PESHAWAR: Prominent Pashto scholar and poet Prof Abaseen Yousafzai successfully defended his doctorate in Pashto thesis titled ‘The concept of nationalism in Hamza Baba’s poetry’. The event was conducted under the auspices of Pashto department, University of Peshawar, at Maulana Abdul Qadir hall, here on Friday.

Senior research scholar, Prof Yar Mohammad Maghmoom Khattak chaired the function. Prof Abaseen Yousafzai had joined Islamia College, Peshawar, in 1993 as young lecturer and currently heads Pashto department of the historic college. He has authored several books and serves as visiting professor of many research institutes. He has delivered numerous seminars and symposia abroad on Pashto and Pashtuns.

The participants put different difficulty questions to Mr Yousafzai regarding Pashtunwali, nationalism in the context of Hamza Baba personality and his philosophical writings. The question and answer went on for hours and he answered every question to their entire satisfaction.

Defending his thesis, Mr Yousafzai pointed out that his research work would greatly benefit young students and common readers to understand the concept and recurrent theme of Pashtun nationalism and pashtunwali in the poetry of Hamza Baba.

He said that Hamza Baba had amalgamated the concept of nationalism with the Sufi spirit of Islam and wanted Pashtuns to lead an ideal life.

He said that Hamza Baba had influenced almost three generations of poets and writers through his powerful poetry drenched in Sufiism and pashtunwali.

He said that it took him several years to study and understand the concept of Pashtunwali nationalism in the Pashto poetry by various poets’ right from Khushal Khan Baba down to Ajmal Khattak to Hamza Baba. Baba’s nationalism is inclusive and based on humanism instead of geographical boundaries and narrow stereotype,” he maintained.

Published in Dawn November 19th, 2016