PESHAWAR: Speakers at a literary event here on Thursday billed late poet Prof Sahib Shah Sabir as the forerunner of new trends and creative thoughts in Pashto literature.

They said that he had extensive study on several disciplines of scholarship including philosophy, research and literary criticism.

The event was held to mark 12th death anniversary of Sahib Shah Sabir. The friends and family members of the late poet attended the event.

Speakers say Sahib Shah Sabir inspired young writers to highlight issues of people

Speakers shed light on various aspects of life and literary contribution of Sabir and termed him a wind of fresh thoughts, which paved way for young literati to be confident to highlight issues of people.

They said that Sabir’s writings had both substance and purpose. “Sabir’s poetry is a medley of romantic realism while his fiction is a serious comment on the social injustices. He was bold and confident of what he thought and advocated in his writings,” they added.

Sahib Shah Sabir was born in 1956 in Sakhakot, district Malakand. He did masters in Pashto, Urdu and political science, followed by a doctorate from University of Peshawar and joined teaching career. He died in April, 2007 due to cardiac arrest.

Tajmul Hasan, a poet, said that he had been lifelong associations with Sabir. He said that the late poet would always call a spade a spade and would never comprise on firm stance regarding social justice and equal rights for all segments of the society.

He said that Sabir had pioneered creative thoughts in Pashto and, therefore, had great respect among literary circles.

Sajid Takkar, another writer, said that Sabir’s style of expression distinguished him from his contemporary writers and poets because of his deep understanding of things around him and also due to his vast study and mastery over several branches of knowledge.

Karan Khan, a noted folk singer, on the occasion pointed out that Prof Sahib Shah Sabir crafted beautiful poetic images, which inspired young poets and writers. He said that the late writer contributed to Pashto literary criticism, fiction, research and prose.

He said that being a progressive poet, Sabir envisioned a pluralistic Pakhtun society where social justice was dispensed and rights were not usurped. Mohammad Imran, Naizak Khan, Aqil Yousafzai and a few others also spoke at the event.

Later, Karan Khan sang some popular numbers of Prof Sahib Shah Sabir and received great applause from the audience.

Published in Dawn, April 5th, 2019