PESHAWAR: Speakers at a function here billed the recently published research book a deep insight into the life and works of a versatile genius, Baba-i-Pashto Khushal Khan Khattak.

The book ‘Mazloom Khushal’ has been penned down by noted writer Mushtaq Majrooh. It was formally launched under the auspices of Da Sahu Leekunkio Adabi Maraka (SLAM), an old literary organisation, here o Tuesday.

Poets, writers, critics and scholars attended the event in a large number.

Speaking on the occasion, Mushtaq Majrooh said that since long he had been having difficulty in comprehending meanings of some phrases and words used in the poetry of Khushal Khan Khattak and he took it responsibility upon himself to conduct a substantive research work on it.

He said that although he didn’t claim authority, yet he tried his best to carry out comparative studies of different research works, conducted, edited and compiled by noted critics and authors.

Govt asked to include the new title in curriculum

The participants passed a resolution unanimously, asking government to include the book in the course of higher studies. They termed it an attempt towards rediscovering Khushal Khan Khattak in the light of modern critical framework based on unbiased approach along scientific lines.

Senior Pashto writer MR Shafaq, who chaired the launching ceremony, said that Khushal Khan Khattak had been a perpetual fountain of inspiration for readers, critics, intellectuals and scholars because of his multifaceted personality and his immense contribution to Pashto and Pakhtun nation at large.

He said that the new title would help readers and research scholars to rediscover the great luminary with a fresh wind of new approach. “This new research treaty has pointed out many inaccuracies and misconceptions regarding Khushal Khan Khattak and contents of huge literary works. The work will help encourage young critics and scholars to widen their scope to break the personality cult and adopt modern means and ways develop critical thinking,” said Mr Shafaq.

Zaland Momand, a young writer, said that Abdul Hai Habibi and Dost Mohammad Khan Kamil had contributed greatly to Pashto and played an important role in popularisation, propagation and explication of Khushal Khan Khattak’s poetry but that critical work especially concerned the Kuliyat-i- Khushal Baba published by Prof Dr Yar Mohammad Maghmoom in 2016 and therefore was the main object of Mushtaq Majrooh’s critique.

Mr Momand said that the book was not limited to latter’s work but also encompassed numerous other inaccuracies and misinterpretations committed by editors and research scholars in the past.

Talking about the style of the writer, he said that even common reader would easily comprehend the content under discussion as Mushtaq Majrooh discussed every single genre attributed to Khushal Baba in his manuscripts and work done on him.

Neemroz Qais, Abid Ghazi, Saadullah Maiwand and Ehsanul Haq Darman also spoke on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2020