was inspired by literary and cultural activities of Khudai Khidmatgar Tehreek. His father, Mohammad Umar Khan, was a close companion of Bacha Khan.

“My father used to bring me ‘Pakhtun’ a famous political-cum-literary magazine launched by Bacha Khan which ignited my literary talent and enthused a spirit of Pakhtun nationalism,” once wrote late Andesh.

Dr Israr, senior Pashto poet hailing from Mardan, said that Shamsul Qamar Andesh strongly believed that the art of poetry should be used for moulding thoughts of people. He said that Andesh sahib like other intellectuals wanted Pakhtuns to be broadminded, progressive and free of intolerance and violence.

Khial Mohammad, Pashto ghazal maestro, in his remarks pointed out that he had sung some top numbers of Andesh sahib which had lent him popularity.

“His ghazal ‘Ta Charta Patay Shway Ashna Za Charta Orasedam’ gave me a big name. His poetry still soothes more than any other poet’s,” the legendary singer said.

Published in Dawn, March 10th, 2015

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