Death is not the end of life: Abdul Ghani Khan: The poet, philosopher and politician - The Express

Tribune

20/12/2016, 11(49 PM

Death is not the end of life: Abdul

Ghani Khan: The poet, philosopher
and politician

PYO gathered to honour the Pukhtun treasure; more events will be held
throughout the year. DESIGN: MUNIRA ABBAS
PESHAWAR: The government should have issued a postal stamp
to commemorate the 100 years of poet, sculptor and
philosopher Abdul Ghani Khan, said people at an event
organised by the National Youth Organisation (NYO) on
Wednesday night.
Held at the Bacha Khan Markaz, the evening was held in honour of Ghani
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Death is not the end of life: Abdul Ghani Khan: The poet, philosopher and politician - The Express Tribune

20/12/2016, 11(49 PM

Khans 100th birthday and the services he rendered for Pukhtuns and
Pashto literature.
Ghani Khan was born in Charsada in 1914 to Khan Abdul Ghafar Khan, the
prominent leader of the Khudai Khidmatgar Tehreek. Ghani was welleducated, trained at the Rabindranath Tagores Shantiniketan Academy in
painting and sculpturing. He died in 1996.
Like all great poets, striving for an eternal existence through his aesthetics,
Ghani Khan wrote, Do not convince me, O friend / Death is not the end of
life. His words reflect the recalcitrance of an idiosyncratic rebellion
against everything.
Ghanis lyricism is rich, his thoughts philosophic and his tone rebellious.
His critics have even termed him a mystic, whose imagination gives a lone
flower in a desert a voice and then compares it to his own life. And while
the flower is Unfortunate to have fallen from the beloveds locks, its the
desert that has given the flower its importance and when that realization
strikes, the flower speaks:

Ghanis voice
Even after a hundred years, although globally recognized, Ghani Khan
needs to be acknowledged by the Pakistani government in one way or the
other.
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Death is not the end of life: Abdul Ghani Khan: The poet, philosopher and politician - The Express Tribune

20/12/2016, 11(49 PM

The year of 2014 has been declared as the Year of Ghani Khan by
Pukhtuns across the country. Organisations like the Fikri Tarrun have
planned several exhibitions and seminars to pay tribute to the man.
Awami National Party (ANP) parliamentary leader Sardar Hussain Babak,
well-known academic and poet Dr Salma Shaheen, ANP Secretary Bashir
Khan Matta and a large number of youth were also present at the Markaz.
Living nations never forget their elders, said Shaheen while addressing
the gathering. Ghani Baba has rendered great services in politics and
literature which have helped and will continue to help Pukhtuns in every
situation they face. Shaheen added, His philosophy is a precious treasure
for Pukhtuns.
She stressed on the need to organise more events where people can enjoy
Ghani Khans work. Shaheen said books should be published in his
memory in addition to a commemorative stamp.
Ghani Baba was not only a poet but a philosopher, a sculptor and a
politician, whose services cannot be forgotten by [us], said Babak. More of
such gatherings will be held across the province in honour and
remembrance of the great philosopher.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 29th, 2014.

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