LAHORE: Rahman Baba was the greatest Pashto poet whose poetry focused on poverty of the downtrodden and was a clarion call against mullah-ism and extremism and that is why his tomb was bombed by extremists.

This was stated by World Punjabi Congress (WPC) Chairman Fakhar Zaman in his presidential address on Rahman Baba Conference organised by Pakistan Academy of Letters, International Council of Writers, Idaara Fikr-i-Khayaal and WPC.

Zaman said Rahman Baba’s influence was invariably reflected even in present day Pashto poetry. Belonging to Mohmand tribe he, however, discarded his ethnic background in one of his couplets, saying he was beyond such ethnic, caste and tribal affiliations because he believed in humanity, which had no parochial biases.

Rahman Baba was a contemporary of warrior poets Khushaal Khan Khattak and Sultan Bahu of Punjab. Khushaal Khan fought against the tyrannical rule of Aurangzeb and was not only imprisoned in Gwalior Fort but even his son Ashraf Khan also incarcerated in Deccan where he died.

Zaman said this great poet was the most popular poet in KP with musicians, prayer leaders, children, and women alike. He said Bulleh Shah followed Rahman Baba’s inclination towards music and dance. Baba’s condemnation of mullah-ism led to issuance of fatwas (religious decrees) against him, which Bulleh Shah also faced decades later.

Dr Imrana Mushtaq gave a biographical sketch of Rahman Baba and said the period which hallmarked hypocrisy and greed resembled the present day society.

Mumtaz Rashid stated Baba was against oppression and suppression of any kind and he identified himself with poor masses.

Dr Fakhira Aijaz read a paper on the life, poetic dimensions of the poet in light of his writings. She also recited a number of couplets to illustrate her point of view.

Pashto scholar Samundar Mansuri read a paper studded with verses of Rahman Baba and described aesthetics of the poetic genius that Rahman Baba was.

Young poetess Mahjabeen Malik described the influence of Persian poetry and particularly Hafiz Shirazi on Rahman Baba. She said Baba was called the ‘nightingale of Pashto poetry’. Shahid Bukhari and Adal Minhas Adal also paid homage to Rahman Baba.

Published in Dawn, September 23rd, 2015

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