PESHAWAR: The lone theatre of Peshawar, Nishtar Hall, came alive with music and moving poetry of noted Pashto poet and artist Ghani Khan here on Thursday.

The event was arranged by Rashid Shaheed Foundation (RSF) wherein participants through unanimously adopted resolutions called for rebuilding of Ghani Khan Derai, opening of Pushkalavati museum for public and issuing of Ghani Khan memorial postal ticket.

The participants demanded of the provincial government to declare the ongoing year as the year of Ghani Khan.

Addressing the gathering, former provincial minister and Awami National Party leader Mian Iftikhar Hussain said that Ghani Khan would remain alive in the hearts of people. He said that his message of love, beauty and humanism would continue to inspire upcoming generations of Pakhtuns.

Mr Hussain said the former chief minister had released Rs20 million for his organisation but he did not have time during his party’s government to utilise the funds. Only Rs600,000 were spent on the interventions of the foundation.

“Different literary and cultural organisations in different parts of the world arranged events on various separate aspects of Ghani Khan’s life and contributions. I wanted to conduct a comprehensive function covering all important facets of the great poet,” Mr Hussain added.

He said Ghani Khan wanted his people free of poverty, ignorance and intolerance. Having a restless soul in his body, Ghani Khan was not satisfied with politics of the day, therefore, his personality found an exuberant expression in his poetry and art, he added.

“I am proud of my martyred son Mian Rashid Hussain Shaheed, who laid down his life for his nation,” the ANP leader said. He added that the vision of Ghani Khan was for the progress and enlightenment of his nation.

Prof Zubair Hasrat in his paper on Ghani Khan said that the poet wanted equal rights and justice for all. He used his art and poetry for serving a particular pursuit and, therefore, he was conscious of what he thought and wrote, he added.

“Sometimes he would throw down his verses. Wali Khan would pick them up and would preserve them. We have today some masterpiece poems of Ghani Khan being compiled by Wali Khan,” Prof Hasrat said.

Prof Yar Mohammad Maghmoom Khattak in his remarks pointed out that Ghani Khan impacted young poets and artists in many ways. He had both spur as well as curb, he said.

Ghani Khan had unbridled emotions but masterly retrained where he wanted, Prof Khattak said, adding realism, romanticism and directness were the hallmarks of Ghani Khan’s poetry.

Moazzam Jan threw light on the writing skill of Ghani Khan. He said that Ghani Khan’s striking colours and words had always an everlasting impact on his fans and readers.

Mr Hussain gave away shields to the organisers of various literary and cultural organisations for arranging different vents on the occasion of birth centenary celebrations of Ghani Khan.

Pashto singers Bakhtiar Khattak, Humayoon Khan, Rashid Khan and Sitara Younas sang popular numbers of the legendary poet.