PESHAWAR: The Khana-i-Farhang Iran, Peshawar launched Pashto verse translation of Imam Khomeini’s Persian poetry on the occasion of his 28th death anniversary here on Monday.

The Pashto verse translation titled ‘Da Marafat Guloona’ (The flowers of reflection) was first published in June, 1995 on the sixth death anniversary of Imam Khomeini. Prof Mohammad Azam (late), a noted Pashto poet and former director of Pashto Academy, University of Peshawar, had done the verse to verse translation from Persian to Pashto in a befitting manner.

Prof Abaseen Yousafzai remarked that translation in any language didn’t only serve an academic or literary purpose but also brought people closer to each other. He said that Da Marafat Guloona was a refine attempt by Prof Azam, who had mastery over many disciplines of knowledge.

The director general of Khana-i-Farhang Iran Peshawar, in his foreword to the book said that although 22 years elapsed since the first publication of the Pashto translation of the poetry of Imam Khomeini yet its widespread popularity compelled them to publish its next edition.

Pashto translation of Khomeini’s poems launched

He said that the Pashto verse translation of about 10 representative ghazals of Imam Khomeini became popular among Pashto literary circles.

“Imam Khomeini was not only an Islamic scholar, thinker and father of Iranian Islamic revolution but also he was an excellent literary figure.

His heart was full of divine love and his poetry is reflective of his sublime imagination drenched in spirituality,” said the director general.

Syed Ghayoor Hussain, editor of the book, said that Pashto translation kept the original flavour of Persian intact to a great extent. He said that translation from one language to other could never be perfect but it should have a close affinity with the target language.

Prof Mohammad Azam had written in the foreword to the first edition of the book that Quaid-i- Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah and Imam Khomeini were two revolutionary leaders, who led their respective nations towards their ultimate goals.

“The people shall continue to draw inspiration from their unflinching efforts and achievements. The world saw Imam Khomeini as a great Islamic scholar and revolutionary leader but he was also a candle light for the wordsmiths,” he had said.

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2017