23th death anniversary: Poets remember Bacha Khan’s philosophy

KARACHI: To commemorate the 23rd death anniversary of the founder of Awami National Party, Khan Abdul Ghafar Khan (Bacha Khan), the Pakhtoon Thinkers Forum organised a multilingual Aman Mushaira on Sunday night at the Arts Council, Karachi.

More than 25 poets of Urdu, Pashtu, Sindhi, Punjabi, Balochi and Seraiki praised the efforts of Bacha Khan for peace and humanity and delivered their messages through beautiful poetry in their different languages. This literary evening was headed by Pashto poet Amman Afridi while Professor Sehar Ansari was the guest of honour.

In the inaugural address, Pakhtoon Thinkers Forum chairman Qasim Jan said peace was the cure to the country’s worries and problems.

About Bacha Khan, he said, “When I met him in Karachi in 1986, I asked him, ‘Baba, please pray for our success’. He put his hand on my head and said, ‘Look my son, if everything were possible with prayer, then our Holy Prophet (pbuh) would not have struggled. He would have defeated everyone with prayers, sitting at home.’”

This mushaira is a struggle to bring peace in Sindh.

“I cannot move freely in the city, I cannot enjoy dinner at Burns Road, nor can I sip green tea at a teashop at Banaras because I am afraid of being killed by someone who does not even know why he is killing me,” said Pashto poet Zafar Karimi.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Karimi said he was happy that people were talking about and understanding the importance of peace in this city and the whole country.

Professor Sehar Ansari said that Bacha Khan believed in humanity, not in nations, race and creed.

“We are passing through a difficult time and we trying to put out a fire with a stick,” the professor added.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 1^st,  2011.