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Ailing Pashto poet seeks financial help for knee replacement surgery

Ailing Pashto poet seeks financial help for knee replacement surgery

Akmal Lewaney says he has been unable to walk for the last more than a year due to severe arthritis
31 Oct, 2018

Senior Pashto poet Akmal Lewaney has sought financial assistance of the philanthropists to get his legs operated that would cost him money beyond his means and income sources.

Talking to Dawn, he said that doctors had advised him a local treatment that would cost him around Rs600,000 to Rs800,000. He said that being a poor tenant, he couldn’t afford operation of his both legs and had been unable to walk for the last more than a year due to severe arthritis.

“Doctors in Islamabad have recently diagnosed my ailment and advised me a ‘total knee replacement surgery’.

I have been working for promotion of reading culture among our people for the last many years. I need my legs back to set up bookstall,” said Mr Lewaney.

Mr Lewaney has been to UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arab and Afghanistan on several occasions. He is recipient of numerous local awards as his poetry carries substance and quality.

The small bookstall of Akmal Lewaney has become a signature of every literary event as he himself is known for his poetry loaded with satire and humour and also he enjoys widespread fame for mimicry of the senior Pashto poets. He has authored three poetry collections titled Tortam, Chapawoona and Lewantob while another one is in the pipeline.

Besides, selling books at literary events, he also conducts a mushaira impersonating all senior Pashto poets and receives great applause from the audience.

Unfortunately, he suffered hemiparaplegia a few years ago but still he would attend literary events with the support of crutch.

Hailing from Katlang Shamozai village in Mardan, Akmal Lewaney was born in 1946 with talent of composing poetry. He attended school up to second grade and learnt reading and writing but then he couldn’t continue his education as he was supposed to share work in the fi elds along with his parents. However, he grew up with senior poets and writers around him and befriended Hamza Baba, Samandar Khan, Ajmal Khattak, Ghani Khan, Qalandar Momand and many others.


Originally published in Dawn, October 31st, 2018

Comments

Omeros Oct 31, 2018 11:15am
Poor chap. Sadly, the condition of writers, poets, artistes, musicians and other creative people in our society are extremely poor . The government must take note , not only of poet Lewaney but of the plight of all such people, throughout Pakistan, generally. There should be some 'national endowment for arts and literature' to help in such cases. We have a framework of Pakistan Academy of Letters, National Art Council etc but they are not very effective and have few resources. An umbrella organization at national level , with regional branches and strong funding should be instituted.
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Bpd Oct 31, 2018 12:54pm
PL come to India, we will take care
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FRISAL KASHMIR Oct 31, 2018 01:50pm
Let him come to India. A ll problems will be solved.
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Ali Oct 31, 2018 01:54pm
Need his number..or cntxt me at ali.faheemi@ymail.com. I will arrange the surgery in lahore
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Kas Oct 31, 2018 02:16pm
It’s sad to read that he can not have an operation due to lack of money. It’s our duty as human to help each other. Why don’t we start a fund to get him the operation? Why can’t he have an operation in the public hospital?
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Javed Oct 31, 2018 02:57pm
Government should establish a permanent fund for recognized senior artists in need of medical assistance, we owe them this much.
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M. Emad Oct 31, 2018 04:03pm
Pashto and other major regional languages should be made the 'National Language' of Pakistan.
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Sarfraz Oct 31, 2018 05:35pm
@Bpd Thanks I m orthopedic surgeon in islamabad. I offer this surgery at zero rupees cost, in islamabad. It is not a big deal to replace both knees, provided there is no technical issue.
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Basil Oct 31, 2018 07:44pm
If he gets operated in a government hospital in kpk, it'll cost half of that, and maybe even less if he gets funds from Baitulmaal
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Daanish Oct 31, 2018 08:09pm
Please Contact APPNA, USA. They are very good to help and have expertise.
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Sayyar Khan Oct 31, 2018 08:37pm
Poor guy. These are the people who are keeping the local languages of Pakistan alive. Without them all local languages of Pakistan will be lost
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Insafian Oct 31, 2018 11:47pm
Hailing from Mardan is he not eligible for Insaf Health card of KPK government.
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Jamil Nov 01, 2018 01:05am
How to help? Can someone start funding page for him please for people abroad to contribute
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Siva D Nov 01, 2018 02:30am
So sad. No country for old men!
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Ahmad Nov 01, 2018 06:26am
Could you please share his contact information. We will take care of him. InshaAllah.
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just saying Nov 01, 2018 07:24pm
please provide some sort of contact to see how we can help him.
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