Akbar Sial, The Poet Of The Day. Pashto Poet Bio

 Akbar Sial the poet of the day.

By Sher Alam Shinwari

Pashto poetry has roots in resistance since the days of Khushhal Khan Khattak when he stood up to the Mughal’s suppression of Pashtuns and Rahman Baba a mystic poet used his Sufi muse to highlight people’s problems in his verses. Then comes the British era when Pashtun folk poets most of them illiterate spoke vehemently against their tyranny and oppression. The Pashto poets affiliated with Khudai Khidmatgaar Tehrik of Baacha Khan including Fazal Mahmood Makhfi, Abdul Akbar Khan Akbar, Shad Mohmmad Maigai and many others played an active role to resist British supremacy. The second but very vocal nationalist generation of poets included Qalandar Momand, Ajmal Khattak, Wali Mohmmad Tufan and few others faced hardships owing to their radical thoughts in their writings. 

The third generation appears with the revolutionary poets like Rahmat Shah Sail, Dr Prof Sahib Shah Sabir and many others. Pashto poets and writers have been closely watching the tragic drama being staged on their land since very long. Being sensitive soul poets are the harbingers of peace, humanism and harmony. Ali Akbar Sial an Islamabad based senior Pashto poet and author of several books is one of them.

He is the moving spirit behind the Pakhtun Cultural Association (PCA) Islamabad a literary cum cultural organization. Sial hailing from Malakand has been playing a pivotal role in literary and intellectuals circles of the capital. Being poet of a unique style, Akbar Sial has been advocating love, peace and Pashtun unification in his verses. His maiden Pashto poetry collection had come out in 1995, Rangoonah was another of his poetry title that received an encouraging response from the poetry avid. 

Way back in 2000 he brought out Pa Jung De Or Olagee (To hell with war). With it Sial acclaimed a widespread popularity among the Pashtun literary circles as it was the voice of every sensitive Pashtun. But when enough bloodshed stained the land of Pashtun Sial dared to pen down Da par haroonah bah gandal ghawarree (These wounds need to be healed up) that came out on the market in 2005.

 It was followed by Ukhkay Ukhkay Musketub (The tearful smile) in 2008, Zamung pa Kalee Ke Shar Ma jurrawa wai (Don’t create disturbance in our village) published in 2009 and his recent publication ‘Pa guldaru de Warawal Orunah’  (Raining bombs on floral valleys) is yet another of his bold attempt.

 

Almost all of his poetry collections stress one thing and that is permanent peace in the region. The book contains ghazals as well as nazms, in both literary forms; he has excelled in versifying the adverse effects of war in a befitting manner. 

A poem titled Da Pakhtunkhwa sael (A visit to Pakhtunkhwa) Abkar Sial takes us on a round trip of the enchanting valleys and charming natural sites of Swat, Dir, Malakand, Chitral and Buner. He tells the readers that these sites have had never experienced barbarism, militancy and terrorism as these had been the abodes of followers of the Buddha.  Pashtuns, he says are peaceful, hospitable and tranquil, war has never been their option, their glorious past, golden traditions and social values speak loud of their intrinsic humanistic qualifies.  

Sial is in fact the poet of romance and beauty but of late he is engaged in versifying the bizarre situation surrounding the region.  He strongly believes that poets are the vehicle of intellectual change in the society and should come forward to play their due role.  The poetry of Akbar Sial stands for a peaceful and loving society. He comes hard on those who defile peace and tranquility; he gives much importance to cultural heritage and social norms as these can help us keep intact peace and harmony.