Vasil Kabuli

Vasil Kabuli, Muhammad Nabi (1828-1891), son of Muhammad Hashim. Afghan high school teacher and poet bearing the title Dabir al-Mulk. He was born in Kabul and died in Paghman. He received his preliminary education from Mulla Rahmdil Khan at the Murad Khani School in Kabul. His father died at that time and his mother, an intelligent woman, sent him to study under Mirza Muhammad Muhsin Khan, a secretary at the court of Shir ‘Ali Khan (1863-1878). Vasil’s perseverance in his studies was encouraged by his teacher who had noticed his student’s talents and made his utmost efforts to teach him. His astounding progress in his writing paved his way in entering the court as a young secretary. Accompanied by his master, he served at the court until his master was appointed an ambassador to Russia and Turkestan by Amir Shir ‘Ali Khan. His master appointed him as his deputy and he assumed the office successfully until the death of Shir ‘Ali Khan and was respected by the king. Following the demise of Shir ‘Ali Khan, when Amir ‘Abd al-Rahman Khan marched on Kabul from Transoxiana, Vasil, accompanied by some dignitaries, proceeded to receive him. ‘Abd al-Rahman Khan, in return, appointed Vasil as his court secretary and the latter’s competence led to his further recognition at the court to the extent that he frequently associated with the king and his counsels were sought by the king about different administrative affairs. Vasil’s moral nobilities were appreciated by all courtiers and even the princes and other dignitaries at the royal harem. The king was so attached to Vasil that following his demise he expressed his condolences before Vasil’s mother and praised the nobility of her son. Besides his administrative accomplishments, he was a distinguished cultured scholar and is regarded as a prominent ghazal poet in the literary history of Afghanistan. He was one of the poets who defied the Indian style by their inclinations towards composing poetry in the Iraqi style. He made significant contributions to the re-dissemination of the Iraqi style at the time of literary restoration in Afghanistan. He composed poetry in different forms and his passionate elegies are still recited by elegists, though his excellence is indebted to his ghazals. Vasil followed Hafiz and his keen interest in the latter and the features of his poetry are clearly reflected in Vasil’s ghazals. A comparison between the ghazals of Vasil and Hafiz indicates that Vasil systematically followed Hafiz in terms of radif, meters, and rhymes as well as themes and the sequence of couplets, though at times he had to make changes in the sequence. His poetry has been collected by Talib Qandahari in his first published collection of poetry comprising of 21 ghazals and one tarji’band.

Danishnama-yi Adab-i Farsi, Adab-i Farsi dar Afghanistan (3/  1075).