400th birth anniversary of Khattak observed
By our correspondent http://jang.com.pk/thenews/jul2002-daily/30-07-2002/metro/k5.htm
KARACHI: Literary scholars Monday put Pushto poet Khushal Khan Khattak on high pedestal acknowledging the 17th century poet’s literary stature by virtue of his multi-faceted personality and contributions. The Academy of Letters and Jaras Adabi Jirga organised a seminar marking the warrior-poet’s 400th birth anniversary at Arts Council of Pakistan.
Urdu writer Jameeluddin Aali said that the great poets like Khattak would be remembered for their unique style and distinction in literature and political history. Critic and writer Muhammad Ali Siddiqi said the nations could be understood by leafing through their respective volumes of poetry, which would further provide access to societies’ psyche and history. “We know our regional languages and poetry mostly after they are translated into English.”
Siddiqui asked Pushto-speaking audience to trace their branches as roots could always be found in Afghanistan. He said Pushto-speaking community of Indian State of Rohail Khand has produced 800 Urdu poets. He pointed out that Amir Karore in 136 Hijrah in fact laid down the foundation of Pushto poetry and it was not Khushal Khan Khattak, who pioneered it.
Pushto writer Hanif Khalil praised Allama Iqbal for discovering ‘the Afghan warrior poet’ to his original character and spirit and introducing to the Urdu and Persian audience of the sub-continent. Another Pushto writer Riaz Tasneem, dubbed Khattak’s poetry as the ‘voice of a disturbed soul’ physically confined to the 17th century. He remembered him as ‘poet, writer, politician, warrior and a brave critic of his own society’.
Chairman Sindhi Adabi Board Ghulam Rabbani Aagro said great writer and poets are born for almost every language very much like the divine blessing available for all. Aagro agreed with the thought of a philosopher that the individuals would write the history in the end. He termed Khattak a poet comparable to literary giants like Shakespeare. Tahir Afridi, the editor of Jaras, said that the classical poets of almost every language were not confined to a confined audience but to all literary buffs.