Love of the language: Swat Pakhtu Jirga committed to the cause of Pashto prose

Plans to publish compilation of poetry written by residents

MINGORA: Swat Pakhtu Adabi Nariwala Jirga has emphasised the need to promote Pashto prose and encourage street poets to preserve literature and give a voice to marginalised sections of society.

This was proposed during a meeting of the jirga held in Mingora on Saturday. The moot was attended by over 40 members and was chaired by Roohul Amin Nayab.

Speaking to participants, the jirga’s vice president Bakht Zamin said the forum aims to promote art and literature in the region.

“Our main focus is to preserve the literary traditions of Yousafzai dialect’s literary,” he said. “This is the land of Yousafzai Pukhtuns who have always produced quality literature.”

Zamin, who is a poet and short story writer, said the post-militancy scenario of Swat is sensitive and requires all sections of the society to join hands and restore normalcy.

“Unfortunately, mediocre writers have made use of the vacuum and are contaminating Yousafzai literature,” he added.

Keep the fire burning

Bakhtzar Daryab Doulat Khel, a pioneer of the forum, said the jirga aims to serve as a platform to raise awareness about the importance of cultural preservation and bring the region’s intellectual acumen to the fore. “It is unfortunate that we haven’t produced a single good writer in the recent years,” he said.

Khel encouraged young people to take ownership of their traditions and bring a positive change in society.

“We cannot bring back the culture of cafes and tea houses anymore but we can keep the fire burning through such platforms,” he offered.

The written word

Daulat Khel said poetry is an important genre of Pashto literature.

“However the language needs good prose writers at this stage,” he said.  “We should tell stories. We should change the tradition from poetry to prose. It is the need of the hour. I do not intend to discourage street poets. On the contrary, I want litterateurs to try their hands at other genres and grow as writers.”

Towards the end of the meeting, a large number of poets – including Faiz Ali Faiz, Shamsul Iqbal Shams, Arsalan Qalandar, Mukhtar, Fazal Wahid, and Baidar Khan – recited a series of poems based on the importance of restoring peace in the valley. During the moot, jirga members decided to publish a compilation of poetry written by the residents of Swat.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 2^nd, 2015.