TWO new Pashto books, one each of poetry and prose, authored by renowned writer Tayyabullah Khan Tayyab, have hit the stands and attracted a large number of book-lovers within a short span of time.

Both the books -- Arghay Barghay and Sta Da Dar Malanag Yam -- have received great appreciation from the readers and literary circles within few weeks of their publication.

The prose book, Arghay Barghay, is consisted of short literary pieces, mainly satire and humour. However, the share of satire is larger than that of humour in the book. Actually these are Tayyab’s posts on social media, penned down with his pseudonym Faqeer Gul Khalis. The posts were highly liked by the writers and poets that encouraged him to publish the same in a book form.

The targets of the satirical pieces, in most of the case, in Arghay Barghay are those writers and poets, who imitate others or, if speak bluntly; steal the ideas and literary terminologies of other writers.

Author gets inspiration from events of daily life both in poetry and prose

The author also has not spared those writers, who make fun of norms and traditions in the name of modernism.

However, he has never lost grip on his pen and expressed his feelings and sentiments in a beautiful literary language, having his own diction, within the limits of morality and literature.

Tayyab has used very catchy and cutting phrases in the book that show his strong attachment with the Pakhtun culture and traditional institutions like hujra. He exposes wrongdoers but doesn’t humiliate them. Perhaps one reason of the appreciation of the book by readers is shortage of prose, especially humour and satire, in Pashto literature.

The book can be termed, without any exaggeration, a valuable addition to Pashto literature. It is hoped that young writers will follow in the footprints of Tayyab to overcome shortage of humour and satire in Pashto.

Tayyab’s poetry is also worth reading and his new book is a testimony to this fact. His poetry can be termed, safely, the best example of gradual evolution. It can be proven by comparing his first poetry book Malgaray (Friend) and second collection of poems and ghazals Sparlay Ba Berta Rashee (The spring will bloom again) with his recent book Sta Da Dar Malang Yam (I am a devotee of your abode).

The study of the book shows that the poet prefers to express his feelings and sentiments directly instead of relying on idioms, phrases, artificial sublimity and literary clichés. The book contains poems and ghazals and both are dealt in a befitting manner. The reader remains indecisive whether to term Tayyab a poet of ghazal or that of poem.

Most of the couplets in the book seem to be written in response to incidents of daily life. Any incident can stir the imagination and sentiments of poet that results in creation of a beautiful ghazal or poem. For instance the cries of his son, when he leaves for work, compel him to compose such a sentimental couplet:

Pa Tata Zhaba Akhli Zama Noom Rapasay Zharhee Le Kora Che Ozama no Mashoom Rapasay Zharhee (Stammering to call my name, he weeps -- My child weeps when I leave home).

Another couplet in the same ghazal manifests his mastery over poetry and purity of his thoughts.

Da Zhwand Da Sakhawat Na May Bas Da Inam Poora Day Pa Marg Che Da Raqeeb Pa Shanay Shoom Rapasay Zharhee (The charitable life has awarded me enough Look, a miser like my rival mourns my death).

It is quite a new way in Pashto poetry to mention a rival.

The company of great people like his grandfather Maulana Kareemullah and literary giant Ikramullah Gran has left permanent imprints on the personality and mindset of Tayyab. Being a deeply religious person, he always searches for the eternal truth.

However, he also follows the poetic traditions and uses words and terms like Sharab (wine), Saqi (cup-bearer), Jaam (cup) and Maikada (bar). He also personifies nature. Sometimes, he compares pain with a crop that has grown in the field of his heart.

Tayyab is a champion of freedom of expression but also a staunch supporter of the sanctity of word.

Tal May Da Lafzoono Pa Huramt Kay Karawalay Kha Shwala Qalama Laka Toora Zang May Na Krhay (O my pen, I have always used to promote sanctity of words It is better as I haven’t made you rust like a sword).

Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2018