Pashto Literary Society Islamabad organized a launching ceremony of the poetry collection “Maat Aahang” by renowned poet, writer and linguist Prof Dr Arshad Iqbal Pashman at the Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) here on Friday.
Prof Dr Arshad Iqbal Pashman’s poetry collection ‘Maat Aahang’ unveiled at PAL
ISLAMABAD, Aug 28 (APP): Pashto Literary Society Islamabad organized a launching ceremony of the poetry collection “Maat Aahang” by renowned poet, writer and linguist Prof Dr Arshad Iqbal Pashman at the Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) here on Friday.
The ceremony was presided over by Chairman Pashto Literary Society Islamabad Syed Mehmood Ahmed, while Allama Zaid Gul Khattak, Prof Fazal Mir Khattak and Hairan Khattak attended as guests of honour.
Chairperson Pakistan Academy of Letters Dr Najeeba Arif, in her keynote address, highlighted the role of writers and literary institutions in promoting languages and literature, sustaining literary traditions and transmitting the cultural and creative heritage to younger generations.
The ceremony was conducted by Secretary General Pashto Literary Society Islamabad Sardar Yousafzai.
Abdul Hameed Zahid and Tayyabullah Khan presented papers highlighting different aspects of Prof Dr Arshad Iqbal Pashman’s personality, intellectual thought and poetry.
Khurshid Ibn-e-Labeed, Ehsas Khattak, Hayat Swati, Noor-ul-Islam Singer, Aziz Khattak, Rashid Khattak, Arif Tabassum, Raziq Faheem, Yasir Gul Yasir, Engineer Inam Khattak and Prof Dr Manzoor Muztar Afridi paid tribute to the poet’s academic, literary and creative contributions through their poetry and speeches.
The speakers said themes of migration, memory, nature, rural life, cultural identity and a deep attachment to one’s native land were prominent features of Dr Arshad Iqbal Pashman’s poetry.
They said that despite spending a long period abroad, the poet’s work vividly reflected the cultural landscape of his ancestral village Talab Khel in Karak district, including its fields, village life, water wells and memories associated with his homeland.
The speakers observed that Dr Pashman’s creative journey reflected a continuous process of intellectual evolution. His earlier poetry collection “Rang Aksuna” prominently featured romance, emotions and delicate sentiments, while “Maat Aahang” demonstrated greater maturity in thought, purpose, philosophical awareness and profound reflections on human life.
They termed “Maat Aahang” an important milestone in the poet’s creative and intellectual journey and a valuable addition to contemporary Pashto poetry.
Participants said Dr Arshad Iqbal Pashman’s literary personality established a meaningful intellectual connection between knowledge and literature, modern linguistic consciousness, and his mother tongue and cultural heritage.
They said his poetry demonstrated that geographical distances could not sever a person’s connection with their cultural roots. Even while living abroad, his work continued to express a strong attachment to his land, culture, language and collective memory.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, Prof Dr Arshad Iqbal Pashman was felicitated on the publication of his new poetry collection, while his academic, teaching, research and literary services for the promotion of Pashto language and literature were highly appreciated.
The Pashto Literary Society Islamabad also presented an honorary shield to Prof Dr Arshad Iqbal Pashman in recognition of his valuable academic and literary contributions.
In his concluding remarks, Syed Mehmood Ahmed thanked the guests of honour, Chairperson PAL, writers, poets, literary personalities and participants for attending the ceremony. He reaffirmed the Pashto Literary Society Islamabad’s commitment to continuing its efforts for the promotion of Pashto language and literature, encouragement of writers and continuation of literary activities.
