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Mohammad Israr ATAL Along with his prominance and fame as a Pashto poet and a writer, Israr Atal is also known as a talented Compere and Producer of television, radio and stage as he has undertaken different assignments on almost all the T.V and F.M. radio stations of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa (Pakistan) and Afghanistan.

Introduction: Pashto language is among one of those languages of the world which are blessed with a huge wealth of poetry. From the first known poet of the language i.e. Amir Crore, uptill now Almighty has blessed Pashto with elegant and sof-tender poets. Prominent among them are Khushal |Khushal khan Khattak, Rehman Baba, Hameed Momand, Kazim Khan Sheda and Ali Khan Baba who are termed as classical poets of the Pashto language. Although these classical poets were second to none but in modern world, there are still poets who have strived for awakening the sentiments of their general masses. Ghani Khan, Ajmal Khattak and Rehmat Shah Sayel are remembered to be among these neo-classical poets. Though the poetic span of the Pashto is vast but it would be unfair not to mention the young, talented and multi-dimensional Mohammad Israr Atal who has won great acclaim in such a young age that much older poets than him even have not acheived yet. Atal is not only a poet but also a dedicated Journalist, Broadcaster, Compare and above all a lovely and down-to-earth personality.

Early Life: Mohammad Israr Atal was born on 20th April, 1980 at the Bagh-e-Aram Village of LundKhwar in District Mardan of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa. He got his early education from his native schools, completing his Matric from Government High School, Dheri Lakpani in 1997 and his Intermediate education from Government College Katlang in 1999. Atal attented the University of Peshawar and graduated with Gold Medal in Pashto Literature. Later on he also completed his second Masters in Journalism & Mass Commuication. Though currently working as a Lecturer in Pashto at Government College Peshawar, Atal still is in the learning process as he has completed his Ph.D. on a critical review of the Pashto Reportage in the flow of Histroy at the Department of Pashto, University of Peshawar.

Along with his prominance and fame as a poet and a writer, Israr Atal is also known as a talented Compere and Producer of television, radio and stage as he has undertaken different assignments on almost all the T.V and F.M. radio stations of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa and Afghanistan.

Poetry: The poetic images created through his poems like Moor (Mother) Plar (Father) Khapal Kaley Prade Khar (Native Village and Alien City), Plar Ao Khar (Father and City), Grana Zindagi (Hard Life), Da Qismatono Faisaley, Da Dard Tasveer (Picture of Pain) etc have become a major hits over the radio, TV, Internet and Mobiles as they enchant the heart while appealing to the mind. All his poems available on the Internet are equally popular among young and older which can be judged from some very nice comments left on it by readers and listeners. People are so fond of Atal’s poems because his language as well as the images and metaphors he creates are very simple. His way of dealing with subjects such as peace, love, humanism, spirituality, brotherhood, sorrow, sympathy and Pukhtoonwali (Code of life) in a simple way of normal conversation has earned him great acclaim.

Childhood: Recalling his struggles in life, Israr Atal terms his childhood as the sweetest times of his life. Just like normal kids who grewup in the villages, Atal also enjoyed the fields and serene enviornmnet of his village. He still remembers his going to school and mosque reluctantly, playing in soil and mud, going to the local canal to beat the scorching heat of summer and the subsequent scolding by his parents. Atal reckons that these memoirs of his childhood are means of great inspiration for him today as they keep him happy and let him feel that that part of our lives is heaven for us in this world and a sense of great living.

Starting Poetry: Regarding his entry into the literary circles, Atal opines that Pashtoons as a nation and Pashto as a code of life have great cohesion that is why sometimes even he thinks if he has joined literture or litertaure has come up to him. As this thinking and consideration comes naturally, therefore Atal thinks of Pukhtuns to be natural poets. ‘Also when Almighty has gifted this nation with beautiful scenes, mountains, springs, cultures and other countless rewards, therefore, it is natural for Pukhtun to express his thanks to Almighty in the form of poems and songs, Atal opines. Atal owes a lot to the Late Ajmal Khattak, Rehmat Shah Sayel and Ikram-ullah Gran for helping him shape his ideas. Though Atal drew inspiration from these great poets but he comes up with his own unique style and manner of expression which is very simple and encompasses social issues, concern common man. This wins him applause from almost everyone who reads his poetry as they found their own tales of lives in his poetry.

Near Atal, composing poetry doesnot need any revolution or accidents to take place as he had these considerations, imaginations and thoughts since his childhood. Once he became able to read, write and understand, he started fiddling with the words. He wrote his first peom while attending College in Katlang in 1998. Since then he hasnot stopped and the journey goes on where by first book of his poetic verses named Zaer Mazigare Pa Pekhawar ki De has already hit the market shelves. Atal deals with homely situations in a very simple style. His poems often show his unusual power of observing little noticed details of natural objects and rural characters. He describes the things around him, in a very wonderful way, being observant and adding his own response to these. Some of his poems are a bit challenging, appearing to be just that, but to feel what is in them, to see through them, he truly deserves the compliments for it.

Love For Peshawar: Atal started composing poetry regularly, once he got into the university. As said earlier that there are some incidents or happenings in the surroundings of a poet which try to shape his/her ideas. Same was the case with Atal, as in current circumstances when all of the Khyber Pukhtunkhwa in general and Peshawar in particular was engulfed by terrorism, he has also expressed his love and devotion for this historical city of Peshawar by writing some unforgettable poems which not only raised the emblem of peace but also condemned these terrorist activities with pleadings for not destroying this beautiful city. Atal cannot put up with the destruction of Peshawar by bomb blasts. In one such poem he says, Biya Mo da Gulona Khar ta Wor Cha Lagawale de, Awloze Bamono ki lowe zor cha lagawale de, Biya sok da so peso da para Pekhawar seze,,Biya Mo Pekhawar Rowanege Khudaya khair ke.... Meaning our city of flowers has been set to fire again, great efforts in the form of bomb blasts are underway, and again Peshawar being set into fire for some money, Oh God help as Peshawar is getting destroyed again...

He also sketches this love in words like Zarae ye rala somra karawale de, Biya me hom zarge pa Pekhawar ki de meaning though i have faced many hardships here but still my heart beats with Peshawar.

Atal’s love and affection for Peshawar is also manifested from the fact that he has even named his very first book of poetic collections after Peshawar i.e. Zear Mazigare Pa Pekhawar Ke De.

Atal seeks a safer and peaceful world for Pashtoons on both sides of the Durand Line as he considers the Pashtoons of both sides as one and the same. He states in this regard, Pukhtun ba na yema, da de khaowre Atal ba na yem...Pa kama Rowaz che da Kabul o da Khybera laram meaning i would not be among Pashtoons, the day i left Kabul and Khyber PukhtunKhwa.

Poetic Images: Wallace Stevens, an American modernist poet, once said that in poetry, one must love the words, the ideas and the images and rhythms with all his capacity to love anything at all. The same fits on Atal as well. He terms its dishonesty on part of a Pashtoon not to let out his feelings for life, love, literature, Pushto Language and his own people. Therefore, he has raised his voice in order to spell his feelings and love for his nation which is manifested in most of his verses like his poems on Peshawar, Life of Terrorism Effectees, Life in City & Village, Floods in Pukhtunkhwa etc.

The singular distinction of Atal’s poetry – aside from his obvious poetic genius – is a profound blend of knowledge about his native Pukhtun culture, history, traditions and customs and his love for the Pushto language and Pukhtun nation. His poetry shows deep empathy, compassion and insight into the socio-political and cultural life of the Pashtoons. His poems always portray his views of Pashtoons as a peace-loving nation to the world that is why most of the times; his writings seek peace for his nation. His immense contribution to the promotion of Pashto language and literature is born from his love of the language and his devotion to a cause – the prosperity of Pashtoon Nation. Apart from his love for Pashto and Pashtoons, Atal’s poetry is also wonderfully expressive of love and affection, and his poems are not just loved by young people but all who love life. It is because of his varied and colorful personality that one can see so many shades – ranging from peace, freedom, love for land and people, nationalism, fate, the mysteries of life and death, the joys of communion, and the woes of separation to beauty – in his poetry. His poetry testifies to his ability of versifying his emotions adroitly, elegantly and smartly.

Literary Contributions: Along with poetry, Atal has also published fiction, tales, stories and a number of columns in various newspapers. For a choice between Prose and Poetry, Atal is of the opinion that denying literature in life would be like the negation of Puhktun’s values and norms. Poet always is in love with his writings. Though sometimes Atal enriches Pashto literature with his pretentious and elegant style of prose writing but has a natural flair for poetry as he adores good poetry thus also like almost every Pukhtun poet.

Being optimistic of the current situations on the literary and poetic fronts, Atal describes that a poet/writer is regarded as an eyes of a nation and thus has a deep eye on each and every aspect of life. A poet feels happy when there is happiness in his surroundings and also he is grim when there is greif in his country. Atal is of the view that in this aspect the Pashtoon Belt has proved to be resourceful in the way that from Amir Crore (first known pashto poet) uptill now, each and every verse of Pashto poetry has carried positive thinking encompassing ideas like peace, love, imagination, happiness, glory, delightness, joys etc. ‘Even today young poets have inhabited these sentiments and ideas and have expressed very positive, clear and deep thoughts in their poetry which makes me optimistic about the bright future of Pashto poetry, Atal hoped.

Though the world has turned into a global village but still some global conflicts have surfaced. In this regard the role of media can not be undermined. Atal looks for a greater role of media in creating awareness, in making education accessable to all and sundry and in the preservation of our historical and cultural assets. He especially lauds the role played by F.M radio stations in this regard as their transmissions are available even in those remote areas which still have no access to newspapers, internet and televisions.

At the same time, Atal also laments the damage done to Pashto language by these new technologies in the form of untrained broadcasters who mixup Pashto with other languages. He therefore wants the broadcasters to have a total command on Pashto language along with a wide thinking and an eye on current affairs apart from keeping themselves abreast with the technical knowledge and skills.

Message of Peace and Love: Atal’s gives a message of peace and love to his fans as he terms its our utmost duty to raise our voice for peace either that be in any form or at any cost. He rhyms, Che Qayel Da Aman Naka Mansobe De---Zama Ror de ka da Hare Nazriye De meaning any one who approves a peace plan is my brother even though what ever his thoughts may be. Instead of an emotional approach towards the social values and norms, Atal adopts a rational approach based on realism which makes him different from others. He deals with the social issues in a critical manner. Therefore, he can rightly be called as a poet of peace and love as he strikes a good balance between the irrationality of the romantic era and the cold, harsh but realistic nature of life itself along with raising his voice for peace in the current situation (terrorism); he is faced with in his homeland.

Article By Zafar Usafzai... Ghundo, Shamozai, Tehsil Katlang, Mardan Article published in Daily The Frontier Post dated 21 April 2011..