Skip to main content

Khan Baba, Ghani: The Mad Philosopher

Abdul Ghani Khan Baba:

(1914-1996)


Ghani baba was born in Hashtnagar in Frontier tribal areas of British India (probably now the Charsadda district of  KPK) in 1914. He was the son of Indian independence activist the time of British era, The leader of Awami National Party Abdul Ghaffar khan aka Bacha Khan. His wife Roshan belonged from a Parsi family, daughter of Nawab Rustam Jang. This couple had three children Shanadana and Zareen daughters and son, Faridun. He is widely considered to be the best Pashto poet of the 20th century and stands on a par with Kaushal khan Khattak and Rehman Baba. Apart from that he was politician, philosopher, writer, and artist. He was often praised by the titles of  Lewanay Palaspay (i.e.: Mad Philosopher) and Da Ilm Samandar (i.e. Ocean of Knowledge).


In his early age, he went to study art at Rabindranath Tagore's University in Shanti Niketan, where he build interest in painting and sculptures. In 1933 after he came back from England where he studied sugar technology, he started working in Takht Bhai Sugar mills. Later, he started taking interest in politics and supported the rights of Pashtuns, due to which he also got arrested in 1948 by the Government of Pakistan though he had left politics by then. He remained in prision for more than 6 years till 1954.

It was his imprisonment when he started to write poetry collection DA Panjraay Chaghar, which he said to be the best poetry of his. Apart from a few poems of his youth and early manhood, Ghani's poetry like his temperament, is anti political. His other poems are Panoos, Palwashay, Kullyat, and Latoon. Not only poetry but, he  also wrote a book, The Pathans a short book in English, which was published in 1958. The only published work he wrote in Urdu was a book titled  Khan Sahib published in 1994. His friend and admirer Imtiaz Ahmed Sahib Zada translated his 141 selected poems from Pashto to English, known as The Pilgrim of Beauty. This book contains his  paintings too, published in 2014 in Islamabad. 


During most of his lifetime his works on literature remained un praised and not very famous. But in the later years of his life he received very much acknowledgement and praise. He was awarded Sitara-e-Imtiaz by the then president of Pakistan in 23rd march 1980 for his contribution to Pashto literature and paintings. He passed away on 15, March 1996 in Charsadda. In hi memory KPK's Government built a public library and a memorial park, named it "Ghani Derai".

                                                                ستړې سترګې مې کړې پټې یا اللّٰه

                                                            زما خوښه نــه ده ستا   وړه   دنيا!


Translation:                     I closed my tired eyes or Allah

                                              I don't like your little world!






Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

MAHMUD OF GHAZNI: The Sultan Who Shaped History

Mahmud Ghaznvi (November 2nd, 971 - April 30th, 1030 AD): In the annals of history, Mahmud of Ghazni stands as a monumental figure, not just as a ruler but as the first-ever to bear the title of "Sultan." His legacy resonates through the ages, marked by his military prowess, patronage of arts and sciences, and his indelible impact on the socio-political landscape of his time. Born in 998, Mahmud ascended to power in the cradle of the Ghaznavid dynasty, succeeding his father, Emir Sabuktigin. Despite humble beginnings as the son of a Turkish slave, Sabuktigin rose to become the ruler of Ghazna, laying the foundation for Mahmud's illustrious reign. Under Mahmud's rule, the Ghaznavid court flourished as a hub of intellectual exchange, attracting renowned scholars and poets who contributed to the enrichment of Persian literature and culture. Among Mahmud's notable achievements was the patronage of Ferdowsi, whose epic work, the Shahnameh, was completed with the Sultan...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Revolutionary Legacy of Comrade Lenin: A Journey of Ideals and Struggle

Vladmir Lenin: In the annals of history, few figures loom as large as Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, better known as Comrade Lenin. Born in 1870 in the western city of Simbirsk, Russia, Lenin's life was marked by a relentless pursuit of justice, equality, and revolutionary ideals. As a Russian communist revolutionary, politician, and political theorist, he left an indelible mark on the course of human history, shaping the destiny of nations and inspiring generations of activists around the world. Early Life and Influences: Lenin's journey into the realm of revolution began amidst the turbulent winds of change sweeping across Russia in the late 19th century. Raised in a family steeped in intellectualism and activism, his formative years were marked by tragedy and turmoil. The sudden loss of his father, followed by the imprisonment and execution of his eldest brother, thrust Lenin into the role of the family patriarch at a young age, instilling in him a sense of duty and determination ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Turing, Alan : Father of theoretical Computer Science and AI

Alan Turing: (1912-1954) Introduction :- Alan Turing is best known for the decryption of the codes of The Enigma (German cipher device). He was born on 23 rd June 1912 in Maida Vale, London his father Julius Matheson Turing was a civil servant in India and his mother was Sara Turing (daughter of chief engineer of the Madras and Maratha Railway). Works :- Turing was one of the people who worked on the first computers. He was the first person to think of using a computer to do things that were too hard for a person to do. He created the Turing machine in 1936. The machine was imaginary, but it included the idea of a computer program. During World War II , Alan worked in the design of the ACE (automatic computing engine) at the National Physical Laboratory. He presented a paper design of a stored program computer. “Although it was possible to build ACE, there were delays in starting the project. In late 1947, he returned to Cambridge, the pilot ACE was built without him, it was...
Post a Comment
Read more