By Fazal Khaliq
MINGORA: Scholars, artists, poets and writers here on Sunday debated the impacts of extremism on the fine arts, produced in the region.
The literacy circles from different parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa met in a meeting held here at public library organized by Suvastu Arts and Culture Association to discuss the impacts of the recent terrorism and extremism on fine arts and role of artists.
The artists and literacy figures from different parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa held a meeting here at public library under the auspices of Suvastu Arts and Culture Association to discuss the impacts of the recent terrorism and extremism on fine arts and role of artists.
Suvastu Arts and Culture Association chairman Usman Ulasyar said that the debate was aimed at highlighting affects of extremism on art after the surge militancy in Swat and adjacent areas.
“Although militants banned art but we continued it secretly. Different artists would gather at one platform and practice it. Extremism could not force us to stop our work rather accelerated it,” said Nasar Sheen, a renowned sculptor of Swat.
He said that his artwork depicting broken pen and veiled women received appreciation. He added that he got threats from extremists for his art but he was also appreciated by art lovers.
Murad, a renowned painter, said that although militancy affected his art to a great extent yet artists in the region were faced with extremist behaviour before the surge of militancy. “Since my childhood when I would draw a human image everyone would scold me saying it is un-Islamic,” he said.
Attaullah Jan, a literary critic, said that art and life were indispensable for each other and affected each other. “After militancy in Swat, its impacts are discussed in every gathering and meeting. Its glimpses can be seen in every art and poetic work,” he said.
Rohul Amin Nayab, a writer, said that militants targeted every form of art in Swat and even did not spare the relics of Gandhara civilisation.
Through a unanimously passed resolution, the meeting demanded that Pashto subject should be included in the NTS test for appointment of primary schoolteachers.
Through another, resolution it demanded to establish a Pakhthun cultural section in the Swat Museum.
The meeting was attended by Dr Muhib Wazir, Hayat Roghaney, Saleem Nashad, Sahar Bunery, Yousuf Jan Yousuf, Shams Figar, Hanif Qais, Saifulah Saif, Aftab Sparley, Barkat Ali Barkat, Faisal Yousafzai, Bashir Ahmad Bashir, Ahmad Hussain Nadeem, Mohammad Gul Mansoor, Niaz Ahmad Khan, Fazal Khaliq Fazal and others.
