(که سپوره وي که پوره وي نو په شریکه به وي (باچاخان)

Culture: More on Pashtuns

Lok Versa, Islamabad in collaboration with the Pashto Academy University of Peshawar has recently accomplished a highly commendable project by bringing out 40 booklets, 10 in English and 30 in Urdu at a cost of Rs 2.4 million on various aspects of Pashtuns including their history, culture, art, music, literature and social customs and traditions. Prominent researchers, scholars and writers have tried their best to trace the origin of Pashtun’s race, their social traditions, art and crafts and literary trends that have shaped their very fabric down the ages. The origin of Pashtun has always been an interesting debate for both Pashtun and non-Pashtun historians, intellectuals and men of letters. The question of the origin of Pashtun’s have always baffled many a historians in every age. Unfortunately, Pashtuns for various reasons have not been able to write their own history; therefore, large number of theories came into being about their true origin and natural habitat. Different historians have propounded their own theories from Greek historian Herodotus to Mughal historian Abdul Qasim Fareshtah to British writers who were interested to know about Pashtun race, their origin and their social norms and traditions which have been governing their hard life since times memorial. Among many of these theories regarding Pashtun’s origin, two theories gained much currency and popularity that divided even Pashtun historians to follow their separate views. One says that Pashtuns are one of the lost tribes of Israel while the other argues that Pashtuns are Aryan. Hanif Khalil a young writer and research scholar has mentioned these two theories in detail in his booklet but ended up with refutation of both of them. He has reaffirmed the theory already propounded by Prof Pareshan Khattak an eminent scholar and poet who had in his celebrated book ‘ Pashtun Kon Hai’ (Who are Pashtuns?). Hanif quotes a non-Pashtun writer as arguing that Pashtuns are not one of the lost tribes of Israel as reasons advanced in support of this claim are noticeably curved noses of the Pashtuns but this peculiarity is equally striking in the portraits of the Koshans’s Monarchs of the first century A.D. who had no Hebrew blood in their veins. Hanif concludes that Pashtuns are a unique race existing since pre-historic era with all its characteristics rooted in their social norms and cultural values. Also he dilates upon the evolution of Pashto language saying that there are as many accents of Pashto as tribes of Pashtuns but through ages two accents became prominent, one is ‘soft Peshawari accent’ dominant Yousafzai verbatim while other is ‘hard Kandahari accent, Like Pashtun race, their language is also unique says, Hanif adding that Pashto is not the sister of Sanskrit and Hindi, rather it seems to be the mother of these languages keeping in view the mention of Pashto words and phrases in books and documents more ancient than these two. Brig (Retd) Gulman Sher Afridi traces the origin of Hujra tradition among Pashtuns. He argues that the word ‘ Hujra’ might be a changed form of a Greek word ‘ Agora’ which meant an open space used for markets or public gathering as he says the concept of male’s houses exists in many societies, so the Hujra tradition among Pashtuns seems to be much ancient and also the role played by it is unique, multidimensional and purposeful. Hujra is significant in a typical Pashtun society; it is the place where the basic social behavour and collective wisdom of a Pashtun race are evolved, shaping their outlook on life and social norms. Pashtunwali is yet another important component of Pashtun’s social fabric. Dr Rajwali Shah throws light on its pros and cons. It is an unwritten constitution that governs and controls Pashtun society by enacting various other bylaws that support the structure of Pashtunwali. Nadir Shah Shinwari describes Pashtun Jirga, which plays a significant role in formulating different rules, and regulations derived from centuries old and tested Pashtun’s traditions and tries to implement them in its true letter and spirit. Another interesting title by Prof Dr Rajwali Shah Khattak profiles various professions adopted and practiced by Pashtuns. He says that being a male dominated society, Pashtun women always prefer relatively most delicate professions involving less physical labour and outer activity while men have adopted those ones in which they could exhibit their physical strength and power such as weapons making, farming and many others. Pashtun females adopted handicrafts like ornaments, embroidery and designing of clothes and households. Nisar Mohammad Khan, former Station Director PBC, Peshawar digs out the historical evolution of Pashto music. Alexander the Great he informs had left behind some cultural elements that touched our hearts and souls forever, Ghachagah an ancient musical instrument still exists in its original form in southern districts in the Frontier and the Pashtun Marwat tribes there still harp a tune known to Greek as ‘Kasar’. Regarding Pashto folk music, Nisar maintains that it not only sheds light on the romantic mood of Pashtuns but also shows their expression of love, sympathy and feelings of humanism and peace. Prof Dr Salma Shaheen mentions some important musical instruments in her booklet while Mohammad Javed Khalil records popular versified folk Pashto tales. Similarly, Prof Dawar Khan Dawood has translated some interesting riddles from Pashto into English. Renowned research scholar and writer Hamesh Khalil unveils poems ‘ Jangi Charbetay’ composed by folk poets during their struggle against Sikhs and Britishers. These poems would at times instigate the locals to an extant that would forced them to take up arms and launch a fierce resistance. Prof Dr Arif Nasim mentions rituals and wedding ceremonies practiced in Fronier especially by Yousafzai tribe. Various games and sports occupy a significant place in Pakhtun society. A title co-authored by Salma Nasim and Shahida Nasim gives us a very informative account of different sports played by many Pashtun tribes. Two titles epitomize the history and traditions of the ancient Peshawar city. Prof Dr Yar Mohammad Maghmoom has contributed on Children’s folk stories while Prof Dr Qabil Khan Afridi enlightens us on reflection of Pakhtuns in Pashto tapa. Sufi and folk poets also find a prominent place in these titles. Musharraf Khan ’s account of the historic ‘Khyber Pass’ contributes important information on the strategic significance of the land and Pashtun tribes living there. Other booklets are equally important as they carry invaluable information on the origin, habits, attitudes, art, psyche, culture, music, dresses, ornaments, religious practices, folk dances, folk songs, foods, ceremonies, folk medicines, poetry, social customs and traditions of Pashtuns. Dr Mazharul Haq Director General (DG) Lok Versa intends to bring out an encyclopedia covering all these titles in near future. These booklets available at Rs 100 and above each one are a crash course for research students and will serve as basic source of information on Pashtuns, which the world today wants to know. This article previously published with Daily Dawn; Books-And authors د پښتنو قامی سنګر - بېرته شاته