Khalil Olasi Adabi Jirga to be revived

Founded in 1990 the jirga became dysfunctional due

to rifts among office-bearers a few years back

PESHAWAR: Young poets and writers at a literary gathering here shared their views and suggestions how to promote literary activities and creative thoughts.

The event was held at the hujra of senior Pashto poet Syed Sabir Shah in Gharibabad, Tehkal Bala. 

Da Ranra Malgari, a literary association, organised the event. A Denmark-based Afghan poet Mumtaz Arman graced the occasion as chief guest while Syed Sabir Shah, author of 55 books, presided over the event.

Participants vowed at the function to revive Khalil Olasi Adabi Jirga after due consultations with local literary figures.

The event was held to plan measures to revive the Khalil Olasi Adabi Jirga which was formed in 1990 and which was operative till a few years ago but was rendered dysfunctional owing to rifts among its office-bearers. 

The said Jirga was founded by late Arbab Saifur Rehman (former speaker of KP assembly) and Syed Sabir Shah.

Around 200 books were published under the auspices of Khalil Olasi Adabi Jirga besides conducting large number of seminars on various literary figures.

Addressing the function, Mumtaz Arman said that literary and cultural activities kept people aware of their geo-political situation around them and also enhanced their creative thought process. He said literature was mirror to people’s life and helped them shape ideals. He said people who had strong literary and cultural traditions, never detracted from their right path.

“Peshawar city, being hub of literary and cultural activities, down the ages, is being still cherished by many Afghan writers,” Arman added. 

Syed Sabir Shah, chief of Da Ranra Malgari said that literary activities had positive impact on the minds of youth and instilled a spirit of humanism and creativity in them. He said literature motivated young souls to serve public cause. He said young Pashto poets and writers had great potential.   

He said old Khalil Olasi Adabi Jirga would be formally re-launched very soon to expedite literary activities in the area. He suggested poets and writers should not gift out their books free of cost. He said the royalty, he got from the sale of his poetry collection (Jarai), published after sixteen years, would be spent on the publication of three young Pashto poet’s books.

Tariq Khalil, a young poet, demanded the KP government to publish his Pashto book ‘Tarikh-i-Tehkal’ (history of Tehkal) . He said he had recently compiled a book on the history of Ghuriakhel covering the age from 16th century Mughal era to date. The book spanned 400 pages. He explained that it had covered historic mosques, Sikh temples, and historic hujras of Tehkal along old traditions.

Later, a Pashto poetry session was held in which Khalid Khalil, Akhtar Wali Khalilzad, Tariq Khalil, Haji Ishaq Khan, Syed Aimal Shah Ameen, Khaista Gul, Abbas, Hidayatullah Gul, Ashfaq, Abid Baheer, Mumtaz Arman and Seen Sheen Adil participated.