January - June 2013 51 Pashto Volume 42 No 644

Development of Pashto Poetry in Swat Before 1915

Muhammad Ali Dinakhel

Abstract
Swat has its own literary, cultural, historical and geographical significance and
importance. That is why it has remained a centre of attraction for every one in ev-
ery period. A regular and organised Government was established in Swat in 1915.
Therefore we see difference in the literature created after 1915 and that of before 1915.
Before 1915, we see in Swat, great literary figures and their works as Hafiz-e-Alpurai,
Akhund Miandad, Mian Karimdad Shaheed, Abdul Haleem, Mustafa Muhammad,
Akhun Qasim Papin Khel, Muhammad Akbar, Khairullah Khan and Qazi Abdul Jalil
etc. Here in this paper introduction of these writers and their works have been given.
Besides their ages/periods have been searched and given. Major themes and subjects
of their poetry have also been described.

1 Swat
Swat lies between 340-400 to 350 North and 720-740-6 East in the present day Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa province of the Pakistan. It has its importance in every respect. It has its
rich cultural, geographical and literary history. There are forests of evergreen trees which
enhance the beauty of this valley manifold. Springs are flowing here all the year round.
Swat, adorned with vast green fields, towering trees and both bloom and blossom is graceful.
Travelers find solace in the snow-clad high peaks. River Swat is a source of pleasure and
inspiration for every one through its meandering course, gushing waters and the wild life
that it supports. Due to these natural beauties, literature has been flourished here in every
period of its history. Its literary history is pre-historic. The remains of different civilizations
are found here which supports its rich past literary history.
An organised and regular Government was established in Swat in 1915 A.D. Before 1915,
there was no regular and formal Government and people were living a free life according to
their tribal customs and rituals. Therefore a great difference is seen in the literature created
before 1915 and that of after 1915.

2 Swat and Poetry

Although poetry is a God gifted ability but serene, attractive and charming environment
helps in sharpening the creative potentials. Man feels consolation and satisfaction when he
is near to nature i.e. when he lives in natural surroundings and scenes. Looking at the
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natural beauty of Swat, we can say that it is very suitable location for all creative works and
especially for poetry. That is why Swat has its own magnificent, rich and splendid literary
history.
The land of Swat is very fertile in the field of Pashto literature because most of the
prominent writers and poets in Pashto literature belong to Swat. Among them Hafiz-e-
Alpurai, Muhammad Akbar, Akhund Darwizah, Mian Karimdad, Mian Abdul Halim (1624-
1661), Mian Mustafa Muhammad, Akhund Miandad, Ahmad Din Talib, Sayyad Hussain,
Dost Muhammad and several other poets are known to every one.

3 Pre-State Poetry
As it was told that thel and of Swat is suitable for creative works, great literary figures have
born here.Formally Swat State has come into existence in 1915 when Sayyad Abdul Jabbar
Shah was installed as ruler of Swat State. That is why the period of the State starts from
1915. The period before 1915 can be called Pre-State period because there was no regular
State and government. A sketch of a few poets of the Pre- State era in Swat areas is given
below.

3.1 Hafiz-e-Alpurai (1715-1800)

Much has been said about his name, tribe and life etc. but no clear and conclusive infor-
mation is available. About him, the latest research is of Dr. Hidayatullah Naeem. He has
written a book Diwani Muqaddima: Da Hafiz-e-Alpurai Jwand aw Shaeri.In this book he has
analysed various editions of Diwan-e-Hafiz-e-Alpurai. Different names searched by scholars
have been given. The conclusion of the entire discussion is that he lived between 1715 and
1800.[1] Another dispute is about his name. According to the above cited book Khan Roshan
Khan, Rahim Shah Rahim and Mian Taqwimul Haq Kaka Khel are of the opinion that his
name is Abdus Samad.
For the first time in 1947, his Diwan was published by Maktaba-e-Sarhad Peshawar with
Muqaddima by Qazi Abdus Salam.[2] The original manuscript of the Diwan was provided
to Qazi Abdus Salam with the assistance of Miangul Abdul Wadud alias Bacha Sahib, the
then ruler of Swat State.[3]

3.2 Akhund Miandad (1590-1668)

The period of Akhund Miandad is said to be between AD 1590 and AD 1668.[4] He has been
buried in Darush Khela; a village in Swat.[5] Manuscript of his Diwan has been edited by
Badrul Hakim Hakimzai for his M.Phil Degree. Later on it has been published by Hakimzai
in 2012.

3.3 Mian Karimdad Shaheed (1572-1665)

He is the eldest son of Akhun Darwizah, a prominent literary figure in Pashto literature. He
born in 980 A.H. (AD 1572) [6] and died in the year 1076 A.H. (AD 1665) [7] in a war with
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non believers in Swat at Tirat village and was buried in his native village Kanju. Sample of
his poetry is present in the last portion of Makhzan.[8] His great work which will always be
remembered is the compilation of Makhzan, the masterpiece of Pashto classical prose.

3.4 Abdul Halim (1624-1661)

He is the son of Abdullah and the grandson of Akhund Darwizah. He died in 1072 A.H.
(AD 1661) in the battle of Tirat and his tomb is in Kanju Swat.[9] Sample of his poetry is
present in the last portion of Makhzan.

3.5 Mustafa Muhammad (1624-1721)

He is the grandson of Karimdad Shaheed. His father’s name is Mian Noor Muhammad.
Mian Noor Muhammad is the person who has been mentioned in Swat Nama by Khushal
Khan Khattak. He was born in Salampur [Islampur], village of Swat.[10] Samples of his
poetry are available in the last section of Makhzan.

3.6 Akhun Qasim Papin Khel

His father name is Akhund Sadiq and was the disciple of Mian Karimdad. He was born in
AD 1630.[11] He was living in Akhun Kalay, a village in Swat Nikpi Khel area. He was a
great scholar and learned person. He has written two books in Pashto Fawaid-ush-Shariat
and Fawaidul Mumenin. He had a Diwan of verses but not available today.[12]

3.7 Muhamad Akbar (1780-1862)

He born in Jambil, a village in Swat. He is known as Mulla Baba in common people. He
lived about between AD 1780 and AD 1862. His Diwan was found by Muhammad Nawaz
Tair in British Museum Library.[13]

3.8 Khairullah Khan

He belonged to Shah Dherai, a village of Tahsil Kabal, District Swat. He born in 1862 and
died at the age of fifty years in the year 1908.[14] Per oral information, he left only one
daughter named Shana Bibi and she has also died. His poetry is mystical.

3.9 Qazi Abdul Jalil (1864-1915)

He born in Barikot village of Swat in AD 1864. His father’s name is Qazi Abdur Rab. He
got his early education of Quran and Islamic jurisprudence in Peshawar.[15] By birth he
was very virtuous and noble. From his early childhood he had great reverence for religious
education. He got early education in the mosque of his village. Later on he shifted to a
nearby village Shingardar, which is situated to the South of Barikot, to get more education.
There, in Shingardar, he memorized the holy Quran. After getting the basic education of
Quran and Fiqah, he went to Peshawar for further education. He had a thorough command
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over Arabic and Persian languages and that is why he was composing poetry in both of these
languages. He has started translation of Masnavi Romi into Pashto but no one has found it.
He has been buried in Sayyad Nadan Shaheed graveyard, Barikot. His poetry was impressed
by Hafiz Alpurai. Beside Hafiz Alpurai, he has praised Rahman Baba and Shaikh Saadi in
his poetry. From his available poems and odes it seems that he has composed his Diwan
because he was the best poet of his age but unfortunately his Diwan has been lost. A few
poems and ghazals have been searched out by Rahim Shah Rahim [16] and nothing else is
available. Among them a ghazal (ode) is given below. From this ghazal one can know about
the standard of his poetry. In this ghazal he has used, in a very beautiful manner, strange
and beautiful similes and other figures of speech.

‫نن مې بيا په زړه ده عشق لمبې بليږی‬

‫چې بشره َد خپل دلبر راته ياديږی‬
‫ده مجنون په شان آهو َد بيابان شوم‬
‫هر يو رګ مې َد رباب په دود غږيږی‬
‫ده تقدير د ترک و تازه خبر نۀ وم‬
‫خدې خبر چې ده پردې څه څرګنديږی‬
‫د بورا په شان څيرې کولمې ناست يم‬
‫ده چشمانو مې َد غم خوناب بهيږی‬
‫َد بادام په شان مې زړه پاره پاره شو‬
‫وصل مهر مې َد يار په زړه وريږی‬
‫په فرهاد لمبه د عشق شوله بله‬
‫د هجران اور ته ئي هر سړےتوديږی‬
‫د هجران سپاه کړې قيد عبدالجليله‬
‫َد دې هسې سخت زندانه څوک خلاصيږی‬

Translation: Today once again in my heart the fire of love is burning. Because
my beloved is remembered to me. I became a deer of wilderness like Majnoon and
my every vein plays like a violin. I was unaware about the ups and downs of my
destiny. God knows better that what will be disclosed from behind the curtain.
I am sitting with open intestine like Bawra(an insect flying over flowers). Tears
of grief are shedding from my eyes. My heart divided into pieces like almond and
I am aspiring for a meeting with my beloved. Farhad burnt by the flame of deep
love and every one is warming by that heat of separation (cutting off connections).
O Abdul Jalil! You have been imprisoned by the soldiers of separation and no
one can escape from this strict prison.
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4 Conclusion
Swat has its rich literary past. Poets and writers of Swat contributed much to the Pashto
literature as a whole. Natural scenes and beauty of Swat enhance the creative potentials. In
the poetry of poets of Swat, we see the reflection of natural beauty and splendid rich cultural
elements. Subjects and themes of the classical poetry in swat are multidimensional but the
dominent element is that of relegion and ethics.

References
[1] Naeem, Hidayatullah, Diwani Muqaddima: Da Hafi Alpurai Jwand aw Shairi, Peshawar,
Pukhtu Adabi Jarga, 2000, p.58.

[2] Abid, Abdullah Jan, Pushto Zuban wa Adab ki Mukhtasar Tarikh, Peshawar, University
Publishers, 2006, p.118.

[3] Naeem, Hidayatullah, Dr, Diwani Muqaddima Da Hafiz Alpurai Jwand aw Shairi, Pe-
shawar, Pukhtu Adabi Jarga, 2000, p.44.

[4] Hakimzai, Badrul Hakim, Da Akhun Miandad Diwan (Samona aw Sirana), M.Phil The-
sis, Department of Pakistani Languages, Session: 2009, Allama Iqbal Open University
Islamabad, p.22.

[5] Kakar, Abdul Qayyum, Miandad, in Quarterly Pukhtu, Peshawar, Pukhtu Academy,
University of Peshawar, Vol.I, Issue No. 1-4, 1967, p.107.

[6] Rahim, Rahim Shah, Ghata Khazana (Unpublished), p.4.

[7] Rahim, Rahim Shah, Ghata Khazana (Unpublished), p.4.

[8] Akhun Darwizah, Makhzan, with Muqaddamah by Sayyad Muhammad Taqwim-ul-Haq

Kaka Khel, Peshawar, Pukhtu Academy University of Peshawar, 2nd edn., 1969/197,
p.10.

[9] Rahim, Rahim Shah, Ghata Khazana (Unpublished), p.24.

[10] Rahim, Rahim Shah, Ghata Khazana (Unpublished), p.29.

[11] Rahim, Rahim Shah, Wawrinay Sokay, Mingora, Kitabistan-e-Swat, 1986, p.22.

[12] Rahim, Rahim Shah, Ghata Khazana (Unpublished), p.43.

[13] Shah, Safdar Ali, Sayyad (Translator), Rohi Adab, written by Muhammad Nawaz Tair,
Peshawar, Pashto Academy Peshawar University, 1987, p.21.

[14] Asar, Abdul Halim, Tir Hir Shaeran, Peshawar, Pukhtu Academy University of Pe-
shawar, 1963, p.218.

[15] Rahim, Rahim Shah, Ghata Khazana (Unpublished), p.75.

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[16] Rahim, Rahim Shah, Ghata Khazana (Unpublished), p.81.