User:Medhat Bexaw

MEDHAT BEXAW/ RENOUNED KURDISH WRITER//// Medhat Bexaw is a prominent Kurdish writer, poet, historian, linguist and intellect. He was born in 1934 in Maxmur in Southern Kurdistan (Iraq). In the early stages of his life, he witnessed the common Kurdish peasant's struggle to survive in horrific and unjustifiable conditions. The Kurdish farmers’ revolt against the Iraqi government/land lords’ ill treatment in the 1950s was his first major opportunity to utilize his poetic capability. He won the hearts of the working class in his homeland by making them the subject of his depiction of their predicament in his poems. This allowed Bexaw to be noticed and demonstrate his natural literary prowess. It was also Bexaw’s first serious feat in the intellectual arena. He was subsequently imprisoned by the then Iraqi Government for 6 months for his political stance which was the beginning of a long path of persecution against him. Bexaw began writing at an early age (at 16 years of age) His work is universal in appeal and inclusive, away from an exclusive art for art line. The emphasis on portraying the masse’s struggle comes from his experience as a child and his persecution by the consecutive Iraqi governments. Bexaw has always been an intellectual rebel. He never let fear/intimidation halt his prolific contribution to the Kurdish culture. Bexaw also caters for the more discerning readers, for within the simplicity of his message, there always lays a profoundly sophisticated tale of depth. The artistry of his work is manifest in the different ways his poetry could be interpreted/understood by people of different levels of perception or background. Bexaw’s Srudi Peshmarga (the chant of freedom fighters) has been widely regarded as a major influence and motivation whenever Kurdish Peshmargas fought. His words elevated their morale to win against all the odds. The Kurdish media airs the above chant regularly and his poems have become the lyrics of many prominent Kurdish vocalists such as Shivan Perwar, Ali Mardan, Muhammed Jaza, Taher Tawfiq, Fu’ad Ahmed, Yahya Marjan, Michael, and many more who all sang his lyrics. His continuous contribution to children's literature is phenomenal. His influence is unquestionable in the modern Kurdish literature/history. Bexaw was also the founder of Ashti Xuazan Party (the Peace Seekers Party) at the time of the civil war in Kurdistan in 1990s. This party was none political and not a power seeking one. Its efforts contributed to bring the painful inner (faction) fighting to an end. Bexaw was able to gain the membership of many internationally known political figures to boost the party’s efforts and profile to establish peace in Kurdistan. The modern Kurdish language is evolving at a rapid pace. There is a burning need to accommodate for the ongoing technical, cultural changes from a linguistic view point thus Bexaw has played a fundamental role in coining many modern Kurdish idioms due to his expert knowledge of the history of the Kurdish language. After all, there are many attempts to submerge/ adulterate the unique, original and historical Kurdish culture into the majority ones where Kurds live as a minority. In the beginning of his occupational career (at the age of 18) he was enrolled in the UNICEF campaign to eradicate diseases in Kurdistan. Bexaw has published many books in poetry, history and linguistics. Dar Baru (Oak Tree, a symbol of Kurdish resistance), Rabari Zhian (The way of life), Ragakan (the roots), Zangi Karwan (the caravan’s bell) to name a few of his books of poetry. Bexaw has four children. He currently lives in Hawler (Erbil) his place of birth and spends most of his time adding to his vast collection of poetry. ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// The leaf: In autumn, all the leaves confer. Some are to spread the word to distant lands, some will wither away and enrich the soil, so their mother is not discontented, so they aren’t labelled disloyal. (Bexaw 1969 from Dar Baru)

•Bexaw literally means wakeful as in out of concern for the Kurdish nation's situation. This article/page is under construction.