BATTAGRAM: Speakers at a ceremony here on Sunday asked the government to adopt Pashto as medium of instructions in state-run schools.

The ceremony held at Government Centennial Model High School Battagram was organised by Battagram Adabi Malgari in collaboration with Pashto Academy Hazara to launch different books.

BAM president Bakhtiar Anjum chaired the event that was attended by poets, writers, students, teachers and people from different walks of life.

The books launched on the occasion included ‘Da Sandaro Perzoiana’ the Pashto translation of Rabindranath Tagore’s ‘Geetanjali’ by Dr Ismail Gohar; ‘Bangriwala’, Sta Da Khaist Guloona Der Di’ and ‘Saanga Ba Nan Saba Kay Gul She’ by Akhtar Hayat Qamar; ‘Gardab’ and ‘Bia Khazan Day Panrhay Rezhee’ by Attir Shamali; and “Da Gul Yadoona” by Khabeer Gul.

The speakers said that poets were the eyes and ears of the society as they preserved history, managed the present and guided people about the future. “Writers are true assets of the society. They need support of government,” they added.

Speakers say Pashto literature affected badly by terrorism

The speakers asked government to adopt Pashto as medium of instructions at schools as students could get education easily in their mother language. They said that government should promote Pashto literature as it affected badly owing to terrorism.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Ismail Gohar said that government should take concrete step to promote Pashto literature. He said that Battagram produced many great poets and writers.

Kifayatullah Hairan said on the occasion that people were confusing rumours with realities. He mentioned the murder of Mashal Khan at Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan and said that society needed proper guidance about the holy religion Islam. Mr Hairan said that Pashto poets and writers should play their role to promote patience, tolerance and peace in the society.

Umair Yousafzai said that Pakhtuns should take pen in their hands and shun gun to make progress. He said that poets and writers should educate people to put them on right track.

Sufaid Khan Saifi said that it was responsibility of poets and writers to explain to people that Islam was the religion of peace, justice and love.

Falak Naz said that Pakhtuns were affected badly by terrorism. He said that poets should find the root causes of terrorism. “No one from outside will come to correct our mistakes. We ourselves have to do it,” he added.

Bakhtiar Anjum said that the purpose of holding the ceremony was to promote peace and spread love among the people. “Societies succeed and overcome all the problems if their intellectuals pay their due role for the purpose,” he added.

Mr Anjum said that more efforts were required for promotion of Pashto literature. “The government should help us and provide us with opportunities to work for the noble cause,” he added.

Local singers Anwar and Gul Bahadar Ghamgeen presented different ghazals and received appreciations from the participants of the event. A poetry recitation session was also held in which about 34 local poets presented their poems.

Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2017