PESHAWAR: The Rahman Baba Adabi Jirga opened the two-day annual Urs celebrations of Sufi poet Rahman Baba at Superior Science College here on Saturday.

Poets, writers and research scholars from Afghanistan, Balochistan and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa attended the opening ceremony.

Earlier, Khatmul Quran was held and floral wreath was laid on the shrine of Rahman Baba where a large number of devotees from far-flung areas turned up. Some devotees also delivered brief sermons and others were seen singing popular numbers. Free lunch was also distributed in the precincts of Rahman Baba Complex.

Malak Wazir Mohammad, president of Rahman Baba Adabi Jirga, in his inaugural remarks said that literati and scholars had written on almost every aspect of the Sufi poet but still many were eager to dig out some unexplored information regarding his spirituality and real life.

He said that Rahman Baba lived in Mughal era some 400 years ago but his thoughts were still fresh and relevant to Pakhtuns.

People from Afghanistan, Balochistan and KP attend the event

He added that most of his couplets had gone proverbial and being used frequently in day to day life and that quality made him distinguish him from his contemporary literati.

The event’s first part was devoted to awards giving ceremony in which writers and scholars were decorated with Rahman Baba Adabi Award while in the second session speakers read out papers on various aspects and life of the Sufi poet.

Prof Yar Mohammad Maghmoom Khattak, who was chief guest on the occasion, said that Rahman Baba was unanimously the uncrowned king of Pashto poetry despite elapse of four centuries because of his spiritual strength.

Prof Shahab Aziz Arman in his treatise pointed out that the luster of Rahman Baba could not be eclipsed owing to profundity and sublimity in his thoughts drenched in Sufism.

Hairan Khattak throwing light on Rahman Baba’s political ideas said that he was not a mendicant unaware of people’s issues around him but was quite conscious and even he had given place to it in his poetry.

Prof Ghayur Hussain stated that Pakhtuns had complete unanimity over Rahman Baba’s Sufism, poetry and teachings.

Prof Hanif Khalil in his paper said that main objective of Rahman Baba’s poetry was universalism, peace and love of humanity and he had advocated it all through his writings.

Shah Mahmood Ghaznavi and Talabgar Gigyani also spoke at the event. culty at the judicial academy.

Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2022