PESHAWAR:Rehman Baba --- a great saint, mystic poet of Pushto
PESHAWAR: The saying that Rehman Baba, the great saint and mystic poet of Pushto, "is not an apostle, but has a book revealed to him" manifests the immense popularity his verses enjoy among the Pakhtoons literate or otherwise, young or old. His universal message of love and peace, his portrayal of human feelings, his appreciation of beauty in nature and man, his insatiable quest for ideal happiness and truth and his realization of the transience of this world instill awe and wonder in the minds and hearts of readers and listeners alike. He expresses the sublime subjects of life in a simple, spontaneous and mellifluous manner that is all encompassing. His lyrics are the epitome of the characteristics of great romantic poets. He says, O'Rehman, craft the tongue Of nightingales, Then sing praises of Flower's parts. Rehman Baba spiritually manipulates all those who read, hear, understand or have some familiarity with Pushto by earnest appeals through his symbolic verses to their better nature. One of his couplets, though relentlessly robbed of all its poetic beauty in translation, reads; A tree bearing fruit Always bears Showers of stones, Behold! How it requites. Rehman Baba, whose real name is Abdur Rehman, was born in Bahadar Kallay, a village also known as Deh Bahadar, some five kilometres on the southern outskirts of Peshawar in the early half of 17th century. Hujra, the traditional guest-house of Pakhtoon culture, which has gradually, but noticeably, given way to the modern ways of life, used to be considered unfinished and unaccomplished if the lyrics of Rehman Baba were not recited or sung there at night in accompaniment with Rubab (musical instrument). The Pakhtoons of yesteryear loved to learn and listen to his verses to seek peace of mind. The older lot still remembers the bulk of his verses and never takes the back seat when it comes to prove a point or a fact of life by quoting a couplet or two of Rehman Baba. Even today, all Pakhtoons, irrespective of age and sex and, above all, educational qualification, seek consolation in his sublime poetry to overcome the pangs of everyday life and it's unaccounted for distresses and sufferings. He likens the Peshawar to a grave and fire by reason of the oppression unleashed by the tyrants of the times. He says: Pa sabab da zalimano hakimano, Gore au ore au Peshawar dhray wara yo dee. (Because of the oppression of tyrants, Grave, fire and Peshawar - all three are one.) There are countless facets of the poetry and person of Abdur Rehman. He was a hermit. His moral verses reflect the perseverance and steadfastness he observed throughout his life spent in solitude. He is deeply concerned with the salvation of human soul and the eternal happiness of mankind and can be rightly called the poet of love. In this couplet, Rehman Baba says: Look on every body as yourself, were you wise, O'Abdur Rehman, the whole world is Abdur Rehman (is the creature of the Lord). It would be no exaggeration to say that he deeply indulged his disposition to seek peace of mind and ethereal happiness, and for this he had to forsake the mundane activities of the world to be blessed here and hereafter. Although he lived a dervish-like life and abandoned the world, but he was not oblivious to the facts and reality of life. He values this mortal world more than anything else as his poetry at numerous points shows. He was an erudite recluse. He says: Goodness of this world is Its being a farm of the other. Don't speak ill of it,Listen! Always give glad tidings. Every line of Rehman Baba laden with pathos and powerful feelings has attained the status of maxim, which reflects the sublimity of his thought and the subtlety of his expression. To quote a line of Rehman Baba in support of one's argument in discussions among friends or foes is sufficient authority to pass for right and true. His poetic and humane genius is evident from the translation of another couplet: Humanity has nothing to do with riches, O'Rehman, a statue of gold Can not be man. Rehman Baba's imagination knows no bounds. His feelings and observations are considered as the highest truth of the world. His poetic lines are esteemed as proverbs in Pushto literature. He prays like this; that the land of Pakhtoons is scented, O'God make each line of my verses The hair-locks of sweethearts. The dominating motif of Rehman Baba's poetry is the love of the eternal and salvation of humanity. His appreciation of beauty in its truest form, his portrayal of the facts of life in a matter-of-fact way, his disregard of sentiment and convention, his philosophy that matter has real existence apart from our mental perception, his quest for ideal happiness and his onslaught on popular beliefs and the established customs of his time, which he thinks mistaken and unwise, lend him a position recognized and unquestioned. All qualities of romantic poets and romanticism are rallied in the lyrics of Rehman Baba. The life of Abdur Rehman, like other great poets of the world, is shrouded in mystery. He got his Fiqah education from Mullah Yousafzai and then went to Kohat and some other places for further education. Almost all scholars, critics and commentators say that Rehman Baba was a great learned man, well-versed in religion and the facts of life and world, but he lived a simple life and never paid any attention to worldly things. He always remained busy in meditation and offering prayers. Rehman Baba's lyrics are esteemed so high that even his casual readers at once recognize a line if that is not written by Rehman Baba. This is why when his book was compiled by his friends and well-wishers after his death, they excluded certain poems because they thought their origin and content doubtful and ambiguous. The melodious strain of his poetry fills the hearts of keen readers with a solemn joy and pathos. His mortal remains lie buried at the Hazarkhawani graveyard in the Peshawar. F.P. Report
