PESHAWAR: Pashto poets at a literary gathering on Sunday pledged to work for promotion of local art and culture.

They said that poets were protectors and preservers of language, art and local culture. The event was organised by Shalman Adabi Tolana (SAT) at the office of Awami National Party in Landi Kotal, Khyber Agency.

The poets in their poems stressed the need for highlighting and projecting different aspects of local art and culture in addition to current situation. Around 30 local Pashto poets participated in the event.

Khanimullah Mazoor, a physically challenged poet, stole the show. He read out a poem, which said that blinds could see, deaf could hear and crippled could walk faster than normal human beings beyond their capacities if given an opportunity and recognition in the society.

He said that disabled people could do wonders once encouraged by the society.

Saida Jan Afridi, the leader of ANP local chapter, said that his party had always honoured poets and writers and recognised their selfless contribution to the social and spiritual uplift of the society.

Noted Pashto poet Syed Sabir Shah was the chief guest while Tariq Khalil presided over the event.

Writers say art suffered a lot owing to militancy in the region

Addressing the function, Syed Sabir Shah said that poets and writers had always served their mother tongue and upheld local traditions through inspiring literary works.

He said that art and culture suffered a lot owing to militancy and extremism in the region. He said that literati were the only ones, who preserved local art, culture and history in the form of written words.

Naveed Alam, chief of Shalmani Adabi Tolana, said that he belonged to the remote Shalman locality of Landi Kotal where he along with his other colleagues launched literary activities.

He said that he wanted to encourage local budding poets to work for the promotion of art, and literary activities.

Mr Alam said that he was the first ever Pashto poet from his distant tribal locality who published his first poetry collection ‘Durshal’ that won him widespread appreciation.

He said that poets and writers should advocate peace, humanism and tolerance in their writings. Noorul Wahab Angaar, a young tribal poet, in his short poem versified a very important issue of cutting down trees in the region.

He regretted that trees were being cut down ruthlessly everyday which caused not only an irreparable loss to the ecosystem but also a world of romance for bards had been lost forever.

Khalil Jibran Afridi, another local poet, said that once Khyber was the abode of great poets and writers, who won national fame.

He said that poets and writers should highlight current issues and give due space to people’s problems.

Tariq Khalil, Seen Sheen Adil, Kamran Khalil, Jamal Shah Shalmani, Ashraf Gul, Mohammad Ayub Shalmani, Nadir Shah, Naamdar Afridi, Kohat Khan Zakir Afridi, Abdul Ghafoor and Meenwal Shinwari recited their poetic pieces and received great applause from the audience.

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2017