CHARSADDA: Speakers at a daylong seminar paid tribute to two late noted Pashto poets Ikramullah Gran Bacha and Awal Khan Raswa. Awal Khan Raswa Pashto Adabi Jirga arranged the event at the hujra of Pir Ameen Bacha in Turangzai village on Friday. Over 500 poets and writers from across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa attended the function where the speakers eulogised the literary contributions of the two late poets.

Presiding over the function, poet Ashraf Ghamgeen said that both the literati had rendered great contributions to Pashto language and literature. He said that Gran Bacha had modernised Pashto ghazal with his lofty thoughts while Awal Khan had introduced new topics to Pashto poetry. “It will be hard to fill the vacuum created by the demise of the two great poets of Hashtnagar for long,” he said.

Mian Asad Bacha, a close friend of late Gran Bacha, dwelt on his long association with the poet. He said that Gran Bacha had read out his last poetic piece just a few days before his death, which he had persevered. “I have preserved the last poetic piece of Gran Baba which he shared with me some three days before his demise. It is embellished with his typical and unique way of expression,” Mr Asad said.

Aziz Manirwaal, a poet from Swabi, said that young poets and writers should take advantage of the creative vision of the senior literati. He said that Awal Khan was a fine folk poet who had treasured local history in his verses.

Writer Syed Mahmood Zafar said that poets had always advocated peace and mutual understanding in their writings and showed the right track to people. He said that like other literary giants Gran Baba and Awal Khan had enriched Pashto literature with their unique thoughts.

Young poet Dr Israr Atal in his research paper pointed out that scholarly and creative thoughts of Gran Bacha and Awal Khan should be included in Pashto syllabus. He said that Gran Baba used to groom young poets. About 200 guest poets also presented poetic tribute to the late poets. Arshad Jan Shahkar, president of Awal Khan Raswa Pashto Adabi Jirga, Anwar Manirwaal, Pir Rasheed Jan, Mushtaq Shaheen, Gauhar Ali Gauhar and Shabir Durrani also addressed the gathering. Later, the participants offered fateha for the children killed in the militant attack on the Army Public School, Peshawar, and prayed for speedy recovery of the ailing Pashto poet Fazal Subhan Abid. — Correspondent

Published in Dawn, December 27th, 2014