*By Sher Alam Shinwari 

 

Prof Zubair Hasrat submitted his Ph D thesis to Pushto department

University of Peshawar on the life and works of the renowned Pushto poet,writer, critic, researcher, linguist, journalist, political visionary and intellectual Sahibzada Habibur Rahman popularly known as Qalandar Moomand.

 

The ceremony of public defense of Prof Zubair Hasrat titled: Qalandar

Moomand: A critical Study was held here Monday at seminar hall of the Pushto department. Speaking on the occasion the chief guest Prof Dr Mohammad Azam Azam who was external examiner of the Ph D thesis at hand said that Qalandar Moomand was a multifaceted personality, which really deserved such quality scholastic research thesis so that Pushtuns could know how immense contributions he had made to Pashto language, literature and Pushtun nation at large.

 

He pointed out that Qalandar Moomand was a committed writer and man of farsighted vision who believed in honesty and fairness. Dr Azam said he was not just a poet or writer he was an epoch and an institution in his own right. " Qalandar Moomand enriched Pushto literature with new ideas,thoughts, and literary genres. He practiced what he preached, suffered imprisonment and strong opposition from many rival quarters but he never bowed before any aggression or undue favour rather he accepted challenges and advocated the cause of humanism, love and peace and Pushtun nationalism.

 

He is unsurpassed and unparalleled for his works are matchless and sublime based on logic, reason and his keen observation."

He maintained that Prof Zubair's thesis would go a long way in discovering many hidden aspects of Qalandar Moomand. "It is the most comprehensive and complete critical study on a man of letters of high literary stature like Qalandar Moomand that has ever been attempted by other research scholar in Pushto. It will not be only a crash course for young writers but also serve as valued and valid document on a great multidimensional Pushtun writer and political visionary," Dr Azam observed.

 

Earlier, Prof Zubair Hasrat while presenting a summary of his thesis said that huge literary, political and social contributions of Qalandar Moomand inspired him to choose it for his doctorate thesis adding he had divided his research dissertation into nine chapters. The first chapter deals with life, works, second throws light on poetry, third presents analysis of short stories, forth pinpoints Qalandar Moomand's research and criticism, fifth describes Qalandar's critical views/ his literary activities, sixth is based on his journalism, seventh tells us about the art of translation of the great writer while eight and ninth chapters enlighten us on how Qalandar Moomand was viewed by his contemporaries and his published and unpublished works respectively.

 

Zubair said Qalandar Moomand's life had many shades and facets; therefore, it was very difficult for him to conduct research on such a personality but his long association with the late writer and also access to the material made his job easy. He said Qalandar Moomand was a true follower of Bacha Khan and a staunch devotee of Khushhal Khan Khattak and Rahman Baba. He versified social problems of the people not as a white propaganda but in a romantic and progressive style, Zubair opined.

 

"Basically he was a poet and writer but after 1975 he totally devoted

himself to research work and critical studies. In his earlier, life he was a strong advocate of communist views, in the middle a diehard Pushtun nationalist but towards the end of his life he became a religious reclusive,however, remain sticking to serve his mother tongue. I have proved with arguments that Qalandar Moomand was a genuine poet, and great Pushtun reformer who loved his own culture land and people," Prof Zubair revealed.

 

Although some of his critical views against the so called Pata Khazana

considered to be the first ever book of Pushto and about classical Pushto poets made him controversial but his rivals could not prove him wrong on logical and moral grounds, added Zubair.

 

Prof Zubair Hasrat author of 16 books, an accomplished poet and writer himself was born at Barricham, Mardan, on August 14, 1962, did his Master's in Pashto literature and qualified his M.Phil thesis from Pushto department in 1986 and 1997 respectively. He presently serves as an assistant professor at Government College, Warookey Lahore.

 

Prof Hakeemullah Jan, Prof Dr Shah Jehan chairman Pushto University of Peshawar also spoke to the participants. An interesting question /answer session was part of the event after which Prof Dr Azam declared Prof Zubair Hasrat entitled for the doctorate degree.

 

Zalan Moomand son of the legendary Qalandar who was present on the occasion pledged that he would publish the Ph D thesis on his father under the auspices of the Qalandar Moomand Research Cell (QRC) and be brought out on next death anniversary the late poet. Large number of teachers, students, writers, media persons and fans of Qalandar Moomand attended the public defense. Prof Ruhullah conducted the function.