PESHAWAR: Veteran Pashto research scholar and historian Sher Afzal Khan Barikoti breathed his last at the age of 94 in England the other day, confirmed his family members and close relatives.

He was laid to rest in England the same day. He left behind a widow, two sons and three daughters to mourn his death.

He had mastery over Pashto, Urdu, Persian, Arabic and English and had vast knowledge of historiography. He was author of 11 books both in Pashto and Urdu related to history of the former Swat State, Pashto language and literature and classical Pashto poets.

He had the privilege of being a host in England for Bacha Khan, Wali Khan, Maulana Muadudi and a few other religious, nationalists and political dignitaries. His book on the origin of Pakhtuns is unpublished.

Born in 1926 in Barikot village of Swat, he received early education at his village mosque and passed matric examination from Wadoodia High School, Saidu Sharif in 1951 and did intermediate from Karachi in 1956 and moved to England in 1958 where he used to work in a local bank.

Taaruf-i-Swat, Iqbal Mera Humsafar, Da Pakhto Shair Au Adab, Sukhan Taraaz Abdul Hamid Baba, Zamzam-i-Rahman and Deed Pa Khushal are among his popular publications.

Published in Dawn, April 2nd, 2020