Rahmat Shah Sail

Rahmat Shah Sahil
رحمت شاه سائل
Born 1943
Ethnicity Pashtun
Known for Pashto Poetry

Rahmat Shah Sail (Pashto: رحمت شاه سائل‎ - born 1943, Wartier) is a prominent and contemporary poet of Pashto language.[1][2][3]

Early life

Rahmat Shah, son of Amin Gul was born in the Dargai village of Wartier in Malakand Agency. At the age of five, Sail was admitted to a local primary school (Wartier). However, he was compelled to leave school after the third grade[1][2] to assist his parents in earning a livelihood. After a hard day of labour he used to compose poetry to lessen his fatigue. As a kid he was very interested in reading magazines and newspapers.

Academic life

Even though Sail is uneducated, he is the author of several poetry books in Pashto language;

Published books:

Ahmad Shah is a member of Pashto Adabi Jirga, Malakand Agency.

Work life

Rahmat Shah Sail spent most of his life working as a tailor in Dargari Bazar to earn his livelihood. At present, he is the chief editor of Pashtun Magazine published by Bacha Khan Centre.

Literary work

His political views could be summarized in three points 1. Anti-imperialist 2. Liberal and leftist 3. Democrat His first published book "Da vir pa cham ki war da naghmo dai" (lit.: In a village of sorrow, it is now time to cheer). As a young, energetic poet, in this very first book, he preaches equality through a system that is more inclined towards a socialist society.

Rawakhlai bia da inqilab sara nishanona Pashtano zulmo Carry with you the red symbols of a revolution, O Pashton young-men! still the most famous song among the Pashtoons.

As a nationalist he looks for the territorial and cultural integrity of Pashtoons, whether living in Afghanistan or Pakistan. Peshawar au Kabul dwarha dwa yaran de Laka dwa stargi pa yaw makh da janan de Peshawar and Kabul are two friends and are like two eyes on a beloved face.

During his struggle he was imprisoned and tortured by the dictators of the time but was never made to give-up. Mana da lewantob be la de na sa kedae na she Daa ghar ka da faulado we daa sar mathawal ghwarhi There is no other meaning for sheer madness. If mountain is made of steel this head wants to be broken. It's really a great metaphor. Pashtoon society is really like that Steel mountain and an attempt to change it is like to hit it with one's head but he his quite optimistic about it. Daa bela khabara de che hecha hm ghunchak na krho Fikar da sparli hasi samsor dai pa de khawra ki No one has really tried to create a bud of it. The thought of a spring (change) has prevailed the land.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1
  3. ↑ Khan, Hidayat (30 June 2013). "Bleeding the pen dry: Hundreds of Pashto poets remain unpublished as support for verse withers". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 1 July 2013.