PESHAWAR: Popular Pashto folk singer Gulzar Alam enthralled students at a musical concert held at Edwardes College, Peshawar.

The Pashto Society conducted annual musical night at the open lawn of Edwardes College, Peshawar. Faculty members, students and guests attended the event. Old Edwardian, Provincial Minister Shakeel Ahmad Khan and Prof Javed Hayat, the vice-principal of the college, were also present on the occasion.

Senior comedian Hayat Khan alias Mirawas also performed and rolled the audience with laughter through his witty jokes and parodies. He sprinkled music session with his jokes which raised a hearty laughter for an hour. He said that performing at Edwardes College was a great honour for him.

Jalal Yousafzai, a student of the college, stole the show by rendering popular numbers of Ghani Khan.

Student steals the show by rendering poems of Ghani Khan

He received appreciation from the participants for his maiden attempt. His performance made a group of students tune to traditional Waziri and Khattak attnr (local dance).

The audience gave a standing ovation to Gulzar Alam when he appeared on the stage. Clutching his harmonium, he started the musical concert by signing a popular poem of Ghani Khan. He said that he regretted to sing once again an inspiring poem by Rahmat Shah Sail ‘Kala May Pairzu Shay Pa Bamoono Pekhawara (O Peshawar! How can I let you being perished by explosives).

Mr Alam said that he had sung the poem way back in 1983 on that stage. “My heart bleeds to sing this sad poem even today to describe tragic face of Peshawar,” he said with tearful eyes.

He said that the entire region was passing through the same ordeal. He also sang numbers of Hamza Baba, Ajmal Khattak and Ikramullah Gran Bacha.

Dr Nayyar Firdous, the principal of the college, appreciated efforts of the Pashto Society members. He said that Pashto classes would be re-launched at the college from the next academic session to encourage local culture.

“I always say Edwardes is not a college but name of a culture. The Edwardes College, Peshawar will continue upholding tradition of free and conducive environment on its campus to encourage students to display their inborn talent,” said Mr Firdous.

Noted Pashto writer Prof Yar Mohammad Maghmoom Khattak chaired the function. In his brief speech, he recalled that Pashto Society had rendered great services in grooming up young Edwardians.

Prof Sareer Khan, head of Pashto Society, said that literary and cultural activities showed spirit of the college and would be continued in future too. He said that Pashto Society members worked hard despite upcoming intermediate examinations.

Published in Dawn, February 24th, 2017