Panjshir Mirror of Culture
Panjshir In the Mirror of Culture
Author: Salar Azizpour Translation & Additions: Abdul Ali Faiq
Introduction
Our country (Khorasan of yesterday, and Afghanistan of today) generally, and its provinces and villages, in particular, have not been properly and sufficiently introduced. Some efforts have been made, but not enough to fully explain the cultural glories, etc. Therefore, this book hopefully will shed some lights on the cultural background of this beautiful valley.
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Geography:
Panjshir is a historical and beautiful province of Afghanistan. The Panjshir is an evergreen valley with it’s a magical river and high rise mountains. Once one can see beauty, green villages, love, warmth, bravery, respect, hospitability, calm, honesty and a great culture throughout the valley characteristics that define Panjshir. Panjshir is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan. It was promoted to province in 13 April 2004. Panjshir has an area of some 3,610 square kilometres with 307,000 inhabitants. Bazaarak (the little bazaar) is the capital of the province.† The valley stretches from Gulbahar, a district of Parwan Province, to Badakhshan province in the north east.
The valley is some 100 km long and is about two hour drive from the capital, Kabul. The road along the Panjshir River is mostly rough and narrow not wide enough for two vehicles to pass each other easily. †
The lively vigorous river divides the scenic valley into south and north. On both sides of the river of which inhabitants live in green villages and sub-valleys, there are Panjshiris spread all over the valley, despite the valley's vastness, it is not very populated. A considerable number of this province’s inhabitants have moved to other provinces throughout a number of other provinces, particularly the capital, because of poverty, the lack of farmland or employment.
†Location:
Panjshir is surrounded from north east by Badakhshan, from north, by Takhar and Baghlan and from south by Kapisa and Parwan provinces. Panjshir is made of 137 large villages. The valley was formerly divided into two districts Hesa-e-Awal (district 1), Hesa-e-Dowom (district 2), is located at the centre of the valley, called Rokha. There are a total of 40 villages in Rokha the biggest of which are Shast, Hesarak, Peyawosht, Bakhshi Khail, Marishtan, Qabezan, Manjahoor, Astana and Sangana
Ethnic composition and language:
Tajiks and also some Hazaras live in the valley, speak Farsi (Persian) and are all Sunni Muslims. Some Pashtoon Kuchis (nomads) used to enter the valley and move further north through the Khawaak Pass with their cattle or chose to graze their cattle in some parts of valley during the spring but would return to south, during winter.
Historical background:
The name of Panjshir is associated with glorious history. This glorious tale has passed from generation to generation. Panjshiris believe that, as narrated by their ancestors, that invincible valley was called Kechken or Kechkena before Ghaznavid Dynasty (977–1186) (*). They narrate a poem in the Shahnama (The Epic of Kings, written by great Persian epic poet, Ferdowsi, who is seen as Persia's Homer and Herodotus). The poem in which Zal (*) cautions his son, Rustam, (*) on the valley:
You must not move to Kechken oh my son!
Your four-legged animals will be destroyed
And it (Panjshir) has a very terrifying and powerful river
Where is no grass except sharp stones!
Believing that the valley's past name was Kechken or Kechkena, before of the Ghaznavid era, then one wonders when the name changed to Panjshir and why? The answer could lie in the story and narrations that have passed from generations to generations.
†How the valley got the "Panjshir" name?
It is said that the Ghaznavid emperor, Sultan Mahmood Ghaznavid, embarked on a plan to build a major irrigation dam, still named the Band-e-Sultan in his capital, Ghazna (or today's Ghazni province). Thousands of people were drafted from across Khorasan to help build the dam.
The people of the valley sent five men to contribute on their behalf. Amazed by the five men's extraordinary ingenuity, hard work and astonishing performance, the sultan described them as "Panjshir" (Five Lions). Ever since, the men's place of origin became known as Panjshir.
The tombs of these five supermen are still located in various parts of the valley. They are called: (1) Khwaja Abraham, in the Darband†area; (2) Khwaja Safa, in Do Aab area; (3) Khwaja Waleyan, in the Tel area, (4) Khwaja Aref, in Aareb area and (5) Khwaja Ahmad Bashar, in the Astana area.
Historical Evidences:
In some history books the name is said to have come from "Panj-hir". The word "hir" is said to mean fire. The orientalist, James Darmstetter (1880)*, translated hir as fire. Therefore, the name "Panjshir" may have been taken from "Panj-hir (five fire)". † Explorer Abu Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Battuta refers to hir as a mountain. So this could mean Five Mountains. † In Avesta and in Pahlawi language "hir" means water (river) or extreme of water.
Conclusion:
Natural and physical evidence to, whether Five legendary supermen, Five Rivers, Five Fires or Five Mountains do exist in the valley. There are five Kotals (mountain passes) in the valley namely: (1) Kotal Baba Ali, (2) Kotal Nil Gaw, (3) Kotal Farajghan, (4) Kotal Shaba (5) Kotal Par Nadaw. And five sub-rivers namely (1) River of Shaba, (2) River of Paranda, (3) River of Khawaak, (4) River of Hazara and (5) River of Paranday.
What we have compiled so far about the Panjshir Province is a humble piece of work which needs further and, more scientific, academic and historical studies. This is just a start and it is for other researchers to embark on a more academic and historic studies.
_______________________________________
(*)Shahnama (The Epic of Kings) composed in the 10th century by Ferdowsi, the jewel in the crown of the Persian literature.
(*)The most famous hero of the great Persian Epic of the Kings, Shahnama, by Firdaus (completed in 1010 CE/400 AH).
(*)In Persian mythology, the father of the hero Rustam. Zal was raised by Simurgh in the mountains.
(*)The Ghaznavid Empire was a Sunni Muslim state in the region of today's Afghanistan. That existed from 962 to 1187.
(*)Abu Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Battuta, also known as Shams ad - Din, was born at Tangier, Morocco.
(*)The orientalist Mr. James Darmsteter, French scholar noted for ancient Iranian language studies, especially his English and French translations of the Avesta, the sacred scripture of Zoroastrianism.
Said Qasim Panjsheri “Said Qasim Panjsheri” the most famous poet from Panjshir Province
Without any exaggeration, I can say that Said Qasim Panjsheri, (Faqeri, Ghulami and Azizi) are the first poets that I have come to know from Panjshir province. There has never been a gathering of Panjshiri’s that has not read or listens to Said Qasim’s poetry. For that, Said Qasim Panjsheri is one of the very famous Panjshiri poets, and has got into the heart and mind of his people. For his special personality and literary tribute, we will take Wasef Bakhtari's testimony "one of the Afghanistan great poet and literati".
He (Wasef Bakhtar) has written about Said Qasim book of poems, he states" my recognition of his name and poetry connects with my childhood. May be, for the first time I have heard his name was from Ustaad Khasteh, about his satiric Ode about Balkh. Also Habibulrahman Jadeer had few of his poems written and memorized, and was reading them occasionally for me, my intellectual friends Haidari Wojodi and Nelaab Rahmi would also mentioned him and his work...
Said Qasim Panjsheri, without a doubt was one of the far most knowledgeable poets of his time, with the intelligence of literary and history of Islamic culture and an open minded intellectual for the better being of his society which he has been known. Said Qasim’s poetic intuition was the way forward for, he had a vast knowledge of history and had came to honour relics of the past.
Said Qasim Panjsheri is one of the most eloquent that has spoken from the time of his people and his poetic intuition has never put him away from his time and people, for that he has not been forgotten from the heart and mind of his people. No other poets have this kind of standard which without even any remains of his written works, his poetry still living in people’s hearts.
There could be tens ideas and written testimony about his autobiography and here there some of his poem could be in the hand of literary scholars that can be revealing of his beautiful work. From all, we only quote what Haidari Wojode has said for the selection of his poems (the book); " I can't say anything of his poem by basis of poetic literati, because Wasef Bakhtry of the best scholar of our time has have done the work…But, for my own knowledge I have to say from the statement of the contemporaries of readers from Rome's Masnawee to Bedel in the province of Panjshir specially in Bazarak region which he has put in circulation".
Said Qasim Panjsheri was born in a spiritual family in Khenj Panjshir in 1878. His father Said Mohammad Hashem was one of the spiritual leaders of Khenj. His childhood was spent in his place of birth and he studied in the Mosque and become a literary student. Said Qasim Panjsheri then moved to Bokhara (Bacteria) for further study and came back to Afghanistan. He had a good ties and friendship with the intellectuals of his time, for instance Mahmood Tarzee and later on with King Amanulaah Khan and when for short time he worked for the government in Balkh province.
Here is one of his poems:
If from the Holy Spirit I have received grace for my sorrows
I would have taught Nezami the beauty of words,
If I get help from the branches of sweet for my ambition
I will take away the puck of sweet talk from the Nightingale of Shiraz,
†
If the sun of spirits shine on my intuitions
Who would compare my work to Jami?
†
But I am eating from their hands
There are no comparison to the kings and me,
†
With the wings of humble one could fly to the farrest of sky
And from the tiny particles one can learn flying high,
†
From all this rudeness, Qasim what is your deal
Say in front of the literary king the vaunting of slavery.
†
Khalilullah Raoofi
a noble poet of the poets
Raoofi might be one of the noble poets who have joined lately with other poets. Raoofi's association and relations are the following: as a family of poets, one side, he relates to Khalida Froogh, his nephew and Nebton Roofi another nephew; on the other side, he relates to Faroogh Roofi who is the eldest brother of poet and so on. The purpose of this introduction in the beginning is to show that Khalilullah Raoofi is not only a poet himself but, he also comes from a family of poets.
I remember when I was a little boy (the writer); I was acquainted with a group of literatures, scholars and well-known people throughout some meetings and parties which were managed by my father at that time. One of these great gentlemen was "Wali Mohammad Khan Panjshiri", who was a constitutionalist and later on, he was elected as in the senate. Despite the fact that his job was tough, however, he never gave up; instead he continued spreading his bright and fruitful knowledge all over. He was one of the great intellectual scholars and who had lots of knowledge in faith as well as in rhetoric.
In that period of time, I was introduced to "Neelab Rahimi" amongst the researchers, whom I can acknowledge; he was the first who began his researching on the province of Panjshir. Amongst his outstanding articles, there is one article about specification of Panjshir's name in the Ariana magazine.
Then among the comedians I acquainted with "Paeez Hanafi". Hanafi was young intelligent, bright and brave. Without doubt, we can say, he was our first modern initiator of jokes. In conclusion, he lost his life telling the truth, (like Mansoor, a brave man in the history of Islam). He was a common friend of my father and Mr. Farooq Raoofi as well.
Farooq Raoofi our well-known modern poet and writer was Khalilullah Raoofi's eldest brother. Later on, I was introduced with Khalillulah in exile, where our motherland was collapsed. We to branch out from each other. Although, it is hard to get together again in any part of the world, however, the only way to keep in touch is to share our ideas. It is easy to express our notions through exchanging letters or communicating over the phone, as dear Raoofi already proved.
Raoofi is the one who still continues his efforts to rebuild and stablize our lost values, and gives it remarkable thoughts and reflections of humanity. This great experience of humanities will go further and beyond our geography and ideology which links a Western metropolitan citizen to an eastern citizen, as well as a Khurasani of yesterday and an Afghanistan of today. In such variety of ideas and qualities, having another look at our well-known people and re-introducing them to our society is necessary. Writing "Panjshir in the Mirror of Culture" is one of these values. Therefore, I would like to allocate this part of my writing to Khalilullah Raoofi's biography. It is worth doing so, because he is a great poet.
With this preface, I go back to some of Khalilullah Raoofi's biography, as well as his workbook with his testimony: "I was born in the summer of 1324 in a poetic and educated family. While I was two years old I lost my father Abdul Raoofi. That was the hardest time in my life; however, I grew up with the concentration of my mother. Since after, I took my journey towards learning in the Mosque and school.
Since my subject was related to the military field, hereby I started my study from military class to military college and continued it in university abroad. Subsequently, I got my master degrees in military. Besides military profession, the other thing that I felt love for was Farsi poetry, which was left to us generation to generation as inheritance. On one hand, the poetry was a relaxation for me; on the other hand it gave me a chance to be acquainted with well-known teachers, literatures and poets.
I remember the day when my great teacher "Wasef Bakhtary" said to me: (Mr.Raoofi, if you would stay only in your military mission, indeed your personality will be forgotten and you will be left aside). All pleasure (blessing) and length of life be upon our great teachers whom every statement they made was heart inspiring and unforgettable.
I served many years as an engineer in rocket defence force in my country-Afghanistan. After that I experienced so many tragedies through my life which came one after the other; From Dawood Khan, the communist regime, to Mujahedeen and later on the Taliban regime. However, I tasted all good and bad things in my life. The life itself thought me a lot.
In 1962 I was appointed in the military correspondent administration. Then, I worked as a deputy post and director of military magazine as well as director of ministry of defence publication until 1993. When the Taliban tragedy came to Kabul, I decided reluctantly to get out of the country, after which I did immigrate to a foreign country, ever since, I live in Castle city, Germany.
A collection of my poem's book "Benafshaha" (the flowers) was published in Kabul in 1368, and the second book by the name of { Far from galaxies and rivers} "Door Az Setaraha-wa-Daryaha" is under work in Kabul, it will be published and distributed soon, and will be available to dear literatures who dearly love poem.
I personally (the writer) did not know Mr.Khalillulah Raoofi before, just I have known him through his articles and poems about Wasef Bakhtari, and later on, I knew him as a beautiful human being, who deserves every thing.
I found Mr. Raoofi as a real writer and poet, who is full of treasures of Persian literature and poetry. Despite, Mr.Raoofi, specializing in military engineering field, and had a little time to become a professional poet, however, he proved his uniqueness that he is a real talented poet and writer. For more justification and testimony here are some (translation) samples of his poems:
A liar dawn (daybreak)
†
The palace of your age destroyed oh my country-fellow
Why the life became a prison to you, oh my country-fellow
†
Under a massive grief and oppressions
How easy (cheap) became the story of your death
†
Your blood shed in the street here and there,
It became very inexpensive oh my country-fellow
Spojmai Zaryab
In the cold age, dark time ,gloomy period and misery conditions which we were living, in the time of the war which was imposed on our nation and the time of constant resistance against aggressions and occupations , in the time of ignorance and illiteracy , in the time of sadness and bitterness, and the time of poorness and sickness ,we did not have any educational facilities or equipments that bring up our emotional satisfaction and responds our literary and immaterial society which quench our spiritual thirst and extinguish (quench) our sadness and aloneness.
We were reading only some poems in the night which is called (Shab Nama) and keep those poems heart to heart and copy them and circulate them to our relatives and friends across the villages and boroughs.
Subsequently, we understood the atrocity of our history, society and regimes, we found the light of reality and the games which were played beyond the seen, slowly but surely, we realized the torch of realism. In that time, I was faced by a book in the name of Dasht Qabeel (Qabeel Desert) which was a great guideline for me, which enlightened the way of happiness and glories to us. Actually, I did not understand who was the creator or writer of that book (Qabeel Desert), after a while, I found that the writer is Mrs. "Spojmai daughter of Abdul Rahof Panjshiri."
Mrs. Spojmai Zaryab is a great poet, writer, lecturer and academic figure. She is from Panjshir but was born in Kabul in 1949. (*) She explained herself "I owe my love of books to my father. He was fascinated by the heroic side of France under the Occupation, during the Second World War. So naturally, when I was six he sent me to the Franco-Afghanistan MalalaÔ girls' lycÈe in Kabul. I had the privilege of growing up under a liberal regime. I was ten, in 1959, when the law compelling women to wear the veil was abolished. I belong to the first generation of Afghanistan women not to have had to wear the burka. Women obtained the right to vote in 1964. They could go to university and work. But despite these gains, attitudes had not changed very much. Afghanistan society remained profoundly patriarchal"
I left with my daughters in 1990, when the repeated bombardments of Kabul put our lives in danger. We settled in Montpellier. Living far away from my country has always been a very hard experience for me. Exile is a new concept to us Afghanistan citizen. We find it hard to accept the idea of being separated from our ancestral land, from our families, forever. Before the Soviet invasion few Afghanistan people left the country. To understand how traumatic this experience has been you simply need to read contemporary Afghanistan poetry. It is imbued with a deep sadness, with the suffering of poets who have seen their world reduced to a pile of rubble. Scattered all over the world, Afghanistan poets today sing constantly of grief, of separation. It is a long way from our traditional literature which celebrated joy, the festive spirit, in praise of the present and of love!
†
Abdul Haya Shabger "an exile poet"
Many years proceeding then now, I (the writer) was thinking to prepare a book in the name of (Panjshir in the Mirror of Culture) .Desperately, I contacted many educational, cultural, writers and political figures to share my thoughts and help me to facilitate this project. Mr.Shabger fantastically, expressed his sincere collaboration and solidarity, plus he appreciated, admired and encouraged the project, he even sent me a part of his biography and promised me any necessary support that I may need it.
He mentioned in his message "It is an honour for us to see your noble and historical work which you have done. I am very much supporter and happier than my personals articles or poems which are about my own personal feelings, however, your job is greater than we think, it is an "historical treasures" that you want to present to the heart of human history, and will be a shinny galaxy to shine in the course of the time!
You are translating the aim of a nation; you are building a sustainable masterpiece that will be a magnificent example and a guideline for our new generations! It is unfortunately clear that the "cultural looter", cultural destroyer and cultural enemies have done so many atrocities! They assassinated our historical treasures, burnt our libraries, killed our books, hanged our encyclopaedias and hijacked our historical glories and civilization that will never be forgotten"!
Abdul Haya Shabger, son of Abdul Mohammad, was born in Rokha district, Panjshir Province in 1327. He had completed the primary and secondary school in Rokha (Panjshir); then he admitted himself in Darul- Mohaleemin 'Teaching Group' Because of his financial problem. He could not complete the Darul- Mohaleemin "teaching group" and was a teacher for two years in Rokha School in Panjshir.
How did he enter the world of poems and poetry? "It was something attracted me internally -from inside-, and I was extremely interested and ambitious to read and write books such as: Panj Ganj, Gullastan, Bostan, Khoja Hafiz and other similar poetry books. Meanwhile, I was sitting with great scholars and poets. Such as: Shaiq Jamal, Sufi Ashqari, Ustad Khalili, and Ustad Hadari. All these shiny suns shined on me and I was impressed, blessed and influenced by their brilliant thoughts and poetry manner"
He gradually, learnt different style of poems such as: Khorasni, Iraqi, Hindi as well as he sometimes, was trying to recite poems in "mansor model" and "new poems". He has a special respect and interested in Ustad Khalili and Iqbal Lahori. Actually, Shabger is a unique talented poet, he has a rare magical style and he is not only recites poems in its normal style, but he goes further and uses poem in a political and social model. By his believes political poetry is deeply rooted in Persian-Dari. In fact, poetry started in this language with politics. He is not following the classical style. He has a revolutionary poetic vision, poetic pictures, poetic imagination to translate our people's pains, society difficulties and general political, social, cultural and education aspect of life.
Conclusively, Shabger is a critique and didactic (instructive) poet rather to be a lyrical one; however, it does not mean that, we cannot deny his talent and ability in lyrical poems as well. But, his critical and political poems made him more prominent and typical poet. Eventually, we wish for him a splendid future and more prosperity to whom he is an ambassador of our, pains, sorrow and tears. May Allah extend his live and bless his family.
†
Qahar Asi "the Legend of Poetry" in 21 Century
Qahar Asi is a talented writer, artist and poet in Afghanistan history. He has a special place in every Afghanistan citizen’s heart and soul. Our people, history and humanity will never forget his bravery and gallantry. He is living immortally in our hearts and we deeply missing him and commemorating his legendary!
Qahar Asi was born in 12, April, 1965 in a village which is called Malema, Panjshir Province .He completed his primary and secondary school in Kabul, than attended Kabul University in faculty of agriculture, and he completed his studies in botany (branch of biology dealing with plant life) .The legend of poetry, Qahar Asi passed away in Kabul Afghanistan on 28th September, 1994 by a skyrocket of Gulbuddin Hakmatyar..
There are many collection of Asi's poems on different aspect of life .He was a patriotic poet, who worshiped his country, people and humanity. He was writing his poems with his blood under flames of war and chamber of smoke
Farhad Darya relationship with Qahar Asi:
Farhad Darya was spiritually revelled, emotionally loved and globally recognized and known by the Qahar Asi's poems. "On TV he (Farhad Darya) initially started with Classical and semi classical music, Ghazal. Then he gradually moved towards folklore. In Kabul University he got acquainted with the aroma of "resistance poems", Qahar Asi. They become two arms to conquer and construct. Darya's music and Asi's poem combined, similar to water to wetness, creates tunes of resistance. "Baran" or Rain descends with sincerity from sky and blows life to soil and ash sprouting to flower and plant. Baran's reputation spreads beyond boundaries increasing thirsty fans of its genuine chants" (*)
Baran reaches at the peak of its career at a crucial time of Afghanistan history i.e. government of communist regime. More vocalists get established through Baran and Darya's compositions exposed to public. Darya was performed so many songs of Asi's poems. Daryaha proudly commemorates Asi's martyrdom anniversary on 28th of September almost every year.
"Qahar Asi's Commemoration Seven years ago, on September 28th, the legendary Afghanistan poet Qahar Asi lost his life. He was the victim of a skyrocket in Kabul. Usually on this date Darya gets together with some of Asi's followers and celebrates the eternal life of this nobleman. As some of Darya and Qahar Asi's fans may recall, on September 28th 2000 Darya performed in Canada to commemorate Asi's life and raised money in order to publish one of his books. But this year instead on the 28th of September Darya was in his studio working on one of the songs from his new CD "GulAroos". The title of this song translated in English is "We Are All Brothers". This particular song has a very significant message to mankind, a message that Asi shared" (*)
Let me songs sing, fleet the voice from the radio, as a means against "the agonies of my homeless around-moving people". Not only in this song Farhad Darya had singing forms the words for homesickness of its compatriots scattered over the whole globe. "Can you undertake a journey in loved Kabul?" a text from the feather/spring of the famous Afghan poet asks Qahar Asi, which fell 1994 in Kabul a missile attack to the victim. Darya, which composed the music in addition, took up the song to Paris. It was the first year of its exile" (*)
As the other eloquent wise professor, poet and writer Mr.Wasif Bakhtari described Qahar Asi "as a true version of patriotic poet, he was born exactly as a poet". When Qahar Asi born and brought up in the political atmosphere, which most of the poets, cultural and educational people were flattering, praising and glorifying, none-national figures and politicians. But Mr. Asi, had a natural villager pure talented perception, did not praise who, did not deserve parsing, he always 'putting the saddle on the right horse' therefore, no one, can ever deny his revolutionary vision and resistance, and everlasting legacy and legendary! Asi possesses certain (matchless) qualities and supernatural talented in human history.
If we look or examine Asi's poetry vision and legendary from other groups of poets, it will give us the same explanation and interpretation that, Asi was an independent poet. He was born free and lived freely; he was not colonized or impressed by any ideology, idea or school. The poets in Asi's era whom appeared on the "market of poems" on the middle of sixteen, they were not under influences of any party, organization and the regime itself .In other word, they were not tools in the hand of the regime .They were (selective and special) .
With the coming of the Soviets in 1979, many writers were forced to leave as their writings were not supportive of the regime and its modern ideas. In contrast, many people of Afghanistan who would never have considered themselves poets, but they began to write poems as a form of resistance to the Soviet occupation and in support of Islam and freedom. Writers in refugee camps along the borders promoted their own groups of revolutionaries or tried to continue the craft in difficult conditions. They are : Mr.Khalili, Abdul Ghafur Arezo (the director of the Cultural Association in Iran), Kazim Kazimi, Fazl Allah Godsi and Sami Hamed. Inside Afghanistan at this time, writers included Wasef Bakhtari, Qahar Asi, Parto Naderi, Haidery Woojudi and Rahnavard Zaryab. Latif Nazemi. Afsar Rahin.Shabgeer Poladeeyan. Sabor Sya Sang. Who were living independently with dignity and purity (*)
In Mr.Kazim Kazimi, a poet, writer and critique believe, "We must acknowledge and legitimize Qahar Asi as a representative of a generation" and he was greater than the greatest poet.
The following is some examples of Asi's poems:
"Let me sing limitless songs, limitless songs for the agony of the Afghanistan people, for my homeless wandering people, let me sing from Iran down to Pakistan" Mr. Farhad Darya sung one of Qahar Asi's son
My Beloved Land
My beloved land
My dream, my conviction
My honoured blasphemy and religion
My seventh heaven
What a valiant people!
What sun! What fire!
Rising like the Resurrection,
No obstacle to their will
Not mountain nor hill.
Across the land
passionately they scream:
Martyrdom and determination!
No house without a Rustam
That great warrior
No fortress without an Arash,
That great archer
What a brave nation!
What a proud people!
Let the dust of their footpath
Be an honour on my temple! (*)
_________________________
(*)http://www.farhaddarya.info/news2001.htm
(*) Translated from Dari by Sherief Fayez Oct.-Dec. 1999 Lemar-Aftaab
(*)The Afghanistan Cultural Profile
†
Fahim Farand is "a great hope of the new generation"
†
Fahim Farand linked to a generation, who are on the way, the generation, which our aims, hopes, and predestinations are depending and relying on their creativities and contribution. This new generation, who born in the age of war and resistance, and they understood the glory of their history, civilization and culture values. Therefore, they will lead us on the path of jubilation and self-knowledge. So, Fahim is one of them. A modern poet, his leadership, commitments and dedications will be a unique and priceless example for us!
Fahim Farand states: I was born in Bakhshi Khail village, Panjshir Province, in 1347 with the first Azan (*) of my father in dawn of freedom and, brought up with the voices of other freedom resistance heroes. Subsequently, I walked slowly and discovered the creation of Allah (God) and understood what is going on around me. I knew the greenish of trees, the movements of the river, the grace of birds, the purity of cloud, and the elegancy of nature. The secret of haven, the glory of earth, the beauty of animal kingdom and the meaning of entire life. After that, I wrote a collection of poems in the name of "the dream of paradise" which is containing of 39 chapters of ode (ghazal).Meanwhile; I have five other collections of poems, which are ready for publication. They are as the following:
Sabe-e- Nowroz (The morning of New Year)
Sham-e- Pahiz (The evening of autumn)
Qarya (The village)
Mazhar Sobe (The sepulcher (shrine) of the morning)
Oqda ha tofang (The knots of gun).
In 1368, I completed Nadirya Lece (school) and attended Kabul University in agriculture department, in the middle of second year; I left University and, immigrated to abroad.
I am the four seasons, (spring, summer, autumn and winter) I have four multi-colour hope, but I will tell you here, one of the four, which is (summer).
•† Every mooring when I get up , my eyes are on the sky , my wish is raining ,
•† In the warm afternoon, I walk on the thirsty and calmness outfield,
•† And I pilgrimage and cry on the green funeral of death
•† On my return in evening, I watch from behind of sadness thorns, the sadness deserts and, I pray for more rains and storms.
Fahim is an eloquent poet, who experienced the real face of sadness and grief. As he sates: "I am the screamer (caller) of human pains". According to our great researcher and writer Mr. Merroz: Farand is not only a painful experienced poet, but he has also a natural talented perception, impressive vision and a magnificent poetry imagination; for life, society and nature. He has so many meaningful, elegance, phrase and explanations. You will clearly understand and discover his bright feeling by his below terms and phrases
•† (Glo gah-e- Khorsheed) The gorge of the sun
•† (Pahiz-e- Adam)The autumn(fall) of mankind )
•† Fasal Gorg(The season of the wolf)
•† Kharos Shafaq(The beauty of twilight)
•† Gad-e- saya(The misfortune person)
•† Shan ha khorsheed (The gravels) sands (of the sun)
•† Kakh-e- Khorsheed (The palace of the sun)
•† Parahan-e- Aasman (The shirt of the sky)
•† Chashman Khorsheed (The eyes of the sun)
•† Sab-e- qalbe(The apple of the heart)
•† Kotab-e- saya gham(The dark book of the pain)
•† Shab-e- tab (The shining night)
•† Abadat gah-e-dorakhtan (The worship place of the trees)
•† Ando-e- gham (The grief of the garden)
•† Khon-e- khashme (The rage of the blood)
•† Wad-e- khorsheed (The valley of the sun)
•† Zahn-e-ayana(The mentality of the mirror)
•† Road shabe (The stream of the night)
•† Bakhat aaftab (The grace of the sun)
This is the begging of Fahim's poetry journey and masterpiece. He is well-performed poet that does’nt need any more justification. "A man is known by its company" or "a tree is known by its fruits". Fahim is actually, a humble servant of the nature, society, culture, history and humanity. He is "the larynx pains of mankind".
Khaleda Farogh a bright galaxy in our poetry world
†
It is crystal clear that Khaleda Farogh is one of the most shining stars in our literary and poetry life, she proved to be so.
The reason of her brightness, genius, typicality is being described and mentioned by one of the great poet Mr.Zai Qasimee in his articles which is called: Nemaahee az ghazal amroz dar dakhal Afghanistan. (The appearance of sonnet in Afghanistan today)
He says: literarily, we have so many great poets among our women, but Khaleda Frough is exceptional and extraordinary poet. The reason why she is an exceptional poet: Firstly, she is an articulate and an eloquent while she is presenting or delivering speech. Secondly, she is extremely brave and venturous while she expresses her womanish feeling, thoughts and pains.
Although in our (book poem ),we have too many eloquent women poets such as: Leila Sarahat Roshani, Homeera Naghat Dastageer zada,Faiqa Jawad, Zaigol Saltani, Maryam Mahmood, Mahboba Abrahami, Seraya Wahadi, Rahila Yar, Naida Fazal, Bahar Saheed, Frashta Hazrati and other anonymous brilliant female poets. Here are some examples of these new generation pomes vision. "Most of the women interviewed emphasized the femininity and uniqueness – even superiority – of their vision rather than their equal capability vis-‡-vis men.”The quality of the women's work was much higher than that of the men. Because of their refined visions of life, the natural world, and their surroundings and their feminine sense and perception, women interact with their surroundings more comfortably and easily, and these encounters are expressed in their poetry," says Ebrahimi. "Women's sensitivity towards events and to the external environment is much higher than that of men. Of course, one can't say that male poets don't have such a spirit, but women have a greater aptitude because of their natural temperament," adds Rahimeh Mirzaee, 24, from Mashhad, who was awarded an honourable mention in the poetry category. "The poetic spirit is much closer to women than to men. They are much more witty and elegant," agrees Basi Gol Sharifi, 25, a member of the organizing team of the festival".
Khaleda Farogh is described by many poets as a super female poet in her era, but some of other poets criticized her, and stated that she is following the path of mannish style. Mr Kazam Kazimi and Mahboba Abrahami one of the great poet critique, saying about her: Khaleda Farogh is still an imprisonment of mannish impression; she did not come out from the circle of mannish influence. Especially, she is influenced by Wasif Bakhtari.
However, the writer of this book (Salar Azizpour) is rejecting the "theory" that Farogh is being imprisoned (stylishly) in the manner of her teachers. But, it is natural that she is influenced by some of her Ustads (professors that she learnt from them. Otherwise, she entirely, has a freedom and independent way of thinking and expression. That is why, makes her more shiner and brighter.
I have to mention about Khaleda Farogh profile, ethnical birth place and education background. Khaleda Farogh is from Panjshir. She was born in Kabul in 1349 in a Panjshiri educated family. After her completion of her primary and secondary school in Kabul. She graduated from Kabul University, from faculty of language and literature in 1371.She attained her University diploma.
After her graduation, she became the manager {Literary Radio of Afghanistan Branch}, as well as being one of the members of Writers Society; subsequently she became Sadaf Mojala's (Pearl Magazine) director.
She has published a volume of her work during her work. The contributions are as: Sarnavesht dast ha fanoos (the fate of the lamp).Dar khayban ha khob wa khaterra ha (In the road of good dream and memories). Qayame matra (the uprising of Metra) and others. We are waiting for more inventions, creations and contributions for Afghanistan and humanity at large from her.
Razaq Mahmoon
a novelist and journalist
†
Appendix to presentation the poets and writers who belong to Panjshir Province. Now, it is time to introduce a new face to the world. Mr.Razaq Mamoon, who is a writer, craftsman, novelist, journalist and producer. His literary dedication, cultural commitments and creative work made him one of the most well-known and successful individual in Tolo television inside of Afghanistan and outside it.
Mr. Mamoon has been struggling to bring the historical fact, untold story, harsh reality to the screen of Tolo TV, and exhibit them to the people across the world, whatever it will cost his life and career. He seriously started his cultural work with stories, and became very famous with his drama and journalism activities.
He is performing his duty and responsibilities in high professionalism manner, with a sophistication attitude, without any fear, affiliation, deceit slogan, daily death warning and so on. His professionalism, frankness, fearless, and journalism commitments are crystal clear to everyone who knows him, hears his voice and reads his masterpieces. He basically built an honourable and special place inside every intellectual, journalist and ordinary people's heart.
Raaz Mamoon's believes to deny a person’s freedom of thought is to deny their humanity and their potential. Freedom of expression is one of the most fundamental rights that individuals enjoy. It is fundamental to the existence of democracy and the respect of human dignity.
If we do not have sincere and responsible journalist, who will raise our people's awareness and understandings, our country will again be under the control of another generation of Taliban regime, our national unity, human dignity, state legitimacy and recognition of our country will be under danger of fanatics, extremists, nationalists, and dogmatists. We believe if the resistance will not be in a collective manner, it will not have much influence and direct impact, therefore, we must move and defeat terrorism and extremism in one voice.
In this situation, we are extremely proud to have intellectuals, responsible, cultural personalities to service our people, society and human being, regardless of their races, colours, ethnicities and nationalities. Fortunately, Razq Mamoon proved to be one of the highly respected political, cultural, professional and educational individual who never forgets his moral obligation towards his people and society.
Sadly, Mr. Mahmon was victimized and sacked from Tolo T.V by some narrow-minded government's politician figures. Despite being dismissed from employment, his commitments, activities and perseverance are continuing. He has many books, articles, and dramas.
Haidari Wejoudi
a wise, pious, mystic and eloquent man!
†I (the writer) have known Hadari Wejoudi when he was called "Hadari Panjshiri", and had published a new book; in the name of "the Panjshir Guideline" (Rahnooma-e-Panjshir).It clearly indicated his passion, determination and affection towards his historical birth place Panjshir.
Our scholars, poets and well-known people belong to the world civilization and international community. They are not related and restricted to any tribe, place, people, race, culture or community. They are "the capital and treasure of all humanity". If, we introduce them ethnically, it will be a great loss for our famous people and world population accordingly.
As our great poet Mahboobeh Ebrahimi states in Women Writers at an Afghanistan Literary Festival in Tehran. "We hope to introduce ourselves to the world – to countries which only see the face of poverty of Afghanistan. If you travel to Afghanistan, you will see the poverty in society; however, culturally, we are a rich people. We want to promote the face that is not seen, to have our work translated and read by the world, and to change that not very positive light in which we are represented."
Therefore, we would like to provide as much information and details about these (great men), it is in the same time essential to introduce them locally, nationally and internationally, especially from Panjshir province. Historically, mythologically and ethnically, Panjshir province was ignored- they (high-minded men) were imprisoned in the shadow of isolation and dogmatism by the despotism regimes and did not pay any constructive attention to our valuable personalities, which is why, we are proudly introducing them into "Panjshir in the Mirror of Culture encyclopaedia". It is the mankind heritage as well.
As we mentioned previously that, the (Panjshir Guideline Book) which was written by Hadari Wejoudi, comprehensively explained and illustrated the different aspect of Panjshir lives.
Ghalom Hadar is son of Mullah Shafeeullah Panjshiri according to Afghanistan Persian literature encyclopaedia on 3rd volume, page 354. Born in Panjshir in 1940 to a literate family, he was educated in the works of great poets such as Jalaludin Mohammad Balkhi (Jami) from the Timurud times; indeed the whole of his life has been immersed in literature.
When he was a child there were 95,000 households in Panjshir but only two schools and as a district it was one of the poorest areas. The children often curtailed their education to work on the farms. Wejoudi was in 5th grade when he dreamed of a beautiful girl in a garden who invited him to sit by the spring lake and wait for her. After she climbed over the wall he waited but she never returned. He has followed her since that time. He wrote his first poem about this episode.
What were you?
You showed your face to me
And took my heart
And made me sad
After 6th grade he dropped out of school but continued to read and tried to understand the deeper meaning of great literature. As a teenager in the 1950s he went to Kabul to visit the great poets of the time. At that time the literary scene was very active and the Society of Poets had just been established in the Ministry of Education. In 1964 he started to work in the Periodicals Section of Kabul Central Library, where he can be contacted today. Numerous poetry magazines were published during this period and in addition to writing for these he also started writing novels.
During Soviet times Wewdjudi continued writing to keep the Afghanistan culture alive. During this period many writers left and took their knowledge and skills with them. "The Soviets ruled according to their economic plans and the great thoughts of the past disappeared" he says. "Students graduated if they had the correct Soviet thoughts. Before, young boys went to the great schools like Habibia High School and studied philosophy, but now the teachers haven't returned or have lost their skills. The Soviets brought foreign ideas into the country and the Afghanistan people lost control of their own culture." (*)
He was introduced, masterminded and supervised by great minds such as: Sufi Ashqari, Shaiq Jamal, and Khal Mohammad Khasta, (The king of poets) Mr. Betahab, Mr.Naweed and Fakri. Meanwhile, he published several books in the name of:
•† Hashq wa Jawani (Youth and Love)
•† Rahnooma-e-Panjshir (the Panjshir Guideline book)
•† Sale-e- dar Madar-e- Noor (a year in the orbit of the light)
• Naqshe-e-Omaid, wa Lahza ha Sabz (the rule of hope and ††
†† the green moment)
•† Sahya mahrofat ( the shadow of knowledge)
•† Sowar sabz Sada( the green photo of voice)
•† Maqat tahazal (the time of Ghazal)
• (Shako-e- Qamat Moqawamat (the splendid of resistance)
• Ghorbat Mahtab (the immigrant of the moon)
• Lahza ha dar Aab WA Aatash (the moments in the water
††† and fire)
• Arghawan Hashaq (the beauty of love)
• Robayat wa dobyata ha
The best thing about Hadari's poems is the simplicity of the language, words, terms and vision that he used in his poems which made the overwhelming majority of poets and ordinary people very interested in reading his poems.
In addition to his social and educational life, Hadari Wejoudi received wide acclaim by the press because of his activities and contributions. It is worthy to mention that, Hadari’s personality is not restricted by poems, research and writings. He is a wise, agnostic pious and a great individual who has been serving his country, people, society and humanity accordingly. Afghanistan, history and humanity should be proud to have such a great educational son. All branches of art come from intelligence' says writer Haidari Wejoudi, 'and his intelligence knows no border!
Name of the book: Panjshir In the Mirror of Culture
Author: Salar Azizpour
Translation & Additions: Abdul Ali Faiq
Cover design: Wasiq
Print: Summer 2008
Number of copies: 1000
Printed by Shahmoama The Netherlands.
Tel.31641375638
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Web: www.shahmoama.com
Copyright © 2008 all rights reserved.
