Ghulam Farooq, popularly known as Speen Dada bid farewell to this immortal world at the tender age of 56.He opened his eyes in a well established business family of Swat. He was the youngest child of Haji Muhammad Khaliq & received all the care, pamper & love from all the members of his extended family. His father Haji Muhammad Khaliq was a fearless brave man who resisted against Waali – e- Swat way of rule & had to face the music for it. After completing his early education Speen Dada did his Master in Journalism from the University of Peshawar.He adopted journalism as a mission to become voice of voiceless people. He served in the famous English Newspaper Daily ” The Frontier Post ” & later on in Urdu Daily “Kainaat”. In 2003 he bought the ownership of Daily “Shamal” Swat & remained its Editor-in-Chie till his last breath.. He was also one of the founder members of Swat Press Club. He played an innovatary role in promoting journalism in Swat & thus considered godfather by many in this field. Now-a-days a brigade of journalists are in the field of journalism in Swat in which most are his pupils. Whenever the Swat journalist community faced any problem, Speen Dada was there to lead them from the front. He was courageous, bravo & at the same time very generous & kind hearted man.
He was born social worker & was ready to help mostly the down trodden people.He always stood with the supressed section of the society whether it was an individual or a group.He was resolute, firm & always remained in the forefront to come to the rescue of the oppressed people.One glaring example of it is that during student life in Jehanzeb College Saidu Sharif Swat he joined hands with Democratic Students Federation ( DSF )…….a lesser popular student Union without going through its manifesto.His logic behind of it was that it was a weak Union & wanted to boost its morale & bring it at par in the college with other Students Union. Later on, when he came to know that DSF manifesto is not matching his mind & heart he instantly parted ways with it. He was also deeply upset by Swat turmoil during Tehreek-Nifaz- Shariat-e-Muhammadi (TNSM) Movement.He published stories condemning blood bath in scenic Swat valley. He was repeatedly warned & called by TNSM leaders to its head quarters, Imam Dheri to explain his position. Speen Dada boldly faced all the proceedings & kept continue awakening Swat’s people by publishing enlightening stories in his newspaper.One of his college group student Mian Gul Naeem recalled from Australia the old good memories by saying he found Ghulam Farooq a fearless colleague & ready to help the weaker segment of the society added that though Ghulam Farooq was younger to him but he was the ist one to call him Speen Dada……a name usually given to elder one as a mark of respect. The name Speen Dada came very fit on his personality & people started calling him with this name & thus Speen Dada become house hold name in Swat.
He was a true pakhtoon from the core of heart.He loved pakhtoon culture & tradition so much that whenever he took the rostrum in any function he must spoke his mind about heroic deeds & good norms & traditions of pakhtoon culture.He has sound physique coupled with white red colour added to his graceful ( دروند پختون) personality.The traditional Chitrali Pakool he put on his head added gracefulness to his well built towering personality. He was always found with pakool on his head in sloping position….as seen in the attached picture.His elegant & stylish habit of putting Pakool on his head conveying a good sense of taste. Due to his pecuilar rich pakhtoon style of dressing i jokingly called him “Hamid Karzai of Swat”. He smiled on it.
Speen Dada…..was a public figure & his 56 years of eventful life was full of many ups & downs.Making friendship & extending hospitality to the guests was his hall mark.
You will be missed for ever.
Life begins with our own cry & ends with others cry.The gap between begins & ends makes life more meaningful.
