PESHAWAR: Speakers at a literary gathering paid rich tribute to noted Pashto and Urdu poet, Riaz Tasneem, and termed him a representative of Pashto postmodernists. They said that he was one of the most popular three Pashto poets, the other two being Mumtaz Orakzai and Amjad Shahzad, who cast magical spell on the young bards, introduced new dimensions and thus changed the course of modern Pashto literature.

The management of literary-cum-cultural wing of Bacha Khan Markaz, Peshawar, conducted the event to mark the first death anniversary of Karachi-based poet and literary critic, Riaz Tasneem (1969-2017).

The participants dwelt on lifelong associations with the late poet, saying he was a master of creative images with a substance. They said Tasneem was a staunch follower of Khushal Khan Khattak and Qalandar Momand and always advocated human rights and Pakhtun nationalism. “Riaz Tasneem would always be remembered as a visionary poet who wanted a real change in the society for his poor people,” the speakers said.

A large number of poets, writers, intellectuals, political workers, civil society members and fans of the late poet attended the function. The organisers also launched his complete poetic works titled ‘Da Riaz Tasneem Kuliyat’ and raised fund to support his family. It was published under the auspices of Khushbu Printing House in Kabul. The complete works of the late poet carried his published poetry collections, including ‘Da Kum Rang May Kasheed Karhay’, ‘Chandarh’ and ‘Za Ka Da Waray Oda Shwam’.

Senior scholar Saleem Raz addressing as chief guest said Riaz Tasneem was a trendsetter and true spirit of the age he was representing. He said features found in his writing made him quite distinct from other writers and poets born during the period. Mr Tasneem, he added, was in fact pioneer of new thought when it came to crafting modern imagery and literary terminologies as he always tried to lend a modern dimension to what he had believed to be contributing to a societal change .

Prof Khadim Hussain , chief of Bacha Khan Trust Educational Foundation, stated that the late poet would fondly be called as Mama by his friends and colleagues and in his early age he used to write under penname of ‘Maauoos’ (the dejected one) which was in way reflection of hard life he had been through.

Researcher Faisal Faran said Mr Tasneem was an extensive reader and a fulltime writer. He said a critic par excellence he had a deep insight of social and political issues of masses. Prof Abaseen Yousafzai, young scholar Khan Zaman Kakar, Hiran Momand, Hayat Roghani and Prof Mohib Wazir also spoke at the event.

Published in Dawn, December 9th, 2018