BOOK REVIEW http://www.statesman.com.pk/
Da zama awe sta qisa da Pakhtu blank verse with a new meaning
Book Review
By Shaheen Buneri
Pakhtu poets always tried to take the established literary genres of other languages and harmonized them with the social, cultural and psychological trends and values of their own people.
The introduction of Hiko, free verse and blank verse are the few literary genres of other languages that found place in the generous lap of Pakhtu language and got immense popularity among the Pakhtuns who are poetic and romantic by nature but jingoistic and haughty by habit.
Aminullah Dawoodzai is one of the pioneers of Pakhtu blank verse, whose high thinking and the elaborate study of English and Greek literatures has blessed his poetry with maturity, beauty and variety.
His book “Da Zama awe Sta Qisa da” is the first collection of his poetry that tells us about his internal conflicts, his longing for perfection and his full command over and understanding of the psychological and mental complexities of his people.
The prominent Pakhtu poet and intellectual Ayaz Dawodzai named him as ‘the poet of eternity’, as he always strives to find answers for the most eternal questions of human existence.
His untiring search for absolute beauty and his strong belief in the strength of pure and spiritual love has made him a totally different poet from the other poets of blank verse of Pakhto literature.
Amin took blank verse directly from English literature and Pakhtonised it in accordance with the psychological problems, social values and centuries old traditions of his own people. He cartelized on Greek mythology and literary symbols in his verses and has given quite new meanings and significance to them.
Literary experts say that great poetry should bless the heart with unexplainable pleasure. The most impressive aspect of Amin’s poetry is the winding up of his poems.
His poems arouse curiosity at the start, thirst in the middle and extreme pleasure at the end. He portrays poems by means of words, the pictures of the legendary lovers and artists of the world but still he see himself very high from them. He has strong belief in his sincere feelings and sensibilities.
He is true to the core of his heart to the expression of his feelings which gives a fresh vigour and enthusiasm to his poetic works.
He personifies the different colours of his mind and sensibilities in shape of Romeo and Juliet, Leonardo, Monaleza, Dionysius, Picasso, Laila, Majnon and Farhad, Sherenai and then compares them with truth of love in his heart.
By this manner he has not only give new flesh and blood to these characters but also made them to move and talk to him by his dramatic way of expression.
Amin has also a totally detached view about love. He is of the opinion that love is a purely spiritual passion and it should always be observed and regarded in its spiritual and emotional context.
In his view love is a motivating force behind searching for spiritual fulfillment, and it should never be spoiled by relating it with physical and material gains.
Amin’s ‘Da Zama Awe Sta Qisa da’ is really the story of every sincere and devouted heart. It is the story of love and beauty that first fires the imagination and then takes sensitive minds to the fascinating realm of pure love, justice and truth.
"Da Zama awe sta qisa da’, is the most appreciable and valuable addition to the treasure of Pakhtu blank verse.
Tala Maidan: A cry for justice and rule of law
Book Review
By Sher Alam Shinwari
PESHAWAR: Dr. Didar Yousafzai is a young, spirited soul, charged with the emotions and feelings that get ignited with the slightest spur. The book under review is his sixth poetry collection. He is already the recipient of two literary awards for two of his poetry collections, ‘Rakhkaly Ghashi’ and ‘Zarghun Zeeri’.
The collection includes mostly ghazals, interspersed with a few poems that speak out his mind as well as his heart. He is very conscious about his surrounding. He has an observing eye and an incisive language to cut and trim the unwanted and unnecessary growth which is not only overpowering but exploitative at the same time.
He does this with a lot of care and balance as pointed out by Fazal Mehmood Rokhan in his foreword to the book.
Vernon Scannan says that poetry is not to inform but to inflame you. Keeping in view this statement of the critic, Dr. Didar Yousafzai is unconsciously following the same principle.
Though he talks much of his heart, but every time it carries a wind of talking about his outside world also. This is needed by the modern Pushto poetry. His poems are reflective of his overseeing what is going on around him while his ghazals display a tinge of his clear vision about the natural world that he always longs to love and to live with. It unfolds a different and individual world of thought which is both enjoyable and enlightening. Like any other sensitive poet, he too wants to resist and detest suppression, exploitation and injustice any where and in any form.
His poems, Geela, Taqsim, Jabar, da Falastin sahar nizday day and Che da de cha watan day, are a few poems blended with a deep sense of self-pity and diehard cry for justice and rule of law that should not only bring equality to the world but also give a peace of mind to the humanity at large.
Tala Maidan is in fact an addition to the world of the Pushto poetry, not only worthy of reading but also worthy of appreciation.
Tala Maidan (A Deserted Field)
A collection of Pushto poetry