Dastar - A new development in the history of Pukhto literature

Dr. Yaseen Iqbal Yousafzay

Pakhtuns from all over the world have realised the importance of their mother tongue and consequently several individual and collective efforts to promote Pakhto have been initiated from various corners of the world. World Pakhtun Organisation, Pakhtaneh, Khyberwatch, Pashto.org, Yawpukhtun, Khyber.org, Hewad, Tole Afghan, Afghan Culturi Tolana, Germany, Paak Pakhto Adabi Tolana Qatar, Pakhtuns in Canada, Afghan Forum UK are just a few of them. These organisations have memberships from all over the world and most of them are based abroad. These efforts are not limited to holding of poetry or literary concerts or publishing high quality web pages but now high quality books and journals are also being published. The present trend of love for Pakhto is unique in the sense that it came from the Pakhtuns in abroad.

It does not mean that Pakhtuns living in their homeland are not contributing their part as nothing is possible without their immense support. Obviously, when one is away from his/her homeland, the love for his land increases and when this love comes from an educated lot, it leaves some un-diminishing marks in the history of nations.

The bi-monthly journal ‘Dastaar’ is one of these impressive outcomes financially supported by Pakhtuns in Doha, Qatar edited by experienced writers of Syed Sabir Shah Sabir and Prof. Jehanzeb Niaz's calibre. When I came across the first issue of ‘Dastaar’, it appeared as a collection of essays of mutual appreciation. Prof Jehanzeb Niaz wrote an article on Syed Sabir Shah Sabir and Syed Sabir Shah Sabir appreciated Prof. Niaz in his article. At first glance, I felt disappointed about Dastaar. I was expecting Dastaar as the one:

Those who wear Dastaar (Turban) are in thousands
But those who deserve it are very few in number

The first issue of Dastaar as I said earlier was just an introduction of those pioneers who stepped forward to initiate the launching of this journal. The second issue is now in market and it appears as a special issue on Abdul Ghani Khan. Prof. Jehanzeb Niaz's article on Ghani Khan is an excellent one and everyone else has written according to his own capability. It is not an easy job to understand Abdul Ghani Khan and needs a detailed study but whatever has been written can be considered as an encouraging step in this direction.

I met the editor of the journal a couple of times and realised that the journal is aimed at a unique goal of developing Pakhto literature. We have several Pakhto journals in the market but most of them cover a wide spectrum of issues and are therefore, very attractive to readers and their editors and contributors deserve appreciation.

Obviously, only literature is not enough, practical and political issues are equally important but this never mean to ignore the literature and we really needed a journal for literature. The images on the front page of the first issue of Dastaar were from a Literary-Mela held in Qatar but those on the front page of the second issue unexpectedly indicated as if the journal was a political plus literary one.

It seems that the organisers attempted to attract readers via these images. I appreciate the organisers for these images as the general attitude of Pakhtuns towards their mother tongue has made it very difficult for the literary people to work for Pakhto. One of the major questions is who will read our journal? Secondly how many of us can read Pakhto? Is it the responsibility of poets and writers only to devote their time and life to the service of their mother tongue?

It is the same Pakhto which makes us feel proud of being Pakhtuns but when it comes to work for Pakhto none of us bothers about it. The promotion of our mother tongue does not demand or require us to pay a heavy price. We can promote it via picking up a Pakhto journal or newspaper when we visit our newsagent to buy an English or Urdu Daily. Can we do that? Can we dare to tell our kids and family members that this is by someone who has stood firm for his/her mother tongue, leaving all the personal/family interests alone? Our this effort will be resisted on the first day, the other day people will make a joke of it, on the third day it will be ignored but on the forth day it will be picked up and read. I never say to buy Dastaar only, we have a couple of Pakhto newspapers such as Khabroona, Wahdat and several journals such as Leekwaal, Wraz, Maiwand and many more. Some of them may not be of a very high standard but we have to improve them via writing for them, via criticising them and via encouraging good writers and poets. I hope every Pakhtun will contribute and make our age a golden age for Pakhto-our mother tongue

This Article appeared in Daily the Statesman on 1st of August 2005

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