The Pashto language, it can be said, has survived only because of the dedicated efforts of its poets and literary figures. These creative minds are the ones who translate their surroundings and contribute to result-oriented reforms, pinpoint declining trends, loopholes and emerging challenges, and foretell future prospects. A poet, in addition, must have extensive imaginative capability, significant insight, elegance of expression and an artful command of language to render feelings appropriately. 

The land of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is fertile in producing poets and one such talent from Charsadda is Amjad Ali Khadim, a journalist by profession. Khadim began his poetic journey young — when he was a student in the eighth grade in 1986, he recited his first poem at a gathering of the Ali Khan Pashto Adabi Board, Hashtnagar, Charsadda. Immediately, he was offered membership to the organisation.

Fourteen years ago he relocated from Charsadda to Peshawar and after having worked with various newspapers and magazines, he is currently the news editor of the Pashto daily Wahdat. In addition to working as a scriptwriter and broadcaster of literary, youth, current and tribal affairs — Radio Pakistan, Peshawar, recently gave him a Best Performance award — he has written several books: Lamghare [Flattery], Karketch [Conflict], Ghargay-ao-Guloona [Mars Flowers], and Da Ranra Safar [The Journey of Light].

Amjad Ali Khadim’s collection of poems addresses the turmoil of the present world

In his recently published volume of poetry Guyana Karkhee [Speaking Lines], Khadim discusses in verse several aspects of life, but the major portion of the book is given to the advocacy of peace and the purging of terrorism. In one poem he calls upon the controversial writer Saadat Hasan Manto to come back and once again play his role of the unapologetic mirror of society: “Jurrat manda Manto rasha/ Jurrat manda Manto rasha/ Che jwand navay afasana krhe/ Che sheesha warta khkara grhee/ Aw rawekha zamana krhe.”

[Oh dauntless and daring Manto! Come once again. And let us give a new story to the world. Let us hold a mirror to the people and illuminate the (dark) world].

Cognisant of the wars rampant in numerous parts of the world and believing in the importance of upholding the principles of fraternity, Khadim writes: “Da dunya aman ta domra khatara da/ Pa khpal sar kanrhe khorhal de ka sa wayu.”

[The present world order stands so frightened that anyone who dares to criticise it must expect a hail of stones over his head]. 

Khadim’s poetry revolves around an understanding of the harsh realities of life. He advocates for the eradication of corruption and writes: “A Khadima da leader mo dagha hal wo/ Ghal wo zaka kho da ghala pa taraf larho.”

[Khadim, the position of our leader was that he was, in fact, a thief and thus chose the path of thievery].

A true patriot, Khadim feels that while militant activities have changed Pakistan’s landscape, we can still achieve peace despite the long spells of insurgency that have not only rendered people homeless, but have also ruined their livelihoods and swallowed up precious resources. His poesy reaches its peak in the poem ‘Tarha Gar ta’ [To Terrorist], in which he declares that a terrorist is like an insentient machine without the capacity to think for itself. In the spreading of terror, in being an enemy of humanity, he becomes his own enemy. Khadim questions the kind of faith and belief a terrorist follows, one who has no compunction in causing death and destruction. He asserts that terrorists are merely puppets whose strings are pulled by people hidden behind curtains. These hidden persons seek to achieve their nefarious designs through others and in the process reduce these ‘others’ to nothing more than cannon fodder: “Ta da kom cha pa taraf ye/ Da pa sa bande gholagay/ Sa laronkay godagay ye/ Da robot hasay chalagay.”

He asserts that terrorists are merely puppets whose strings are pulled by people hidden behind curtains

[With whom you are related and in whose hands you are playing. You are a living puppet and act like a robot].

Khadim is poet of peace and advocate of tranquillity. Using the art of verse to present his ideas, he seeks to inspire and motivate people, urging them to play their due role in the restoration of peace and eradication of terrorism in order to create a congenial environment for all of humanity.

The reviewer is Dawn’s correspondent in Swabi

Guyana Karkhee
By Amjad Ali Khadim
Aaraf Printers, Peshawar
168pp.

Published in Dawn, Books & Authors, September 17th, 2017