Jawza 21 (June 11) marks the third anniversary of the death of the famous Afghan poet, Haidari Wujodi, who died in 2020 at age 81.

Wujodi was born in 1939 in the northern province of Panjshir and was drawn to poetry, mysticism and literature from an early age. 

During his lifetime, the poet led literature and poetry meetings about the Masnavi Manavi, which is one of the most influential works of Sufism. (The Masnavi, or Masnavi-ye-Ma'navi, also written Mathnawi, is an extensive poem written in Persian by Jalal al-Din Muhammad Balkhi, also known as Rumi). Wujodi instructed many young Afghans about poetry and its meaning. 

The death of Wujodi compelled many Afghan political leaders and academic personalities--people from all layers of society--to pay him tribute. 

“Mr. Haidari was working on his research about Maulana (Rumi) after his official work time in government,” said Abdul Wahid Qureshi, a manager at the Kitab Khana-e-Ama.  

“He wanted to create a circle and he was helping the youth who were interested in poetry,” said Fatihullah Wafi, head of Kitab Khana-e-Ama.  

Poets and cultural activists suggested that Wujodi’s books be published and that special programs should be held to honor his contributions.  

“Haidari’s understanding from Masnavi of Mawlana (Rumi) and Bidal poetry was so good that he would draw even other instructors of literature around himself,” said Najib Barwar, a poet.  

Afghans have described Wujodi’s death as a major loss in the country's academic field. 

Some of Wujodi’s best-known works: 

Eshq wa Jawani (Love and youth), Rahnamayee-e-Manzoom-e-Panjsher, Naqsh-e-Omid (The Role of Hope), Ba Lahzahayee Sabz-e-Bahar (With the Green Moments of the Spring), Sali Dar Madar (A Year in Orbit), Sayaee Marefat (The Shadow of Knowledge), Soor-e-Sabz-e-Sada (The Green Image of Sound), Miqat-e-Tazzul, Ghurbat-e-Mahtab (The Homelessness of the Moon), Lahzahayee dar Ab wa Atash (Moments in Water and Fire), Away-e-Kabood (The Blue Voice), Arghanoon Eshq (The Purple Love), Shikwa-e-Qamat-e-Muqawomat (The Glory of the Strength of Resistance) 

“The heart is like a mirror,” Wujodi wrote, “If it is cleansed of dust and fog, whichever way or object you aim it at, the reflection of it will be reflected in the mirror.”