Though most of you probably think I am the strongest opponent of Kalabagh dam, that may be true as far your experince goes however yall haven't seen the strongest opponents. Here is an example of the feelings some people feel about the Kalabagh dam and how Punjab is trying to force its decision on the smaller provinces like Pakhtunkhwa. I am not the author of this poem. I am copying it from Frontier Post (English daily from Peshawar)july 9th, 1998 issue " Letters " section. The Author's name is given at the end of the poem and I added the translation of some Pashto words that the poet has used so those who don't know Pashto may understand the message of the poem. Now read the Poem.
I swear!
Not a drop from Kalabagh shall pass my lips
Even if aab-e-hayat that drop may be;
Even though it is nectar, the drink of gods;
Be it may the only drop at zankadan;
Not that drop from Kalabagh shall pass my lips.
Long before Naukhar is sunk in Kalabagh,
Long before Pakhtun blood waters Cholistan,
Drowned shall be in Pakhtuns' blood Punjabistan.
Streams of blood and fire will swell old Abaseen;
Burn and ruin in its wake, let it be seen:
From the border Khairabad in Pakhtunkhwa
All the way to Shalimar, Shahi Qala
Nothing left of green Punjab, no single bagh
That will happen if you want your Kalabagh.
If 'they' think that I give up that easily,
Perish I so 'Big Brother' lives merrily!
That won't happen, never happened since the day
Mughals, Ferangi and Ranjit Singh held sway.
Could Ranjit's predecessors do none could ever do,
Make Punjab a bagh and Pakhtunkhwa to rue?
Stand on Kalabagh's right bank every Pakhtun,
With himself, his plar, Neekeh and God make vow:
"I do swear by Pakhtu and Tatara;
I do swear by my first love, my Pakhtunkhwa;
I do vow by mor csadar, baba's shamla;
I do swear by ancient code, Pakhtunwali;
I do swear by Bacha Khan, Abdul Wali;
No one dare ever touch with dirty hand
Csadar on my daughter's head, my sacred land.
By BARRISTER BAACHAA, Peshawar.
Pashto words used in the poem and their meanings
line 4: zankadan = Death = breath last
breaths
line 9: Abaseen = Indus river
line 22: plar = father
line 22: Neekeh = grand father
line 23: Pakhtu = Pakhtunwali = Pakhtun's code of honor
line 25: mor = mom , mother
line 25:Csadar = head cover, chadar,dopatta
line 25: Shamla = Turban, paghree i.e symbol of honor
line 26: Pakhtunwali = Pakhtun's code of honor, way of life.
Also Ranjit singh's predecessor = Punjab
[This message has been edited by J M Khan.]
I swear!
Not a drop from Kalabagh shall pass my lips
Even if aab-e-hayat that drop may be;
Even though it is nectar, the drink of gods;
Be it may the only drop at zankadan;
Not that drop from Kalabagh shall pass my lips.
Long before Naukhar is sunk in Kalabagh,
Long before Pakhtun blood waters Cholistan,
Drowned shall be in Pakhtuns' blood Punjabistan.
Streams of blood and fire will swell old Abaseen;
Burn and ruin in its wake, let it be seen:
From the border Khairabad in Pakhtunkhwa
All the way to Shalimar, Shahi Qala
Nothing left of green Punjab, no single bagh
That will happen if you want your Kalabagh.
If 'they' think that I give up that easily,
Perish I so 'Big Brother' lives merrily!
That won't happen, never happened since the day
Mughals, Ferangi and Ranjit Singh held sway.
Could Ranjit's predecessors do none could ever do,
Make Punjab a bagh and Pakhtunkhwa to rue?
Stand on Kalabagh's right bank every Pakhtun,
With himself, his plar, Neekeh and God make vow:
"I do swear by Pakhtu and Tatara;
I do swear by my first love, my Pakhtunkhwa;
I do vow by mor csadar, baba's shamla;
I do swear by ancient code, Pakhtunwali;
I do swear by Bacha Khan, Abdul Wali;
No one dare ever touch with dirty hand
Csadar on my daughter's head, my sacred land.
By BARRISTER BAACHAA, Peshawar.
Pashto words used in the poem and their meanings
line 4: zankadan = Death = breath last
breaths
line 9: Abaseen = Indus river
line 22: plar = father
line 22: Neekeh = grand father
line 23: Pakhtu = Pakhtunwali = Pakhtun's code of honor
line 25: mor = mom , mother
line 25:Csadar = head cover, chadar,dopatta
line 25: Shamla = Turban, paghree i.e symbol of honor
line 26: Pakhtunwali = Pakhtun's code of honor, way of life.
Also Ranjit singh's predecessor = Punjab
[This message has been edited by J M Khan.]
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