# Rahat Zakheli

Sayyid Rahatullah Rahat Zakheli (Pashto: راحت زاخيلي; 19 February 1883–29 May 1963) was a Pashto poet, writer and novelist. Zakheli is considered a pioneer in the development of Pashto prose and journalism.

## Early education

In 1884, Syed Farihullah, Zakheli's father, bestowed the name Syed Rahatullah upon him. Zakheli's father educated him, including in Arabic grammar and syntax which was common at the time. He began writing poetry to cope with the death of his younger brother Syed Shafqatullah. Zakheli was introduced to Christianity at a young age by a British evangelist, but rejected it for Islam.

## Literary Career

In 1911, he began publishing the first Pashto weekly newspaper, Afghan, and released Mah Rukh, one of if not the first Pashto novel, the following year. In 1917, he released his first fairy tale, Kunda Jinai (A Widow Girl), in Afghan and it became very popular.
Zakheli could write in both Persian and Pashto, and translated Muhammad Iqbal's poems Shikwa and Jawab-e-Shikwa into Pashto. — this earned him great respect among the intellectual circles of his time, who gave him the epithet, the Afghani Iqbal. In 1923, he undertook another important translation endeavour, translating Saadi Shirazi's "Gulistan" into Pashto.
Rahat's commitment to Pashto language and literature was also reflected in his journalistic pursuits. In 1930, he inaugurated the Pashto newspaper Staray Ma She (meaning "welcome" in Pashto ) but it faced censorship and was quickly banned by the colonial authorities in the British Raj. Zakheli later continued his editorial journey, assuming the role of editor for the Pashto section of the newspaper Shahbaz in 1948, where he continued to champion Pashto language and culture.

## Death

Zakheli died on 29 May 1963. His final resting place is Azakhel Bala, the village where he was born. In commemoration of his legacy, a poignant line from his poetry captures the essence of his enduring influence.
که په قبر کې مي زړه هم ټوپ وهلی لېونتوبه زه به هله ستا قایل وې

## Scholarly Analysis and Research

* Dr. Hanif Khalil's research paper, "The Scholastic and Literary Contribution of Rahat Zakheli," offers an in-depth analysis of Rahat Zakheli's significant role in 20th-century Pashto literature. The paper covers various literary genres and highlights Zakheli's multifaceted talents, emphasizing his contributions as a journalist, calligrapher, and translator.
* M. Zarin Anzoor's paper, "Pashto First Novel; A Critical View on Rasheed Ahmad’s Research," reevaluates the inception of Pashto novels. Anzoor suggests that Noor Muhammad's work, long considered the first Pashto novel, remains incomplete, casting doubt on its primacy. He proposes "The Least of the Moon" as a stronger contender, emphasizing the ongoing quest to uncover Pashto literature's true origins, showcasing the dynamic nature of literary research.
* Dr. Qadar Wahid's paper, "The First Pashto Novel and Novelist," enters the discourse surrounding Pashto novel origins. Wahid challenges Rashid Ahmad's assertion that Noor Mohammad Taraki was the first Pashto novelist, presenting robust arguments to refute it. Dr. Wahid argues that Rahat Zakheli deserves the title of the first Pashto novelist, intensifying the scholarly debate on the topic.