Pashto poet, fiction writer Murad Shinwari passes away

PESHAWAR: Noted Pashto poet and short story writer Murad Shinwari passed away at 85 after protracted illness in Landikotal here Saturday.

He was laid to rest in his ancestral graveyard the same day. Large number of people including poets, writers, tribal elders and political officials attend his Nimaze-Janaza. Murad Shinwari, the only son of Baba-e-Pashto ghazal Amir Hamza Khan Shinwari, was one of the pioneers who introduced new trends to the modern Pashto poem. He was born in 1928 at Landi Kotal, Khyber Agency.

He was a year old when his mother died. He received his early education from Govt. High School No.1, Peshawar and passed middle standard examination from there.

Murad Shinwari took up a job with Rahat Zakheli a prominent Pashto writer as an assistant Editor 'Afghan' a representative newspaper of Pakhtuns at that time. During the same time, he wrote Palwashey a collection of short stories which unfortunately is not available in the market.

It bore him a wide appreciation and gave him a prestigious place as a fiction writer in the domain of Pashto literature. His thirst for further education took him once again to get employment in the Khyber Rifles as an instructor from where he was sent to Army School of Education, Murree.

There, he received the necessary army training and passed all the education corps examinations with distinction and was awarded the degree of B.T by the University of Punjab.

He did his master's in Pashto literature as a private candidate from University of Peshawar and received gold medal for his outstanding performance. He joined Pashto Academy in 1958 as Librarian but he also worked as lexicographer and translator there, the atmosphere of the academy was more suitable for his literary pursuits. Mohammad Wali Babar a resident of Nangarhar and newscaster of All India, Radio Peshawar was the main source of inspiration and a moving force, responsible for moulding the progressive ideas of Murad Shinwari. Babar introduced him to many literary giants of the time and would often bring him literary magazines, books and newspaper clippings carrying or having contents on progressive literature and trends.

It was during the same that Murad exhausted the Urdu classics, along with Saadat Hassan Manto, Krishan Chander and many other fiction writers.

At Pashto Academy, he exhibited his skill as an excellent translator, lexicographer, and editor of 40 rare manuscripts and compiler of dictionary. He translated the Merchant of Vince by Shakespeare, and The lady of Shallot by Alfred Tennyson in Pashto free verse.

In 1958 he compiled Da Khyber Adab -an anthology of 41 Pashto poets, the book contains critical commentary and a brief introduction of each poet.

After developing some differences with Maulana Abdul Qadir, the founder director of Pashto Academy, Murad Shinwari switched over to Radio Pakistan, Peshawar as a staff artist.

This was a major breakthrough in the world of Pashto literary criticism. It received a huge applause from all the literary circles. Da Khyber Adab is still considered a historical document, which is more often, consulted by research scholars.

The atmosphere of radio was also encouraging for displaying his literary talent. He wrote some memorable features like Hujra, Maraka highlighting social evils which continued for many years and he wrote also a few dramas, the record of which, unfortunately, has been lost. If Murad Shinwari could produce the copy of Quetta-based Pashto monthly magazine 'Pakhto' in which according to him Bara the firstever Pashto Azad nazm (free verse) was published, would acclaim Murad the pioneer of this genre in Pashto literature.

Even if that happens, still Murad did not consider himself a pioneer, but a revivalist of the genre because he thought; Pashto language had not borrowed Azad nazm from English, Urdu or French. "Because many of our own folk songs are in free verse" he used to argue. His other famous poems Daulat Kaka, Khyber, Tatara, Rahman Baba, Dost Mohammad Kamil, Hamza Baba, Khatir Afridi and Shaheed Ta Khitab are considered by critics as sublime, creative and reflective of the literary talent of Murad.

The literary stature of his legendary father could not eclipse his unique style and he emerged as an innovative poet, fiction writer, journalist, and critic. He plunged into the world of Pashto films; this was the beginning of the golden era of Pashto movies in early 70s.

He wrote dialogues, scenarios, and songs for more than hundred films including the hits Urbal, Bangree Au Hatkarrey, Juram Auo Saza, Naway Da Yawe Shpey, and Multan Khan Afridi. He even directed and added music to some of these films. He left it forever, it when some vested interests tried to present a distorted image of the Pakhtun's culture.

Murad Shinwari used to contribute his poetry and articles on different, social, political and literary magazines to Laar, Qand, Szuand, Pakhto, Ghuncha and Pashto newspapers Hiwad and Wahdat. He got retirement from Radio Pakistan, Peshawar in 1989. His maiden poetry collection 'Ayena' published a day before his death under auspices of Pak Amaraat Adabi Tolana is expected to gain widespread popularity among literary circles due to its unique way of expression.