PESHAWAR: Speakers at a function on Friday paid tribute to four late Pashto poets for their meritorious literary services.

A Pak-Afghan literary organisation, Pakhtunwali Tolana, organised the event titled ‘Us De Yadoona Afsaane Khakaree’ at a local hotel.

Delegates from Afghan provinces, including Paktia and Nangarhar, Quetta, Fata and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa participated in the event.

The Pakhtunwali Tolana, which was formed recently, comprised young writers and researchers from Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The speakers eulogised literary contributions of four late Pashto poets, includng Andesh Shamsul Qamar, Ikramullah Gran Bacha, Sahib Shah Sabir and Professor Unwanuddin Kakakhel.

They said the literati being contemporaries played a vital role in introducing new literary trends and vision in Pashto literature.

The speakers said being four pillars of modern Pashto literature, the late literati had given a new direction to young writers.

They said the four Pashto writers wrote without fear or favour to reform Pashtun society through their powerful writings.

“Although these poets enjoyed unique place in Pashto literary circles yet they had one common goal to unite their people and strongly advocated peace, humanism and tolerance for social cohesion,” a speaker said.

Israr Atal, a young poet and chief of Pakhtunkhwali Tolana, said his literary organisation would bring out a literary magazine under the same name in near future.

He said the literary magazine would feature articles and poetic pieces of writers, scholars and intellectuals from Afghanistan and Pakistan on various topics from literature to culture to society to science.

Atal said functions would be arranged to honour literati on both sides of the Durand Line.

“We want to encourage both Pakistani and Afghan writers and researchers,” he said.

Daud Tapand, an Afghan poet from Paktia province, said writers should promote peace, harmony and mutual understanding in their writings.

“We should recognise services of our literary giants. Writers should not get themselves involved in politics,” he said.

Senior writer Saadullah Jan Barq while speaking as the chief guest on the occasion pointed out that great people in any field never died.

He said great people remained alive forever in the minds and hearts of people due to their sincere services for the society. Barq said Andesh Shamsul Qamar was a true follower of Bacha Khan, while Dr Sahib Shah Sabir was a genuine scholar and fictionist of high repute.

He said Professor Unwanuddin Kakakhel educated people on various social, literary and political issues through his scholastic columns and articles.

Poet Dr Israr said it was not enough to praise great poets after their death.

He said the message of writers should be carried forward for realising their dreams and aspirations.

The poet said young people should come forward to research lives and works of great literati to achieve the desired results.

Published in Dawn, April 4th, 2015

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