PESHSWAR: Two Peshawar-based literary organisations – Pashto Adabi Tolana, Regi Seema, and Qalam Pashto Adabi Jirga, Mullazai – jointly brought out a special issue on the works of 17th century Sufi poet Rahman Baba. The quarterly Pashto literary magazine ‘Amail’, a special edition of Raman Baba number, will be formally launched on the occasion of the Sufi poet’s Urs in April.

Around 60 writers have contributed their research papers in 11 languages, including English, Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Pashto, Khowar (Chitrali), Kohistani, Sheena, Torwali, Wakhi and Broshiski on various aspects of life and works of Rahman Baba. Shahab Aziz Arman, editor of ‘Amail’, told Dawn that the aim of publishing this special edition was to propagate the universal message of peace, humanism and harmony of Rahman Baba.

Launched two years ago, he said, the literary magazine was published in Pashto, but writers of other northern languages were also encouraged to contribute their articles in their own respective languages. He said that contributions in English, Persian and Urdu were also accepted for publication.

He said that the magazine would be formally launched on the occasion of Rahman Baba’s Urs celebrations in the first week of April. He said that the idea behind publishing the special volume in different international and local languages was to reinforce the concept of Rahman Baba’s disinclination of prejudiced tribalism and parochialism. He said that Baba had in one couplet pronounced that he being a Sufi mendicant was confined only to divine love and was neither a man from Momand, Khalil nor Daudzai tribe.

Rashid Ahmed, teacher at Afzal Khan Lala Postgraduate College, Matta, has conducted a comparative study of Rahman Baba and Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai. He writes that both were the popular poets taking from the same source – divine love, humanism and universal brotherhood – and had left indelible marks on social, poetical and mystical thoughts of their respective languages.

“If Shah Latif was crowned with label of ‘Jewel of Kalhora, Rahman Baba earned the label of ‘Nightingale of Peshawar’. Both shared the qualities of devoted Sufis who inspired many generations,” the writer comments.

An orientalist scholar, Ivan Patrick Carmody, in critical comment ‘Rahman Baba as I know him’ remakes that Baba being the greatest literary giant had brought Pashto to heights of poetic excellence.

Dr Sohail Insha, a research scholar, has diligently dug out in alphabetical order around 400 scholars who had profusely written on Rahman Baba’s Sufi thoughts since early 19th century in different world languages. He writes that this shows the universality and sublimity of Rahman Baba’s art and mystic thought.

Syedul Amin Ahsan Kheshgi, a young bureaucrat and staunch devotee of Rahman Baba, is prompt to say that Baba had expressed his deep mystic thoughts in very simple and fluent Pashto. “Baba’s poetry has every subject for readers. It depends on them to derive meanings to suit their purpose of their life in a positive manner,” Mr Kheshgi explains.

Published in Dawn, March 18th, 2015

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