PESHAWAR: Attock-based senior Pashto poet Javed Iqbal Khattak alias Javed Afgaar has sought financial assistance to publish his 12 unpublished Pashto and Urdu books.

Talking to Dawn, he complained that his request for publication of his books was turned down both by the culture departments of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said that he had already published a dozen of his poetry, fiction and prose books on self-help basis but after retirement from the FC service, being sick and poor, he couldn’t afford to bring out his own books.

The senior poet said that he could no longer afford self-publication owing to his poor financial position as he had spent a huge amount on his medical treatment. “Where a poor poet should go when he finds no recognition of his creative work on his own soil? Art and creativity have no frontiers,” he said.

Mr Afgaar has appealed to President of Pakistan, Punjab culture department and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak to extend financial assistance to him to bring out his books in his lifetime. “I don’t need money for my poor health. I only want my books get published in my lifetime as written words are a precious public asset,” he said.

He said that he had served as a literary radio anchor in Quetta, Abbottabad, Dera Ismail Khan and Peshawar since 1975 along his tough job. He has profusely written on various aspects of Pashto language and literature.

Born in Landi Kotal in 1956 as his father late Ameer Mohammad was an employee of Khyber Rifles, Mr Afgaar drew motivation from great Pashto poets and writers. He is author of 30 books in Urdu and Pashto and recipient of several awards and commendation certificates for his contribution to the field of literature and literary research. He belonged to district Attock in Punjab. He said that he developed a literary taste owing to a literary environment of Khyber. He said that after his appointment as a junior clerk in FC, he also got affiliated with several literary associations where literary giants like Hamza Baba, Manzar Faryadi, Khyber Afridi and Naimatullah Aseer Shinwari inspired me to craft words.

“When I take my books to Punjab culture department, they say that they don’t need Pashto books and when I send my manuscripts to KP culture directorate, they return it with an excuse that I belong to Punjab. If Afghan singers and artists get awards and other incentives in this country, why not I get a humble recognition for being a writer and son of the soil,” he questioned.

Mr Afgaar regretted that one of his manuscripts was lost at KP culture directorate. “Despite old age and sickness, I am still closely linked to literary activities in my own village Chhab, tehsil Jand,” he said.

Akbar Hoti, an official of KP culture directorate, when contacted, said that holders of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa domicile with at least one address in CNIC were entitled to submit their works for publication.

He said that manuscripts, even if not selected, were preserved for official record. A committee comprising impartial and independent members scrutinised works of the deserving poets and writers on the basis of sops, he added.

“My most important books that need to be published include Dewan-i- Ali Khan Baba (research), Dewan-i- Ajmal Khattak (research), Durdaney (prose), Dwayem Khat (fiction), 9/11 Na Pas Pa Pakhto kay Mazahmati Shairy (research) and Urdu Shairy Lughat (Urdu poetry diction). I hope someone would listen to my feeble voice,” he said with his welled eyes.

Published in Dawn, December 25th, 2017