Pashto singer Takkar asks govt to establish varsity in Ghani Khan’s name

TAKHT BHAI: Popular Pashto singer Sardar Ali Takkar, who recently received the civil award Tamgha-e-Imtiaz for his meritorious services in the field of music, has asked the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to establish a university in the name of the late Pakhtun philosopher and poet Ghani Khan.

Talking to The News here, he said the Pakhtuns were being portrayed in a negative manner and he would spare no effort to counter the propaganda.

Sardar Ali Takkar, who is famous for singing the revolutionary poetry of Ghani Khan, said the government should hold an exhibition to showcase the sculptures and paintings of the great philosopher.

He lamented that the Pakhtuns were losing their cultural identity and said it was deplorable. He said that hujra played a key role in the grooming of youngsters, but the Pakhtuns were turning away from it.

He said that terrorism had badly affected the Pakhtun culture and traditions. He argued that big powers were using smaller nations for their vested interests.

Sardar Ali Takkar was born on July 15, 1956 in the historic Takkar village in Takht Bhai tehsil in Mardan district. He received his early education at his village school and did FSc from the Government College Mardan.

He did Mechanical Engineering from the University of Engineering and Technology, Peshawar. He is the recipient of several awards given to him by cultural organizations.

In 1984, Sardar Ali Takkar left for Afghanistan. His stay in Afghanistan enabled him to diversify his repertoire of Pashto music. It brought him prominence both in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

In recognition of his services to Pashto music, the government of Pakistan had earlier awarded him the Presidential Pride of Performance award.