Wasef Bakhtari, an esteemed Persian poet, from Afghanistan, was laid to rest in Los Angeles, in the USA, on Friday.
The funeral was attended by numerous intellectuals who paid tribute to Bakhtari’s profound contributions to poetry, language, and Persian literature over the past five decades.
Mujib Khalwatgar, a journalist and researcher, hailed Bakhtari as an unparalleled and multifaceted figure in various aspects of Persian language, literature, and contemporary literary history.
Throughout his illustrious literary career, Bakhtari served as a role model and mentor for several generations of poets and writers in Afghanistan.
His profound impact on the literary landscape extended beyond composing poems to include writing literary texts, conducting research, and translating important books from various languages.
“We are grateful to Wasef Bakhtari who came and gave us lessons in the field of literature and humanity, and being with Wasef Bakhtari strengthened the need for improvement among us,” said Hazrat Vahrez, a writer.
Following his pursuit of higher education, Bakhtari had resided in California, USA, since 2001.
In 1974, he embarked on a journey to the United States and obtained a master’s degree in education from Columbia University before returning to Afghanistan.
Manouchehr Faradis, another esteemed writer, lauded Bakhtari as one of Afghanistan’s greatest poets, praising his remarkable achievements in both poetry and mysticism.
“There is no doubt that Wasef Bakhtari was one of the greatest poets of Afghanistan. Personality dimensions of Wasef Bakhtari have a brilliant record not only in the field of poetry but also in the field of mysticism and philosophy,” said Manouchehr Faradis, another writer.
Wasef Bakhtari obtained a Bachelor’s degree in literature from Kabul University and a Master’s degree in education from Columbia University.
He passed away on July 20, 2023 at the age of 81 in California, USA.
