Zahid Buneray
12-26-2006, 03:59 PM
http://www.khyberwatch.com/cute/data/upimages/Naeemullah.jpg
http://www.khyberwatch.com/cute/data/upimages/Rahmat_Shah.JPG
Young amateur singer Naeemullah Khan Tori mesmerizes audience
By Sher Alam Shinwari
PESHAWAR: A colourful musical evening with prominent progressive poet Rahmat Shah Sail was arranged by his fans and poetry lovers here at a local hotel the other night. An amateur singer and fan of Rahmat Shah Sail Naeemullah Khan Tori sang beautiful new numbers of the poet. Born on July 10, 1945 at village Wertair, Dargai, Malakand Agency Rahmat Shah Sail could afford to get formal education only up to 5th grade. He used to read folk tales by Ali Haider Joshi and also he browsed Rahman Baba’s Diwan and other classical Pashto poets. This became a source of inspiration for him. A tailor by profession, Rahmat Shah Sail began to use thin needles of refined thoughts to thread the fabric of society’s problems. Soon with the publication of his maiden poetry collection Weer Pah Chum Ke Waar Da Naghmo De he became the voice of the general masses.
The book was instantly banned and he was put behind bars for having radical views. It was followed by other of his poetry volumes like Da Lambo Pah Soree, Sra Basaree, Dakhiastoono Da Sperlo Baaduna, Raibaar, Da Weeno Rung Pah Lambo Sunga Khkaree, Talah Tasweer Pah Gulab Jorr Karrum Kah Nah, Dard Che Da Sreeko Saange Usparrdaley and a prose book containing short stories namely Akhree Sundarah. He established his identity as a staunch progressive poet while his fiction could not win him a remarkable place and even some critics criticized him for laying his hand on fiction.
His recent collection of poetry Tah Bah Pah Khpal Tasweer Ke Sok Zaya Wee came out last year. Narrating story of his poetic career he said, “I was born into a poor family. My parents could not bear my school expenses so I had to leave it for good and began to help them earn a few coins. Often at night I would pick up my pen and pour my unbridled emotions into verses in order to lessen burden on my weary heart. After exhausting Pashto classics, I switched over to modern Urdu poets affiliated with Progressive Writers Movement (PWM) like Sahir Ludhianvi, Faiz Ahmed Faiz and Habib Jalib with the latter I remained in jails many a times.
Their poetry deeply impressed me in many respects. But my thought was genuine in the sense that I was representing poor Pashtuns. I suffered for my political views but I kept to the right track. People liked my poetry because it was a new voice.” Rahmat Shah Sail is the poet of substance and particular diction. His unique style of expression distinguishes him from his contemporary poets. He has a large fans following among modern poets and literary circles. His subjects are varied but his focus is mainly on the poor Diaspora of the society.
“No poetry can attain the heights of sublimity unless it translates the poor mases’s dreams and aspirations in its womb,” he added. Regarding the Pakhtun’s magazine of which he is the editor, he remarked, “It has linked us to the Pakhtun intellectuals, poets and writers from across the globe. The celebrated magazine will become one year old in January, 2007 after its relaunch from Baacha Khan Markaz. We are yet to improve its quality and restore its past glory. The Baacha Research Cell has already initiated substantive research work on various aspects of Baacha Khan’s life and poetical struggle and will also dig out different areas of Pashtun’ culture, history and social system.” About the Haiko trend in Pashto, Rahmat Shah Sail said, “Haiko has no future in Pashto. It is only fit for non serious subjects. Modern so called pop music has drowned a good bulk of Pashto poetry. Genuine singers should be given a chance to exhibit their talent. I am still composing nazm but the environment is not conducive to the nazm poetry like it was in early 80s. Pashto has an immense future and Pashtuns should join hands together to make it happen as early as possible,” he suggested.
Naeemullah Khan Tori sang some nine items in the composition of Mass Khan Ustad with Sham Babar on Keyboard, Shakir on SPD, Mohammad Din on rabab and Anwar Gul on harmonium. Naeemullah in his remarks said that he had selected poetic pieces from Sail’s poetry because it contained a substantive message for the public. Also he maintained that the poetry of Rahmat Shah Sail carried musicality and fitted to musical tunes very easily. “Some of the compositions are my own while the rest are composed by Mass Khan.
I want to keep alive the tradition of our original Pashto music. This programme is in fact a sequel to the last year musical evening with Rahmat Shah Sail but I made this one a little bit different in style,” Tori observed. Ansar Khilji a young rising poet anchored the programme in a befitting manner. He kept the audience gluing to their seats by interspersing inspiring verses from Rahmat Shah’s sail’ poetry during the function. Earlier. Haroon Shinwari opened the programme with the introduction of the guest poet and singer and presented a vote of thanks to Asad Khan of Danish Kutabkhana, Peshawar for his due cooperation.
http://www.khyberwatch.com/cute/data/upimages/Rahmat_Shah.JPG
Young amateur singer Naeemullah Khan Tori mesmerizes audience
By Sher Alam Shinwari
PESHAWAR: A colourful musical evening with prominent progressive poet Rahmat Shah Sail was arranged by his fans and poetry lovers here at a local hotel the other night. An amateur singer and fan of Rahmat Shah Sail Naeemullah Khan Tori sang beautiful new numbers of the poet. Born on July 10, 1945 at village Wertair, Dargai, Malakand Agency Rahmat Shah Sail could afford to get formal education only up to 5th grade. He used to read folk tales by Ali Haider Joshi and also he browsed Rahman Baba’s Diwan and other classical Pashto poets. This became a source of inspiration for him. A tailor by profession, Rahmat Shah Sail began to use thin needles of refined thoughts to thread the fabric of society’s problems. Soon with the publication of his maiden poetry collection Weer Pah Chum Ke Waar Da Naghmo De he became the voice of the general masses.
The book was instantly banned and he was put behind bars for having radical views. It was followed by other of his poetry volumes like Da Lambo Pah Soree, Sra Basaree, Dakhiastoono Da Sperlo Baaduna, Raibaar, Da Weeno Rung Pah Lambo Sunga Khkaree, Talah Tasweer Pah Gulab Jorr Karrum Kah Nah, Dard Che Da Sreeko Saange Usparrdaley and a prose book containing short stories namely Akhree Sundarah. He established his identity as a staunch progressive poet while his fiction could not win him a remarkable place and even some critics criticized him for laying his hand on fiction.
His recent collection of poetry Tah Bah Pah Khpal Tasweer Ke Sok Zaya Wee came out last year. Narrating story of his poetic career he said, “I was born into a poor family. My parents could not bear my school expenses so I had to leave it for good and began to help them earn a few coins. Often at night I would pick up my pen and pour my unbridled emotions into verses in order to lessen burden on my weary heart. After exhausting Pashto classics, I switched over to modern Urdu poets affiliated with Progressive Writers Movement (PWM) like Sahir Ludhianvi, Faiz Ahmed Faiz and Habib Jalib with the latter I remained in jails many a times.
Their poetry deeply impressed me in many respects. But my thought was genuine in the sense that I was representing poor Pashtuns. I suffered for my political views but I kept to the right track. People liked my poetry because it was a new voice.” Rahmat Shah Sail is the poet of substance and particular diction. His unique style of expression distinguishes him from his contemporary poets. He has a large fans following among modern poets and literary circles. His subjects are varied but his focus is mainly on the poor Diaspora of the society.
“No poetry can attain the heights of sublimity unless it translates the poor mases’s dreams and aspirations in its womb,” he added. Regarding the Pakhtun’s magazine of which he is the editor, he remarked, “It has linked us to the Pakhtun intellectuals, poets and writers from across the globe. The celebrated magazine will become one year old in January, 2007 after its relaunch from Baacha Khan Markaz. We are yet to improve its quality and restore its past glory. The Baacha Research Cell has already initiated substantive research work on various aspects of Baacha Khan’s life and poetical struggle and will also dig out different areas of Pashtun’ culture, history and social system.” About the Haiko trend in Pashto, Rahmat Shah Sail said, “Haiko has no future in Pashto. It is only fit for non serious subjects. Modern so called pop music has drowned a good bulk of Pashto poetry. Genuine singers should be given a chance to exhibit their talent. I am still composing nazm but the environment is not conducive to the nazm poetry like it was in early 80s. Pashto has an immense future and Pashtuns should join hands together to make it happen as early as possible,” he suggested.
Naeemullah Khan Tori sang some nine items in the composition of Mass Khan Ustad with Sham Babar on Keyboard, Shakir on SPD, Mohammad Din on rabab and Anwar Gul on harmonium. Naeemullah in his remarks said that he had selected poetic pieces from Sail’s poetry because it contained a substantive message for the public. Also he maintained that the poetry of Rahmat Shah Sail carried musicality and fitted to musical tunes very easily. “Some of the compositions are my own while the rest are composed by Mass Khan.
I want to keep alive the tradition of our original Pashto music. This programme is in fact a sequel to the last year musical evening with Rahmat Shah Sail but I made this one a little bit different in style,” Tori observed. Ansar Khilji a young rising poet anchored the programme in a befitting manner. He kept the audience gluing to their seats by interspersing inspiring verses from Rahmat Shah’s sail’ poetry during the function. Earlier. Haroon Shinwari opened the programme with the introduction of the guest poet and singer and presented a vote of thanks to Asad Khan of Danish Kutabkhana, Peshawar for his due cooperation.