PESHAWAR: Speakers at a function showered accolades of praise on noted poet, intellectual, painter and sculptor Ghani Khan on his 24th death anniversary.

They said that Ghani Khan was a metaphor of humility, aestheticism, humanism and peace. Pashto mushaira, art competition and musical concert marked the death anniversary of Ghani Khan.

The event was organised under the auspices of Bacha Khan Trust at Bacha Khan Markaz here on Sunday. Political activists, students, poets, writers, artists and fans of Ghani Khan attended the event in a large number.

Noted folk artists Fayyaz Kheshgi, Master Ali Haider, Sarfaraz Afridi and Gul Nawaz sang popular numbers of Ghani Khan while poets Hashim Babar, Ahmad Ali Aajiz, Ameer Razaq Ameer and Chiragh Afridi paid glowing tributes to him.

Around 14 artist students from Pakhtunkhwa College of Arts, Mardan, Swabi University, Khana-i-Farhang Iran, Peshawar, and Sajid Art Gallery Peshawar participated in the painting competition in which Aamir Ali, Asim Khan, Lali Zaraf Shah got first, second and third position respectively while Ibrahim Khan and Moneeba were given consolation prizes.

Poetry session, musical concert and art competition held on his 24th death anniversary

An art exhibition by Mohammad Faizan Ali Qazalbash was also part of the daylong fair in which he put 40 of his art pieces on display.

Aimal Wali Khan, provincial president of Awami National Party, in his address said that Ghani Khan was the first young Khudai Khidmatgar and had vast knowledge on various disciplines.

Mashal Khan, grandson of Ghani Khan, gave a brief talk on the occasion, saying Ghani Khan to him had been a friend more than a grandfather. He said that he was an epitome of humility who literally worshipped beauty in all its manifestations.

The speakers on the occasion termed Ghani Khan a great humanism and worshipper of beauty as entire magna corpus of his writings and art pieces portrayed love, peace and universalism because he believed in pluralism, aestheticism and wanted a world full of flowers and colours with no hatred and war.

His unconventional style of expression both in writing and art made him distinguished from most of his contemporaries and that alone cast a huge impact on Pakhtun youth, who cherished and admired his art of crafting images so distinct and diverse, said Prof Abaseen Yousafzai.

Published in Dawn, March 16th, 2020