PESHAWAR: Popular Pashto folk singer and poet Aslam Salik has asked the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to offer more incentives to artists and writers from Malakand and Swat districts, saying most of them have yet to overcome militancy trauma.

He claimed that he was the first poet and singer to compose and sing a peace poem when the fear gripped the region due to militancy.

Mr Salik recently received an award from a Swat-based literary organisation, Swat Adabi Jirga, for promoting Pashto peace folk music.

Hailing from Malakand district’s Batkhela area, he had developed affinity with local literary organisations in 2005 and regularly attended its sessions.

He also sang good poetic pieces during the period.

Pashto singer says region’s most artists, writers suffering from militancy trauma

Recipient of around 100 awards from local literary and cultural organisations, Mr Salik has six top Pashto albums and over 60 popular peace poems to his credit.

He runs own business but he has a passion of folk music.

Mr Salik, the general secretary of Malakand Mrstial Leekwaal, a literary-cum-cultural organisation, said he got education up to sixth grade but he was able to compose poems after being inspired by the law and order crisis in his valley in 2008, especially when the Batkhela market remained closed for several months and fear ruled the entire area.

He added that he used to go to a nearby graveyard, where he along with his friends would compose poems regarding the chaotic situation.

“During that period, the artist inside me came out and forced me to sing a poem, which read, “The lawn was stained with blood and even the spring was crying for peace.” The poem went so viral in the area that my father appreciated me and gave me the tacit permission to step in the music world,” he said.

Mr Salik regretted that the culture department didn’t compensate artists and literati of Malakand and Swat regions despite being the worst victims of militancy.

He said artists and writers of his region suffered from militancy the most, so the provincial government should address their issues on a priority basis.

He said he gave the due time to music and had learnt a lot from Ustad AR Anwar, Sabz Ali, Ustad Nazeer Gul, Ustad Amanat, Ustad Mubarak Ali and few others.

“My mentors also include Bakhti Rawan Umarkhel, Prof Abaseen Yousafzai and Prof Iqbal Shakir, who helped me exhibit my poetic talents. I have sung all classic and modern Pashto poets, especially those, whose poetry contains greater appeal for peace. I would advise the budding singers to learn the basics of traditional music and choose the best of poetic pieces,” he said.

Mr Salik, who has received two awards from the provincial government for serving folk music, said he had a keen desire that other artists and poets from his area should also get similar laurels and financial assistance.

“I love my land and people. I want Malakand and Swat to become the hub of literary and cultural activities yet again. The artists and literati need security, respect and people’s appreciation,” he said.

Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2019