PESHAWAR: Speakers at a function here on Sunday paid glowing tributes to late Pashto poets Abdul Azim Baba and Maj Younas Khalil for their huge contribution to literature.

They said that they were the poets of beauty, truth and humanism. “Poetry of Younas Khalil was matchless as no one could follow his way of expression while Azim Baba left indelible mark on Pashto Sufi poetry,” they added.

The function was organised by Khegara Da Watan, a social welfare and literary organisation. Poets, writers, local elders and fans of poetry attended the function. Abdul Baqi Shah, the great grandson of Abdul Azim Baba, was also present on the occasion.

Arbab Daud, chief of Khegara Da Watan (KDW), said on the occasion that his organisation wanted to keep alive literary activities along social welfare plans so that people of Peshawar could know about the contribution of their literary figures. He said that Abdul Azim Baba and Maj Younas Khalil were masters of introducing beautiful imagery in Pashto poetry.

Noted social worker Haji Anwar said that Bartehkal had produced many great scholars, politicians and writers.

Young poets advised to benefit from creative thoughts of classic literati

He said that it was worthy of great appreciation that KDW had been conducting literary events too to create awareness among the people to honour their literary giants.

Prof Ahmad Ali Aajiz, who chaired the event, said that both the poets hailed from Bartehkal, Peshawar and contributed much to Pashto poetic tradition and also influenced other literati through their unique way of expression.

He said Abdul Azim Baba was a Sufi saint and to a great extent had drawn inspiration from Rahman Baba but he adopted a new way to express his thoughts. He added that Younas Khalil after graduating from Islamia College Peshawar joined army but kept up his poetic journey till his death.

“The poetry collections of both the literary giants will continue to inspire people for crafting wonderful poetic images. The Diwan of Abdul Azim Baba and Lalazaar of Maj Younas Khalil are precious assets of Pakhtun nation,” said Prof Ajiz.

Shahid Hussain Adil, a young Pashto poet from Malakand, said that he had read poetry volumes of both Abdul Azim Baba and Younas Khalil and found them motivating and creative. He said that young poets should go through such literary works.

Khalid Khalil, another senior poet, said that young writers and poets should benefit from the creative thoughts of the poets lived in the classical age. He read out a few poems from the Diwan of Abdul Azim Baba and poetry volume of Maj Younas Khalil.

Later, a Mushaira was held in which noted poets including Irfan Khalil, Shahid Ali Shahid, Jalal Khalil, Noor Mohammad Shaida, Sahar Orakzai, Akhtar Nangyal and Sher Zaman Saqib presented their poetic tributes to the late poets.

Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2018