Abdul Shakoor Rashad (Pashto: عبدالشکور رشاد), born on November 14, 1921, in Kandahar, Afghanistan, and passed away on December 1, 2004, in Kabul, Afghanistan, was a distinguished Afghan professor, researcher, writer, and poet. Known for his extensive contributions to Pashto language and literature, Rashad left an indelible mark on Afghan scholarship. Throughout his life, he held various academic and political roles, contributing significantly to the cultural and historical narrative of Afghanistan.
Early Life and Education Of Abdul Shakoor Rashad
Abdul Shakoor Rashad was born into a prominent family in Kandahar, with his father, Abdul Ghafoor Khan, being an influential figure in the region. Rashad completed his schooling at the young age of 12 and began his career as a teacher just a year later, in 1934. He pursued higher education in India in 1948, where he conducted research on the Pashto language and wrote his first major work, Lodi Pashtoons, a 351-page book on the history of the Lodi Pashtun tribe. During his time in India, Rashad also became proficient in Hindi, adding to his already impressive linguistic skills.
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Academic Career Of Abdul Shakoor Rashad
Rashad’s academic journey was marked by his affiliation with Kabul University and the Pashto Tolana, a cultural organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Pashto language and literature. In 1957, he joined the Pashto Tolana and later became an assistant director. His academic career saw further growth when he was appointed as a professor at Kabul University, where he later became the head of the Pashto Department. Rashad’s expertise led him to the Institute of Eastern Research in Leningrad, where he taught Pashto for two and a half years.
Rashad was a polyglot, fluent in several languages, including Persian, Arabic, Urdu, Hindi, Russian, and English. He also had a working knowledge of Sanskrit, Japanese, and Hebrew. His linguistic abilities enriched his research and writings, allowing him to access a wide range of scholarly resources and communicate across cultures. Rashad wrote poems in Persian and Urdu, but his lifelong dedication remained focused on Pashto literature, to which he contributed around 105 books and numerous articles, though only 36 of these were published.
Political Involvement
Rashad was not only an academic but also a politically active figure. In 1946, he was appointed as the Director of the Kandahar City Selection Committee, and by 1947, he became the Deputy Mayor of Kandahar City. At the age of 26, he joined the Weesh Zalmian (Awakened Youth), an Afghan youth movement that advocated for reform and modernization. Rashad’s involvement in this movement led to his election to the Afghan parliament in 1952, though his role was short-lived due to political opposition from the local government.
Legacy and Later Years
During the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, Rashad remained in his homeland, where he continued to write articles and poetry critical of the communist regime and later of the warlords during the civil war. For security reasons, much of his work from this period was published under pseudonyms. Despite the turbulent political climate, Rashad maintained strong ties with the academic community and continued his research and writing until his death in 2004.
In recognition of his lifelong contributions to Afghan literature, philosophy, history, and science, Rashad was honored with the title “Alama” (Laureate) by the Afghan government. A seminar was held in his honor, organized by the then-Governor of Kandahar, Mohammad Yousaf Pashtun, which celebrated Rashad’s accomplishments and bestowed upon him the title officially.
List of Pashto-Language Poets
Notable Works
Rashad’s body of work covers a wide array of topics, from Pashto poetry to historical biographies. Some of his most notable works include:
- Ḥaz̤rat Abū Bakr Ṣiddīq: A biography of the first Muslim Caliph.
- Puṣhtānah shuʻarāʼ: A collection of biographies of Pashto poets, featuring samples of their work.
- Da Kandahār yādāṣhtūnah: A historical and cultural study of Kandahar.
- Da Dawlat Lawāṇay dīwān: A compilation of his Pashto poetry.
- Milī atal Ghāzī Wazīr Muḥammad Akbar Khān: A biography of an Afghan national hero who fought against British forces.
Conclusion
Abdul Shakoor Rashad’s legacy lives on in his extensive writings and the impact he made on Pashto language and literature. His scholarly work and political contributions continue to inspire Afghan academics and writers, making him a revered figure in Afghanistan’s cultural history. Rashad’s life was dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge and the preservation of Pashto heritage, and his works remain a testament to his enduring influence. He was laid to rest on the campus of Kandahar University, a fitting tribute to a man who devoted his life to education and the enrichment of Afghan literature.
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