PESHAWAR: Syed Ali Yousafi, director general of Iranian culture centre, said at a grand Pashto mushaira on Sunday that Khana-i-Farhang Iran in Peshawar would conduct a daylong seminar on Rahman Baba and Hafiz Shirazi in June.

The seminar, he said, would be conducted in collaboration with the Pashto Academy, University of Peshawar. This, he said, would be followed by another seminar on Khushal Khan Khattak and Firdausi in February next year.

In response to an appeal made by a participant, the diplomat said the Iranian government would extend financial support to interested students for doctoral studies in Iran. He said that any interested student having a master’s degree in Persian language would be sent to Tehran where he would spend one year and sit a competitive test.

Speaking as chief guest at the annual Pashto poetry session, he said if the interested candidate passed the test, he or she could be granted admission for research studies on government expenses for three years.

The three-day Rahman Baba urs celebrations began on Friday and concluded on Sunday with the Pashto mushaira. Around 600 poets from Afghanistan, Quetta, Karachi, Fata and various parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa participated in the Pashto poetry recital held in two sessions. The Rahman Baba Adabi Jirga earlier had conducted a daylong seminar at the Iranian culture centre, Peshawar, in which scholars had read out research papers on the life and literary services of the Sufi poet.

Khana-i-Farhang Iran to hold seminar on Rahman Baba and Hafiz Shirazi

Shahab Aziz Arman, Daud Jan Mohmand and Professor Aseer Mangal presented their thought-provoking papers.

Rahman Baba and Hafiz Shirazi shared numerous qualities and this is why Rahman Baba had earned the title of Hafiz of Pashto poetry. Special edition of trilingual literary journal ‘Amail’ and Dr Zubair Hasrat’s book ‘Da Rahman Baba Fikri Maktab’ featuring Baba’s life and works were formally launched on the occasion.

Noted writer Dr Suhail Insha said that Pashto singer and scholar Dr Sadiq Fitrat alias Nashanas was the first to do his PhD on Rahman Baba titled ‘ Rahman Baba and Sufism’ from Moscow in 1968 . He said that translation of Baba’s poetry had been done in 17 major languages of the world.

Yousaf Ali Dilsoz, patron in-chief of Rahman Baba Adabi Jirga, said that they would conduct a Pashto mushaira and seminar at the shrine of Baba next year. He said that the Adabi jirga had completed 99 poetry sessions. He said that Rahman Baba Adabi Jirga was formed in 1962 and since then it had been conducting poetry sessions and seminars to create awareness of the Sufi poet and his teachings among people.

He said that this urs witnessed for the first time a Sufi session by Pir Syed Umar Shah with fans of Baba. He said that the Pir explained how to express inner feelings through Sufi kalam. Dr Abdul Sattar Lowaghari, Shieh Noor Ali, Abdul Jabar Hamdard and Kifayatullah also addressed the gathering. Pir Misal Shah Bacha concluded the urs with special prayers.

Published in Dawn, April 6th, 2015

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