Rhyming hope: Of gunpowder, bombs, bloodshed and poetry

Pushto poetry too bears the mark of tough times the people face in the country.

KARACHI: Pakhtun poets of Karachi seemed hopeful while reciting their poems in a Pashtu Mushaira at the Arts Council, organised by Ittifaq Pakhtu Adabi Jirga Karachi, on Sunday.

Most of the poets criticised the ongoing Talibanisation and extremism in Khyber- Pakhtunkhwa, and the killings in Karachi in their poetry. Abdul Wakeel Wakeel, a young poet from Ittihad Town, criticised the policies of the government in fighting terrorism in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

His poem was titled “Plea of a child”, and described the life of a child affected by war. It referred to the memories of his school life. Being woken up by his mother and going to school are some things a child can only dream of now. Schools are being blown up, and they end up begging in the streets. Another poet, Dr Rahimullah Gharibmall, invited the poets of Pakistan to write for the betterment and prosperity of the country and give a message of love to the world.

The organiser and the chief of Ittifaq Pakhtu Adabi Jirga, Sagir Tanqidi, told The Express Tribune, “We wanted to show the soft, educated, culturally rich and peace loving side of the Pakhtun people.” He said that the stereotype of the people as violent is wrong, and they want to change that.

The chief guest was Resident Director Pakistan Academy of Letters Agha Noor Muhammad Pathan. He said that law and order situation of the country, especially Karachi, has hampered creative growth. He said that the style and topics of poetry had changed drastically by terrorism and extremism, “Poets and artists are very sensitive people of society and they are influenced by the society,” said Pathan. “Now we hear about gunpowder, bombs and bloodshed in poetry.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 19^th,  2011.