Pashto Poetry: Zaanzani Shaamaar (The Dragon of Self)

By Dr. Syed Bahauddin Majrooh

This poem is Translated from Pashto by Faraz Jamil Kakar

It is said,
Far away, somewhere was a big city
Famous for its beauty
In that city lived a famous man
The wisest of the wisest in the city
To think and imagine was his work
To explore the mysteries of life and universe
In libraries, pages and books
One day, he said:

''Till the end of this earth and sky ... Hell for humans will be humans''

I doubt this to be true
I have seen many countries
Traveled long distances across deserts
Explored some few realities
And have brought some true news

One is:
What is this life?
But an endless sea
And the way to the end of this sea
Passes through hell

Second is:
''Hell is not somewhere far, hidden in another universe
Hell for humans is hidden within themselves''

This journey of return to self
Come and hear the story of this journey...

Dr. Syed Bahauddin Majrooh was a Pashto Poet. ''His father, Shamsuddin Majrooh, had served as minister of justice under Zahir Shah and had been a member of the committee that drafted the 1964 constitution, which introduced democracy to Afghanistan. Majrooh himself had served as governor of Kapisa Province under Zahir Shah before returning to Kabul University, where he was a dean and professor of philosophy and literature.''  (A quote from the book ''Before Taliban'' ). In addition to his tenure at Kabul University in the 1960s and 70s, he also served as diplomat during King Zahir Shah's government. Post Soviet invasion, Majrooh moved to Peshawar where he was associated with the Afghan Information Centre. He was assassinated in 1988 in Peshawar. At the time he was killed in Peshawar, he was said to be organizing or at least sympathizing with the monarchists. Even some Parchamites were favorable to him at the time. A fairly accurate obituary of Dr. Majrooh was published in LA Times. (Details on Dr. Majrooh provided by Dr. M. Taqi & Faraz Jamil Kakar).

Faraz Jamil Kakar is from Pishin, Balochistan. He presently works as a Detention Doctor with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He translates Pashto poetry into English in his free time and has translated some work of famous Pashto poets such as Ghani Khan, Bahauddin Majrooh and Bari Jahani.

Pashto Poetry: Sartoor Malang (The Insane Sufi)

By Dr. Syed Bahauddin Majroh

This poem is Translated by Faraz Jamil Kakar. Original Pashto poem is from Syed Bahauddin Majroh's book "Na-Ashna Sandari" (Stranger's Songs).

Dr. Bahauddin Majroh's Na-Ashna Sandari

Youth does not know
That there exists an old Hakeem of wisdom – the insane Sufi

Poem: Sartoor Malang  (page 1 of 4)

He exists and that is why – battle with ignorance continues

He is that mighty Hakeem…
Who destroyed tyrants like Changez
Who survived the bloodthirsty fist of Hitler
And confronted dark terror of Stalin
Entered prisons and dark dungeons
Freed himself from this dark terror
Yet this lover
Followed his love – Freedom
Did not surrender
To tyranny, injustice and power
Followed his love to burning hell

Be there kings or mighty Emperors
Hitlers or Stalins
All have one rival
This one mighty Hakeem of wisdom

His wisdom brings him troubles always

Restless dreams, worries and distress

Youth never tries
To find and listen to old stories

Poem: Sartoor Malang  (page 2,3)

Wise Hakeem says:
When there is youth and youthful spirit
When human face has humanity behind it
When there is compassion, tolerance and kindness
When there is freedom and sympathy
When there is sanity and rationality
Then blind obedience does not exist
No need for acting or pretending
No class or status

Once a great power rose
That made its presence felt everywhere
Erected big palaces
Brought down old idols
This great power was – critique and wisdom
It started a new era
Awakened the deep asleep
Cured the sickness of superstition

And when the old blind obedience…
Was left dumb and speechless
It went on to make new idols
While elsewhere people
Questioned and researched
The foundations of old knowledge

Poem: Sartoor Malang  (page 4 of 4)

But here…
Blind faith, bias, racism…
Souls deep asleep
It would say:
Forget old Sufis and their shrines

There are new leaders
With magical powers
And new books
So close your eyes, bow in prostration
Accept, obey and do not question

From Zoroaster, Buddha to Brahman
In past and present
These custodians of blind faith
Leaders and chieftains
With their logic, speeches and songs
Only preach blind obedience, closed eyed prostrations
But do not allow questions…

And I walk towards the ocean
With these old forgotten stories, tales and songs To sink them all

Dr. Syed Bahauddin Majroh is a Pashto Poet.

Faraz Jamil Kakar is from Pishin, Balochistan. He presently works as a Detention Doctor with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He translates Pashto poetry into English in his free time and has translated some work of famous Pashto poets such as Ghani Khan, Bahauddin Majroh and Bari Jahani.