Offbeat: Teenager making Pashtuns smile

Social media sensation Farman Kaskar takes world of comic poetry by storm

PESHAWAR: When one talks Pashto poetry, one is likely to come up with names like Rehman Baba, Khushal Khan Khattak and Ghani Khan, giants who dedicated much of their lives to polishing their craft.

In the current age of hashtags and viral sensations, however, the world of Pashto poetry has been taken by storm by the unlikeliest of exponents.

Meet, Farman Kaskar, a 15-year-old from Swabi’s Tarkai village whose comedic poetry has made him a well-known figure among Pashto-speakers not just in Pakistan, but across the globe in Afghanistan, US, Europe, and the Middle East.

If achieving such fame at such a tender age without any training or real insight into the art of poetry was not surprising enough, Kaskar became popular in a matter of months. His first video, which shows him reciting comedic poetry in an empty field, was released in January this year.

Since then, however, it has been widely shared and reposted on Youtube, Twitter, and other social media platforms. And if that was not enough, his fame skyrocketed further when the Voice of America Pashto Service interviewed him.

Already, the teenage sensation is being invited to perform at various events and ceremonies. Families in Swabi, Mardan, Charsadda and other parts of K-P want him to entertain guests at wedding functions and private parties, while students across the province want him to perform at their institutes. And wherever he goes, his fans go crazy for a chance to take a selfie with him.

Most recently, the young star was invited to an event at Mardan Abdul Wali Khan University by students. The video of him reciting poetry at that event has gone viral as well.

“I know nothing about poetry, really,” admitted Kaskar while talking to The Express Tribune. The 15-year-old said he started making comedic poems for ‘catharsis’ due to his impoverished background. His father is a daily wager at a factory.

“I started using the jokes I make with my friends to write poems,” said Kaskar. “I thought it would make me popular among them.”

Kaskar said he has received lots of encouraging messages from people all over the world. “I get calls from Pashto-speakers in France, Germany, the Gulf States… I never expected so many people would show me such love and appreciation.”

When asked if he felt some may treat him as laughing stock, the teenager said he did not care.

“I’m oblivious to what others think. I do not copy anyone else’s work. I say whatever I think is right or wrong,” he said. “It makes me feel good when people laugh at it.”

“My goal is to make people smile. There is no greater success than putting a smile on someone’s face,” the young star added. “I am a superstar of the Pashtun nation. Despite being poor, I receive calls from rich people who want to listen to me and this is my strength.”

Kaskar’s neigbour, Amin Ali said the young poet has brought a lot of joy to their village. “He speaks his heart out to make people laugh. Whenever he leaves his house, people surround him and request he recite his poetry.”

“Poetry is the voice of the heart and Kaskar has succeeded by making people so happy,” said Peshawar-based writer Gul Arbab. “He may not be a traditional poet, but he is a source of entertainment for a people hungry for it,” she added.

“Laiq added a word of caution, however. “Kaskar’s ability to entertain has made him king of social media despite some unpolished poetry skills,” he said. “But unfortunately, we have seen in the past that such entertainers are popular for a short period and then forgotten.”

In the short span of time, he’s become a viral sensation, Kaskar has already witnessed the dark side of celebrity. With fame have come wild rumours, ranging from claims that he failed his Class 7 exams to reports that he died in a car accident.

“My only request to people who follow me and my work is that they leave my personal life out of it,” said Kaskar in response to such rumours.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 23^rd, 2019.