Da Jwandoon Dagha Kissa Da
Shahab Swat
Let me frankly admit at the start that I have very limited information about Pashto literature. I had studied 5 or 6 Pashto books when I was hardly 12 years old but those books had caused an everlasting effect on me and I am still haunted by the wisdom of those esteemed writers. One of the books was ‘History of India’ by Muhammad Qasim Fareshta, translated and financed by Badshah Sahib of Swat. The other book, translated by the same person was published and distributed free by Badshah Sahib of Swat, was titled "Anwar-e-Suhaili". Otherwise, my inclination towards study was very strong as far as English and Urdu literatures are concerned.
Probably, I was either ignorant of the developments of Pashto literature, or, it was my misconception that there are only few poets in my mother tongue. I also made attempts to enter into the domain of Pashto poetry but I failed to get any recognition.
I am sorry, I having gone astray from the relevant topic i.e., the autobiography of Dr Humayun Huma, "Da Jwandoon Dagha Qissa Da". My first contact with Dr Sahib was through Facebook, and we felt at ease with each other as if we were old buddies, though I do not feel myself entitled to consider myself of the same level by all conception but it all made possible due to his noble soul and kindheartedness.
We have met face to face only once while he was staying in Miandam, Swat last summer. I was also there accompanied by my son Ihsan. I found him very open minded, open hearted and having a loving soul in an enchanting body. In a short meeting we covered a span of years and came close to each other. I learnt about the valuable book which was under process and I waited impatiently to get the same and go through it. I received it by post on 27th November and removing the wrapper of the parcel, went through almost half of it in the first sitting.
The first quality of this life story that impressed me is the frankness and truthfulness. He has no reservations in describing the early hardships, the financial crisis, the deprivation of basic needs and his unflinching thirst for education and struggle for having better life for himself and his family.
It is really captivating to follow his journey from Bhopal, India, where he was born, to Baghdada and to the posh house at Sheikh Maltoon Township "Haska Maina" or "Lofted House" is in itself the symbol of his love for Pashto language, which he has been nourishing for the last 60 plus years in many aspects and diversified fields such as dramas, columns, research, poetry, prose, talk shows, Radio and TV etc.
We often quote how Bill Gates and KFC etc. rose from zero but Dr Huma also rose from nothing but instead of wealth, he accumulated knowledge, and distributed that wealth lavishly. He made thousands of people laugh through his plays "Rang-Pa-Rang", "Meem Zarma" and "Jhoot Ki Aadat Nahi Mujhe" and now the wonderful book "Da Jwandoon Dagha Qissa Da".
The writer is a columnist and poet based in Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He served as civil engineer in the State of Swat. He has deep knowledge of classical English literature.
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