MINGORA: The writers, poets and intellectuals paid tribute to renowned Pashto poet, writer , scholar and critic Dr Raj Wali Shah Khattak for his services and contribution to the Pashto literature here on Friday.

The ceremony was organised by Swat Adabi Sanga held at the hujra of Rahim Shah Lala in Mingora which was attended by a number of poets and writers. Renowned scholar and writer Sadullah Jan Barq, Prof Zaid Gul Khattak , Dr Ali Khan Daryab, Mohammad Islam Armani, Fazal Mahmood Rokhan, Mohammad Pervez Shaheen, Zahid Khan, Zafar Ali Naz and other writers and poets were in attendance.

Chief guest Sadullah Jan Barq said that Raj Wali Khattak was in the top-ranked literary personalities of Pashto literature. “In my view he died at least 10 years before as Pashtun nation needed him. When he started delivering his ripe fruit in the form of literary works he died. If he had survived for 10 more years he would have produced some revolutionary works for Pashtun nation,” he said.

Swat Adabi Sanga arranges literary function in Mingora

Mr Barq thanked organisers of the ceremony for setting a good tradition of paying tribute to the Pashto scholar.

Prof Zaid Gul said that the golden chain of Pashto literature was very strong and long and Dr Raj Wali was the last link of the chain.

“His uniqueness is in the fact that he produced multifaceted works and every form of his literary work is sublime. At a time he was a poet, writer, analyst and critic of high level,” he said.

He added that very few persons attained such a high position in the field of literature.

Fazal Mahmood, a writer from Swat, said that Dr Raj Wali was his close friend and would regularly come to Swat as he loved the scenic valley.

He said that his sudden death was a great loss to the entire Pashtun nation. Several poets in their poems paid tribute to the late scholar.

Published in Dawn, July 30th, 2016