Wasef Bakhtari

Wasef Bakhtari was born in the year 1942 in Balkh region of Afghanistan. He is a renowned Persian poet, an intellectual and a literary figure.

 

source of picture: www.wasefbakhtari.com

Life and Education

Though Wasef’s father was from Kabul, he spent most of his childhood life in Mazari Sharif. Wasef went to Bakhtar School for his primary school and some part of his secondary education. After then, his family relocated to Kabul where he stayed and finished in Habibia High School in the year 1965. Wasef hold a BA degree in the Persian literature from the University of Kabul. Wasef did his graduate studies in the United States and got his Master’s degree in education from the Columbia University in the year 1975. In the year 1996, Wasef who was then a professor in literature in the University of Kabul with his wife Noriajan were made to leave the country due to the intolerance of the Taliban. They resided in Pakistan as refugee, but with the increase of the Taliban in Pakistan also they had to relocate to United States with the aid of the World Relief and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, and kept them in the New Port Richey, Florida.

Work Life

For about 15 years, Wasef served in the Ministry of Education; there he was writing and translating textbooks. In the year 1978, he was the editor in chief of the Zhwandoon Magazine. He worked as a professor in the University f Kabul and influenced some other Persian writers and poets that are from Afghanistan.

Political Life

Wasef Bakhtari was one of the founders and the leaders of the Leftist and Maoist party, Shole Jawed. In the year 1978, when the mantle of leadership was taken over by Khalqi government, he was imprisoned for two years. He left politics after he was released in the year 1980.

Poetry and Literature

Wasef is the most renowned modern Persian poet and writer in his country Afghanistan. He is seen to be a literary leader to many Persian writers and poets as well as linguists in the country. He was one of the first Persian poets that made the introduction of Nimaic poetry in the country and he is respected in having his own pattern of writing the Persian poetry. Wasef was writing his poems under the inspiration of the following people; Ahmad Shamlou, Rahi Moaveri as well as Amiri Firoozkouhi.