- By: Ibn-e-Taha
- Khan_adnan040@yahoo.com
While Mustafa Hamdani was announcing independence of Pakistan form Lahore radio on 14 Aug, 1947, Abdullah Khan Maghmoom (in Pushto) and Aftab Ahmed (in Urdu) announced independence on 14 Aug 1947 from Radio Pakistan Peshawar station, oldest radio station in the new country.
Peshawar radio station was established under desire of Sahebzada Abdul Qayyum Khan, who requested Marconi (inventor of Radio) for one transmitter set for NWFP (now KPK). Transmitter, personally engineered by Marconi, was installed in Peshawar and inaugurated by the Governor of NWFP, Mr Rallop Griffith on 06 March, 1935.
Peshawar Radio was founded and built by famous names like Kaifi Dev, Rafiq Shinwari, Qavi Khan and Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi. First station in-charge was Muhammad Aslam Khattak. Sajjad Sarwar Niazi (father of famous singers Naheed Niazi and Najma Niazi) was the first Director. Peshawar Radio had always been host for the learned and educated. It had Hindko, Pushto, Seraiki, Dari speaking and immigrants from united India in 1947.
One of these settlers was Mr Taha Khan, who earned fame from Radio Peshawar. Stalwarts of Peshawar of his time included Patras Bukhari, Ameer Hamza Khan Shinwari, Taj Saeed, ZA Bukhari, Khatir Ghaznavi, Farigh Bokhari, Mohsin Ehsan, Raza Hamdani and many more. Initial days were tough where being a novice, Taha Khan was confined to write only for kids. He diligently wrote the kids programme “Kahani (Story)” on daily basis, with a short moral story, light poetry and message of the day. With a positive feedback, programme was renamed “Shaheen”. It comprehensively afforded an opportunity to Taha Khan to establish him as a poet, writer,philanthropist, social reformer and mentor. He wrote mushaiyeras (poetry collection) for this program which included, flower mushairya where different flowers would introduce them with their appearance, family tree, smell, use in daily life. It was easy for Botany students to comprehend different flowers eg Jasmine flower:
“Unique flower I am Jasmine or chambeli”
Sister of Bela and friend of a Juhi”
For Stars’ mushayera, all the heavenly bodies were described in poetic pearls, giving knowledge and education to the students of Astronomy. vegetables and fruits mushaira educated about different fruits, their effectiveness and treatment against disease. Animals’ mushayera was information on zoological front. He also wrote poetic moral stories (adamant chick), for kids who would face difficulties in practical life when not adhering to values and traditions. His poem “Wedding of a monkey” was a light comedy pertaining to jungle life and adventures. His moral messages were well understood by the kids and parents. Elders would bring their young kids to Taha saheb for their advice and guidance as a useful citizen. Taha Khan also started writing famous program “Old Banyan Tree”. The tree was a parable acted by an artist as an allegory. It would narrate history and developments seen by the old tree since ancient times till date, for which he was a witness. The program was popular for the historians and history lovers.
Radio Pakistan Peshawar being birth-place of genius minds promoted art, literature, music, drama, Mushayiras, debates, current affairs, national politics, education, entertainment, sports, students’ participation, radio-pragrams etc etc. In real sense, Radio Peshawar was the only recreational activity in KPK and adjoining countries till 1974, when PTV center was established at Peshawar. Radio Peshawar created a unique blend of languages like Hindko, Pushto (dialects of Swat, Bannu, Peshawar and Mardan), Kohati, Urdu, Seraiki, Punjabi, Hazara and Dari. This unique culture made Radio Pakistan a progressive institution without prejudices. One could find Punjabi singer singing Pushto songs on music of a Christian composer and a Seraiki speaking narrating pure urdu poetry in real dialect. Jolly natured Taha Khan created light amendments/additions in all these languages and dialects (without annoying), eg the Seraiki folk
“Channa kithan guzari he raat way
Jao waheen jahan guzari raat way”
Translation:
(Dear where did you spent last night?
Go there where you spent last night”)
Taha saheb used to take his students to Radio Pakistan Peshawar on orientation visits and conducted audition test of them for future suitable voice for Radio Pakistan. Justice Athar Minallah had his first audition as a student during one educational visit to Radio Peshawar with his class in 1973. By mid seventees Taha had became an active member of the literary clubs of country and Radio Peshawar. His abilities were effectively utilized by Radio Peshawar by engaging him in live discussions on poetry, drama, art, criticism, current affairs, appreciation, prose, dialects, linguistics, history, Urdu literature, pronunciations and healthy debates. Taha Khan’s written script of programme “Puchpun minute (55 minutes)” was aired from six days a week in early seventees. The programme was produced by Riffatullah Khan. Later it was renamed as “Sub-Rung” and continued airing for consecutive twelve years. Firdos Jamal, Arif Zabai, Zari Mehmood, Uzma Ali, Shahnaz and Shakil Arshad earned fame from this program.
Radio Pakistan Peshawar would also air “Mushayeras (Poets’ recitals) and famous poets of Peshawar ie Ahmed Faraz, Roshan Naginvi, Mohsin Ehsan, Narjis Afroz Zaidi, Raza Hamdani, Farigh Bokhari, Ghulam Muhammad Qasir, Narjis Afroz Zaidi, Ejaz Rahi, Aziz Ejaz Niazi, Sajjad Babar, Nazeer Tabassum Majid Sarhadi and Nasir Ali Syed. Taha Khan projected Peshawar and its’ legacies in these poetic sittings:
“Markets of Qissa Khawani : Bevy of Peshawar;
Legacies and traditions may stay alive forever”
Being a sharp observer, he translated so many things of surroundings and daily happenings. On seeing every Tom, Dick and Harry singer, singing with incorrect dialect, he said
“Who could dare to offend the abuser;
Keep listening Iqbal’s poetry from amuser”
One of his colleagues wrote a jingle for a famous spice brand of Peshawar, which was aired from Radio Pakistan Peshawar throughout the day. Later the spice factory was raided and found guilty of adulteration. Taha saheb commented, “Poet who wrote the jingle should also be held by police??
He was one of the pioneers who wrote military songs during wars of 1965 and 1971. Even during severe national black outs, he would reach Radio station Peshawar by foot and write military songs for the men on borders. Walk of about 25 kilometer in pitch dark night was indeed a commitment to his country. Taha Khan was also invited for live commentary on special occasion ie Defence day, Cultural shows and dignitary’s visit to Peshawar. In fact, it was the only way of live broadcasts in absence of TV cameras those days.
During the drama competition by Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation, Taha saheb`s drama “Pathhar (Stone)” was a great hit. Story revolved around a poor poet who could hardly manage his both ends meet. The end was classic when the poet attends a hi-gentry function, where elite of the city is invited. During the event, a lady announces loss of her valuables and the poor poet is suspected. During his physical search it is found the poet was wearing only a vest under the waist-coat. The poet dies at the spot of being shocked for such a disgrace.
Radio Peshawar was the place where Taha Khan got oriented to Pushto stalwarts like Khushal Khan Khattak and Rehman baba. He later translated poetry of these two big names in Urdu. Was awarded “Pride of Performance” from president of Pakistan in 2008 for translation of Rehman baba in same meanings, rhythm and rhyme of pushto as written by Rehman baba. Three walls of mausoleum of Rehman baba has three inscriptions in a sequence. First a Hadith, second place is for Rehman baba’s couplet translating this Hadith in Pushto and the third place is further translation of Rehman baba’s couplet into Urdu by Taha Khan. Taha Khan saheb, also translated Khushal khan Khattak’s poetry in same rhythm and rhyme and message conveyed by Khushal Khattak.
Taha saheb, got influenced by the melodious Pushto folk music and found Pushto “Tapa” rich of melody and Expression. He also found Hindko “Harfi” to be a commoner’s language of Peshawar city. He translated both these classics in Urdu and also wrote verses in “Tapa” and “Harfi” style.
He was the first one who scripted Urdu songs and lyrics on these cultural tunes. One them aired from Radio Pakistan Peshawar was
“Peshawar se meri khatir dandasa lana
O Dilbar Janana”
(Bring a bark of tree from Peshawar city, which I will use as lipstick”
It was sung by famous singer Mah-Jabeen Qazelbash and earned fame throughout the world).
His poetry depicts Peshawar (weather, gushing rivers, vegetation, Shahi garden, Wazeer garden, old tall trees and flowers), its’ people (straight forward, honest, great friends, hospitable and open minded), areas (Balahisar fort, Jinnah park, Reti market, bridge Pukhta, Vegetable markets, Clock tower, Dabgari market, Jewellers markets, Dabgari garden, Sadar markets, Mall road, Gulberg, Gora bazar), adjoining villages and rivers, food (Chappal kababs, cooked mutton), common scenes (vendors selling juice of hens, mutton roasted, cold jaggery sugar drinks, fresh fish, Qulfi (local ice creams) and Kheer, women-folk of villages and their un-said desires. The native of Peshawar died on 25 August, 2014.
The attack on the Radio station on 9 may, 2023 led to a huge loss of historical archives, which included approximately 2,000 historic and literary books, including those by renowned Sufi poet Rehman Baba and freedom fighter Khushal Khan Khattak. Archives and records in Pushto, Seraki, Urdu and Hindko languages have been completely destroyed. Coming generations would not know famous producers like Omer Nasir, Meesaq Hussain, Basit Saleem, Usman Khan, Mushtaq Shabab, Qazi Sarwar, Syed Abdul Jabbar and her daughter Iffat Abdul Jabbar (who rose to station director also), Zubeda Asmat and Mujtaba Aamir. Our youth cannot comprehend how stressful it was for the early bread winners as artists, writers, poets, music directors, singers, technicians, directors, security staff, canteen owner and maintenance staff.
Burning of national asset has obliterated rich history of Peshawar and its’ legend artists like Hameeda Bano, Agha Sarwar and his famous program Khyber Hit Parade, AR Jalal, MS Sultan, FR Qureshi, Iftikhar Zareef, Humera Ejaz, Shameel Chohan, Ambreen Jilani, Abdul Wadood Manzar, Shakira Siddiqui and her three daughters. Archives have burnt the works of melodious voices of singers like Khayal Muhammad, Mahjabeen Qazilbash, Shakila Naz, Mashooq Sultan, Navita Khan, Haroon Bacha, Ali Haider, Sabz Ali and Bagh Ali. Records have also deleted famous musicians like Khalid Malik Haider, ST Sunny, Mr James and Nisar Qadri.
Peshawarides claim all these vandals were not from Peshawar but an illiterate crowd from outside misinterpreting Allama Iqbal:
“Royal kingdom democracy is on it’s way;
Obliterate old heritage n’ civic like a sway”
(For more articles on M Taha Khan, please visit website M Taha Khan)