Normally speakers start their speeches with popular couplets to set the tone for explaining their agenda with an objective to motivate the audience to listen and give a nod in agreement with what they would present before them. “I am a writer within but the politician seems to be stronger giving little chance to the bard to come out,” said Mr Hussain.

With an exception, a few speakers end their fiery public addresses with couplets to ensure an impact on the participants but Mian Iftikhar Hussain, noted politician and general secretary of Awami National Party (ANP), ends his speech with Pashto couplets to register his impact and every time he does it with a purpose since his youth age.

“I strongly believe that substantive and purposeful poetry could do wonders and could shape and mould the narrative of masses. I believe that an inspiring poetic message helps masses to change outlook on life. I love those poets and writers who translate the feelings of their people in measured words,” Mr Hussain observed.

The Pashto couplets became a signature end with Mian Iftikhar Hussain since his student days and it read: Za Yem Shamla Zama Pasar Kaga Otarrai/ Pas La Marga Che Me Zana Pa Khaasa Otarrai/ Daa Me Da Plaar Neeka Yadgaar Che Juandai Paate Shee/ Khaaze Da Qabar Ta Me Tora Auo Naiza Otarrai/ Ka Pa Juandoon Me Pora Nashu Daa Arman De Zama/ Da Inqilab Janda Zama Pa Janaza Otarrai.

The rough translation of the couplets meant: I am Pakhtun, tie headgear on my head aslant/ Then tie a white drape around my chin after my death/ It being the monument of my forefathers, should remain alive/ Put sword and shield besides stone slabs of my grave/ If I couldn’t achieve it in my life, it is my wish then / The flag of revolution should be unfurled over my funeral rites.

In a private chat with this scribe at Bacha Khan Markaz, Mian Iftikhar Hussain explained a background as to why he had chosen a few Pashto popular couplets which seemed to be breaking the non-violence narrative of Bacha Khan as the contents of the couplets apparently strengthened the war narrative because Tora (sword) and Niza (shield) symbolised battle while the word ‘Inqilab’ (revolution) an emblem of a change resulted in bloodshed.

Mr Hussain while recalling his student life said he had requested noted Pashto poet Abdur Rasheed Bajaurai (1952-2013) to compose a few inspiring couplets for him so that he could recite them on the stage to motivate his audience and also to correspond with plight of Pakhtuns and their aspirations. He said poetry of other great Pashto bards was quite popular among people but he wanted something unique and different from others.

“Poetry provides a space for more than one interpretation and the words-sword, shield and revolution could be interpreted as symbols of voice for genuine rights, self-defence and change in thoughts respectively which strengthen Bacha Khan Philosophy of non-violence. The contents of the couplets still correspond to the miserable condition of Pakhtuns and still motivate my audience with the same spirit,” Mr Hussain argued.

The politician added that had his political activities not blocked his way of creativity, he would have been a writer par excellence. Being a master degree holder, he always loved Pashto poetry and had been through writings of Pashto classics and modern literati including Ghani Khan, Ajmal Khattak and Rahmat Shah Sail and other progressive poets and writers.

Dwelling on past , he said he said written two short stories titled ‘Paansi’ and ‘Sur Cycle’ during imprisonment in central jail Peshawar way back in 1990s. Also, Mr Hussain had composed an elegy on his martyred son Rashid Hussain which had become popular with Pashto folk singers.

“I still sometime versify my pent up emotions into verses but other responsibilities prompt me to preserve it. The poetry of Ghani Khan is a motivating force behind my speeches. His couplets – Ka Khaaze Shany Me Pa Qabar Wee Walaarry/ Ka Ghulam Marr Yem Raazai Tukai Pe Laary/ Che Pa Khplu Weenu Na Yem Lambadale/ Pa Ma Paleetawai Da Jumaat Ghaarry / Che Sury Sury Me Fauj Da Dushman Na Ku/ Mory Maa Pase Ba Kum Makh Ba Ta Jaarry/ Yaa Ba Benaga Mulk Bagh-i-Aadan Karram/ Yaa Ba Karram Da Pakhtanu Kosey Wejaarry,” he said.

In the couplets, the poet asking his mother to let the people spit on his grave, had he been dead in slavery and found that he had not bullets riddled his enemy bodies that his dead body should not desecrate the precincts of the mosque adding that either he would change the destiny of his people or let them live in the deserted streets.

“I beat my loneliness, sleepless nights and depressive condition of my people with composing poetry. The peace narrative is a strong weapon, poets and writers should come forward to promote it and Bacha Khan had used it for beating out his worst opponents,” Mr Hussain concluded.

Published in Dawn, June 2nd, 2019