Abstract
The Pashto poetry of Ghani Khan is much popular among the Pakhtuns. He carves his own course in poetic expression and ignores the traditional structure of Ghazal, and focuses on nazam (poem), which is much closer to western style of verses. He depicts the high goals of modernism, communicates liberal ideas with pluralism and independence and exposes the exploitation of society by the hands of Nawab, Khan and Mullah. His modernist poetic style, varying themes, quest for beauty, love, God, mysticism, romanticism, nationalism, humanism, aestheticism, and philosophy gave him a unique position in Pashto literature. Because of his metaphysical poetry and flamboyant style, he is known as mad philosopher poet. His poetry is full of reality, wisdom, inspiration and liberty. In this paper an attempt has been made to trace out the elements and parameters of liberalism, independence and modernism in the poetry of Ghani Khan. It also discuses the use of illusions, free use of verse, thematic concerns in cultural pessimism, mistrust in religious dogmas, the use of sensual words expression, scattered images and symbolism
