SWABI: Prominent Pashto writers and poets from all over Pakhtun belt here on Saturday lauded the contributions of Haji Mohammad Aslam to Pashto language and literature, as he completed his book ‘Tair Hair Awazona’ taking 16 years during which he visited every nook and corner of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and tribal region.

The book launching ceremony was held in a local hotel where Mohammad Ibrahim Khan Shabnam, a known literary figure, was the chief guest. The ceremony was organised by Qam Qalam, a literary body of the district, with the support of Said Akram Bacha.

Prominent among those who attended the event included Prof Humayum Huma, Saadullah Jan Barq, Prof Abaseem Yousafzai, Prof Noorul Amin Yousafzai, Dr Mohammad Sherin, Dr Mohammad Israr, Prof Azmat Huma, Hazrat Zubair Zubair, Master Sher Afzal, Mohammad Hanif Qais, Anwar Manerwal, Aziz Manerwal and Khalid Khan Hasrat.

It was a unique gathering of the literary personalities of Pashto language who spoke about both literature and poetry.

They said that Mr Aslam, who works as a programme host in Radio Pakistan, had worked really hard and paid several visits for collecting information even about one singer and that was the reason that completion of the book took many years.

He collected 500 songs of only Sabz Ali of Bazikhel, followed by 300 songs of Muzaffar Khan of Pawaka, Peshawar. Ustad Mir Ahmad Khan of Charsadda and Master Zar Khan of Badaber, Peshawar, each had sung 200 songs.

About 120 songs of Sobat of Marghuz, Swabi, have also been collected. Similarly, Mr Aslam visited various other areas collecting a total of 4,500 Pashto songs and finally published the book which was a unique gift for the Pashto language.

The first Pashto song in history of Pashto language was recorded in the British colonial era in 1902. It was sung by Gohar Jan, a Persian dancer in England, for the company known as His Master Voice. Gohar Jan belonged to Afghanistan. When the recording technology improved the first song was sung by Sobat of Swabi district and recorded in New Delhi in 1935.

The speakers said that Mr Aslam’s book was inspiring and thought provoking.

Reading the book, it compels scholars and intellectuals of the Pashto language to say that his achievement in the contemporary Pashto poetry is remarkable. Mr Shabnam said that he had no words to appreciate the great work of the writer because he had not only reproduced the old sweet songs, but also gave new life to those who sung them at different times.

Dr Israr said that the book was a tremendous contribution to the Pashto language at a time when both Pashto literature and language was under threat.

In the end, Mr Aslam also thanked the literary figures of Swabi district, saying their contribution to both completion and publication of his 502-page book was remarkable. He said that this was the reason that they selected the district for the launching ceremony of his works.

Published in Dawn, April 2nd, 2017