Intellectuals see conspiracy behind trouble in NWFP, Fata
PESHAWAR: Writers, poets, academicians and intellectuals, who gathered at a Literati Peace Conference here the other day, unanimously believe the current trouble on the Pakhtuns’ land was part of the ‘international great game’ and a conspiracy against its inhabitants.
Highlighting the need for peace in the province, tribal areas and rest of the country, the speakers said it was the prime responsibility of writers to unite and wage a joint struggle for the promotion of peace in the society.
The conference was organised by the Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) in collaboration with the NWFP government. PAL Chairman Fakhar Zaman presided over the ceremony, while Minister for Sports and Culture Syed Aqil Shah was the chief guest. Dr Muhammad Azam Azam, provincial director of the PAL, was also present on the occasion.
Presenting his research paper, titled “Message of Peace and Humanity in Pakhto Poetry”, the Chairman Pakhto Department, University of Peshawar, Prof Dr Raj Wali Shah Khattak said the international players had always exploited the Pakhtuns by keeping them in a perpetual state of war.
He quoted a number of verses from the poetry of Khushhal Khan Khattak, Rehman Baba, Amir Hamza Khan Shinwari, Qalandar Mohmand, Fazle Haq Shaida and Kazim Khan Shaida, preaching peace and humanity not only for the Pakhtuns, but the world at large.
“Let alone Rehman Baba, who is a Sufi and known as the messenger of peace, the poetry of Khushhal Khan Khattak, who was a chieftain and a warrior, is preaching peace and love for humanity at each and every step,” said Dr Raj Wali, who supported his statement with verses from Khushhal and Rahman Baba.
He also referred to Pir Gohar’s ‘Ghwarama Che Tola Dunya Meena, Meena, Meena Shee (I wish the whole world to become love, love and love)’, which, according to him, was presented in the United Nations to promote peace and love for the humanity.
Raj Wali said the non-violence philosophy of Abdul Ghaffar Khan, known as Bacha Khan, was another example of the Pakhtuns’ love for peace and humanity. Two other scholars, Muhammad Ismail Awan and Professor Israruddin, highlighted the role of Hindko and Chitrali Sufi poets and their message of peace and humanity in their papers.
Speaking as the chief guest, Syed Aqil Shah said dialogue was the only option to resolve disputes. Shah rejected the impression that all the Taliban were Pakhtuns. “The same people are bombing our cities and villages who were gathered from Arab countries, Algeria, Bangladesh, etc, and trained for fighting here,” said the minister.
PAL Chairman Fakhar Zaman said the writers and poets had no other choice but to raise their voices in support of peace and democracy and against dictatorship. He said the PAL wanted to hold such seminars in other cities of Pakistan also, as people like Khushhal Khan Khattak and Rehman Baba should not be restricted to Peshawar and Pakhtun areas only.
He said the writers should get united to reach a consensus on peace, not only in the province, but also across the globe. Quoting English poet John Keats, he said: “We belong to the wearied generation,” but it was the responsibility of men of letters to give a new Pakistan and new idealism to the coming generations. Others who expressed their views included Prof Dr Salma Shaheen of the Pakhto Academy, writer and journalist Hameed Akhtar, Sabir Hussain Imdad and Prof Dr Humayun Huma, while Pir Gohar recited his poem on peace.
Source: The News
Date:4/20/2009
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