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Hanif Qais: Bala Shontai

A Review By Muhammad Ali Dinakhel of Jishar, Swat

In order to estimate, appreciate and criticize the true worth of a poet and his poetry, we must know that what poetry is? Besides we should know the qualities and characteristics of good poetry. To get the above-mentioned aim, a critic should study the classic literature and reviews of different critics. So for as I am concerned, I have not studied classical literature completely but to some extent I have read the contemporary critics. But in spite of so much shortcomings of myself I am going to express my views about an evergreen and ever known Pashto poet Mr. Muhammad Haneef Qais. Up till he has composed three volumes of poetry. His latest book is Bala Shontai. Before starting my critical views about the book, I present before you a few definitions of poetry. Coleridge has defined poetry as The best words in the best order and according to Mathew Arnold poetry is the criticism of life. There are numerous definitions of poetry but these two suit the poetry of Qais. Although his imagination is deep but he has used in his poetry the language of common people i.e. simple language. And he has selected suitable and simple words for expression of his feelings, emotions and thoughts and he has bring forward every thick and thin of common folk. Therefore his read and appreciated by every one. He has not used vulgar language. Besides we see in Qais, poetry the reflection of different aspects of life. In the light of above definitions and discussion one may approach the verge of the land of magic casement. In order to realize what poetry is, one should either read some poetry or listen to it. When some one reads Qais poetry, the following features shine every where in his poetry like a star twinkling in milky way in blue sky at night time: music, vision, imagery, emotion, refinement, harmony etc. The appreciation means the same thing as the criticism of poetry. But criticism does not mean fault finding. A good literary critic is as anxious to find and to point out the beauties of poetry as to detect faults. How the poet manage to thrill us, to inspire us and to give us pleasure with his poetry, is the chief aim of the literary critic to find. Thus I have find thrill, pleasure and inspiration in Qais poetry. In Qais poetry there is a magic, a mystery , a wonder, a delight and a charm which we feel every where in his poetry. He describes rustic life in good manner. The first essential of Qais, poetry is verbal music Qais chooses instinctly words of delightful sounds, and arranges them in such a manner that they together produce what is called word music. He skillfully varies this musicality to suit his subjects. The music of poetry has been produced by combination of lovely rhythms with sweet sounding words. He has obtained musical effect by rhyme, omonotopoeia (sound echoing the sense), Alliteration (bringing together of words which begin with the same sound), AWAL SIRI CHI SADAR DI DA TIARO KRAM BIA BA HALA DA RANA KHWANDOONA AKHLAM.

DIR YAMA STARAY KA MI DIR DAY PA GULOONO KI ZAI ZAMA DAMAY LA ZANLA GORAMA PA ZROONO KI ZAI.

refrain (the same line or a part of it is repeated at the end of each verse).

2 We also see in his poetry vision which is also an essential of best poetry. Every poet is a seer by nature but the case with Qais is special. He has spiritual insight and can see truths that others do not Qais has a greater power of seeing and feeling things around him. He has a wide range of feeling and is better able to express what he feels. He moves others to share his feelings. He makes the readers look more earnestly to his vision. So for as my thought is concerned, Qais is the poet of beauty just like Keats who dominated the romantic period in English poetry. Thus Qais is a prominent figure among the modern Pashto poets. In many places, where there is beauty, that most of us would never see, Qais, eyes discover it and his voice makes it glain and clear to us. Personally I like vision and imagination in his poetry very well. Next to vision , we see imagery in his poetry. Imagery means the suggestions of vivid mental pictures or images, by the skillful use of words. By means of words Qais can suggest beautiful sight effects as well as sound effects. All these are due to his gift of imagination. He suggests mental pictures by similes, metaphors , personification and other figures of speech etc. The fourth essential of Qais poetry is emotion. He expresses the feelings of love, hate, joy, pain, admiration and contempt in such a way as to arouse sympathetic feelings in the hearts of readers. He also has refinement and sublimity in thoughts and language of his poetry. The spirit of his work is optimistic rather than pessimistic even in the face of great calamities. ZA KHA POHIGAM DA TIARO NA PA TIARO KAY LWIGAM KHO ZA BIA HUM DA UMIDOONO RANA NA WAJNAMA.

RAJ DAY DA SHPY KHO ZRA KI KHIAL DA SABA NA WAJNAMA HALAT DA VEER DEE KHO EMKAN DA KHANDA NA WAJNAMA. The above mentioned qualities of his poetry prove him a great and standard poets. He denounces the horrors of war and wants peace, harmony and reconciliation in the world. Even he takes pity on animals. GHWAKHAY DA KHKAR MI DIRI KHWAKHI WI KHO KHKAR LA PA DI ZAMA YARANO NA ZAM CHI DA MARGHO SILOONA KHWAKH VI ZAMA. He has the passion of pure love. He hates slavery and flies for freedom every where by the wings of imagination just like Shelley. GHULAMI AZADI NOM DA MARG AW JWAND DAY ZA PA WARNAKRAM AGHYAR LA PA ZAR KHAWRAY. So for as religion is concerned , he has a great reverence and veneration for Islam. And we see it in his charming personality. He denounces the coming calamities of western culture and civilization which incorporates in our culture and corrupts it. He says: DA MAGHRIBEE TAHZIB TOFAN DASY PA ZOR KI RAGHAY. ALLAH DI KHIR KREE DA KHO KHALQO NA JAMAY WOBASEE. It is his personality and Islamic mindedness that wherever he goes people falls in his love. Basically he is a poet of ode (ghazal) in other words a lyrical poet, but nearly he has treated all the genres of Pashto literature. Besides he has introduced a new japani genre , hiko, in Pashto and it has become his identity.