PESHAWAR: Speakers at a function termed new collection of Pashto poetry titled ‘Maraam’ (target) as spirit of the time and voice of Pakhtuns.
Pohantoon Adabi Stori (PAS), a literary organisation comprising young university students, organised a book launching ceremony at Pashto Academy, University of Peshawar on Thursday.
Senior poet Muntazir Baba was chief guest at the launch of third poetry collection of noted poet Prof Abaseen Yousafzai. Writers, intellectuals and fans of Mr Yousafzai attended the ceremony.
Speakers on this occasion said that militancy and extremism left indelible marks on Pashto literature and Pakhtuns at large. They said that writers and poets being sensitive souls of the society could not remain oblivion to their surrounding and sufferings of the people.
Speakers at book launching ceremony say militancy has left indelible marks on Pashto literature
“Prof Abaseen Yousafzai belongs to the breed of Pashto poets, who versify issues and thoughts of people through their writings. Such literati, therefore, become mouthpiece of people,” said the speakers.
Speaking on the occasion, Muntazir Baba said that Pashto poetry, fiction and prose had undergone a tremendous change during the last three decades owing to war-like situation in the entire region especially in the Pakhtun belt.
He said that Pashto literati were conscious to give due place to the rapidly emerging geo-political scenario around them. He said that poets and writers had always played a pivotal role in shaping ideas and opinions of the people.
“Poetry Like this could be only dubbed as spirit of the time and voice of the people. Sufferings of the community find a better expression and a befitting voice in the verses of the poet, who shares the pains and pathos of the people he belongs to. This I believe is the moral responsibility of a genuine poet and writer to give voice to thoughts and feelings of his/her community” said Mr Muntazir.
Fazal Azeem, who presided over the function, said that Abaseen Yousafzai served as guide for a generation of budding Pashto poets. He said that Pashto poets and writers would continue fulfilling their responsibilities towards a tolerant and peaceful society.
Afsar-ul- Mulk Afghan, a young poet from Shangla, said that Abaseen used simple diction and imagery to convey his message of peace, tolerance and Pakhtunwali in his poetry. He said that one could gauge the high standard and quality of Mr Yousafzai’s poetry that he kept a space of 10 years between publications of his collections.
Dr Sher Zaman Seemab while shedding light on the book said that Prof Abaseen Yousafzai was poet of substance and clear vision. “Abaseen’s poetry is unique from his contemporary poets in many respects. Its scope is wide and vast encompassing every single incident in the region,” he added.
Fitrat Buneri, a member of Pohantoon Adabi Stori, said that Maraam’s poetry was impressive with a tinge of romantic overflow of emotions. He said that it also contained a deep sense of nostalgia and grief over erosion of golden Pakhtun traditions.
Prof Abaseen Yousafzai in his brief remarks said that he always used poetry as vehicle of guidance for his readers. “I have been under the direct supervision of literary giants Hamza Baba, Ghani Khan, Ajmal Khattak and Qalandar Momand for many years. I deliberately keep a space between my publications so that readers could digest and understand what I have already said,” he added.
Published in Dawn, April 1st, 2016