PESHAWAR: Poets from different parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa paid glowing tribute to late progressive poet Sahib Shah Sabir at a Pashto poetry recitation session held at Agricultural University Peshawar and remembered him as strong voice for the poor and advocate of universal humanism, peace and brotherhood.

Arranged jointly by Pakhtun Students Federation (PkSF) and Pakhto Adab Zalanda Stori, the event was attended by around 30 poets, who presented poetic tribute to Sahib Shah Sabir.

The organisers distributed Bacha Khan Talent awards among the participants in different activities over the week. Senior poet Shams Buneri was chief guest on the occasion. In his brief talk, he asked the students to promote the cause of nonviolence through positive activities on campus and prove to the world that Pakhtuns were peace loving people.

“Bacha Khan wanted an enlightened Pakhtun society, free of aggression, exploitation, injustice, poverty and ignorance where mutual respect without any bias of gender, race and religion should reign supreme. Sahib Shah advocated the same in his writings,” he said.

The event was part of centenary celebrations of Anjuman-i- Islahul Afaghina of Bacha Khan spanned over a week where different functions were held including a football match, book fair, painting exhibition, seminar and study circles. A large number of students, Awami National Party workers and civil society activists attended the events.

Khadim Hussain, provincial culture secretary of ANP, said at the concluding event that Sahib Shah Sabir was an embodiment of true spirit of universal humanism and wanted a pluralistic society where peace and beauty ruled over hearts of people and hatred never crept in.

He said that Sahib Shah was an enlightened student leader and believed in Bacha Khan’s philosophy of nonviolence. “He suffered imprisonments on several occasions but never turned violent. As a writer he introduced a new style of progressive expression in literary criticism, research, poetry, prose and fiction,” said Mr Hussain.

Fazal Momand, Peshawar president of Malgari Leekwalan, said that university campuses should serve as the store houses of scholarship and knowledge and should encourage such events to motivate a spirit of critical thinking.

Achak Achakzai, president of PkSF at Agricultural University, presented annual report of campus activities.

The poetry recitation session was followed by Pashto musical concert in which young students sang numbers of Sahib Shah Sabir, Ghani Khan and Ajmal Khattak.

Published in Dawn, March 16th, 2021