MINGORA: Literary circles from across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa here on Saturday paid tribute to veteran poet and scholar Abaseen Yousafzai for his poetical works and services to Pashto language by marking Jashn-i-Abaseen.

Poets, writers, scholars, elders and political activists participated in the event which was organised by Nariwal Adabi Taroon, Nawey Jwand and SPS College.

DDAC chairman Fazal Hakim, Malakand commissioner Zaheerul Islam, Usman Ulasyar, Ali Khan Umeed, Faiz Ali Khan Faiz, Aseer Mangal, Noorul Amin, Akhtar Amin, Gohar Ali Gohar, Abdur Rahim Roghaney, Hanif Qais, Riaz Ahmad Hair, Iqbal Shakir, Fazal Subhan Afghani, Yousaf Haira, Sahar Nasim Afridi, Muskan Khattak, Tariq Danish, Ghani Ghurzang, Namroz Qais, Gule Rana Tabassum and Tahir Khan Aka were in attendance.

Zaheerul Islam welcomed the guests and said that he was excited to see Abaseen Yousafzai in Swat after 30 years as he and Mr Abaseen remained in same hostel in the University of Peshawar during their student life.

Speakers say veteran poet has successfully presented the soft image of Pakhtuns

“He was popular among the student at that time and his popularity excelled the boundaries of countries and today he is a popular personality among Pakhtun diaspora,” he said, adding that poets were the eyes of the society and they highlighted their feelings in their poems and led their nation to progress and development.

Noorul Amin Yousafzai said that Mr Abaseen was the star of Pakhtuns because he had been writing and fighting for their uplift.

He knows and understands the Pakhtun culture and is a strong upholder of Pakhtun narrative. He said that the veteran poet was leading the nation towards prosperity.

Prof Iqbal Shakir said that Mr Abaseen was the true ambassador of his people who successfully presented the soft and beautiful image of Pakhtuns to the world. Prof Aseer Mangal said that Mr Abaseen was not only a good poet and scholar, but he had also made practical efforts for the development of Pashto syllabus with other scholars.

Bakht Rawan Umerkhel said that the veteran poet was friend of all and hostile to none. Faridullah Shah Ihsas drew Mr Abaseen’s character in his essay. Tahir Bostankhel presented his research article on the personality and works of the veteran poet. Earlier, SPS College principal Qazi Khalil said that his institution was honoured to host the celebration of one of the renowned Pashto poets.

Prof Abaseen Yousafzai thanked the participants for giving him honour in his life.

On this occasion, he demanded early publication of Pashto books along with four other languages spoken in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for KG to FA level so that teaching of these subjects could be started in schools.

Published in Dawn, February 24th, 2019