Today, Pashto literature and poetry is a topic that generates great interest and debate in society. Over the years, Pashto literature and poetry has been a meeting point for different opinions and positions, which has given rise to a wide range of perspectives on this topic. From its origins to the present, Pashto literature and poetry has been the subject of study and analysis in different areas, which has contributed to enriching the knowledge and understanding of this phenomenon. In this article, we are going to explore different aspects and approaches of Pashto literature and poetry, with the aim of offering a complete and objective view on this topic.
Pashto literature (Pashto: پښتو ليكنې) refers to literature and poetry in Pashto language. The history of Pashto literature spreads over five thousands years having its roots in the oral tradition of Tappa (Pashto: ټپه/لنډۍ). However, the first recorded period begins in 7th century with Amir Kror Suri (a warrior poet). Later, Pir Roshan (1526–1574), who founded his own Sufi school of thoughts and began to preach his beliefs. He gave Pashto prose and poetry a new and powerful tone with a rich literary legacy. Khair-ul-Bayan, oft-quoted and bitterly criticized thesis, is most probably the first book on Sufism in Pashto literature. Among his disciples are some of the most distinguished poets, writers, scholars and sufis, like Arzani, Mukhlis, Mirza Khan Ansari, Daulat and Wasil, whose poetic works are well preserved. Akhund Darweza (1533–1615), a popular religious leader and scholar gave a powerful counterblast to Bayazid’s movement in the shape of Makhzanul Islam. He and his disciples have enriched the Pashto language and literature by writing several books of prose.
Proverbs
Here is a list of Pashto Proverbs (Pashto: د پښتو متلونه):
Proverb
In Roman Pashto
Meaning in English
Notes
متل
matál
په رومي پښتو کښې
pə romí pәx̌to ke
انګرېزۍ کښې مانا
angrezә́i ke mānā́
مور په يولاس زانګو او په بل لاس نړۍ زانګوي
mor pə yaw lās zāngó aw pə bəl lās naṛә́i zāngawí
A mother rocks the cradle with one hand and the world with the other
کار په کولو کیږي
Kār pə kəwəlo kiʒi
Work is done by doing it
هر څه چې ډېر شي نو ګنډېر شي
har tsә če ḍér ši no ganḍér ši
When anything becomes allot it becomes poisonous
ګنډېر
= a bitter poisonous plant
غوا که توره ده, شيدې يې سپينې دي
ğwā kә tóra da šidé ye spíne di
Although a cow be black, her milk is white
واده اسان وي خو ټک ټوک يې ګران وي
wādә́ asā́n wi xo ṭak-ṭúk ye grān wi
A wedding is easy but its workings are hard
ټک ټوک
= the sound when two small things bang against each other; to denote working on small tasks
د وچو سره لامده هم سوځي
də wә́čo sәrá lāmdә́ ham swadzí
The wet too burn with the dry
ژرنده که د پلار ده هم په وار ده
žránda kә dә plār da ham pә wār da
Even if the mill is of father, it is by turn
تورې ته ګېنډې نيسه خبرو ته تندی نيسه
túre tə genḍé nisá, xabә́ro tə tandáy nisá
Hold the shield to the sword, the forehead to words
ګېنډه = rhino; as its skin is hard so shields would be made from it
پاړو د مار له لاسه مري
pāṛú dә mār lə lā́sa mrí
The snake charmer dies because of the snake
په ګوهار کښې به يې سخی نه وي
وايي به زموږ د کلي ګوهار هغه دی
pə gohā́r ke bə ye sxay nə wi. wā́yi bә zamuǵ də kalí gohā́r háğa day
In the herd he will not have calf. But will keep on saying: that is the herd of our village
ګوهار
=herd of cattle
پيشو زبرګه شوه منږک نه نيسي
pišó zbә́rga šwa manǵák nә nisí
The cat has become holy/saintly, she does not catch mice.
زبرګ
= saint
چېرته خوله چېرته څنګل
čérta xwla čérta tsangә́l
Where (be) the mouth (and) where (be) the elbow ?
To point out contrast: as most people cannot touch the elbow with the mouth
Pir Roshan, Pashto poet known for assembling Pashtun armies to fight against the Mughal emperor Akbar; founded the 16th-century Roshanniya movement and wrote the Pashto book Khayr al-Bayān to present his philosophical ideas.
Shaikh Mali, narrated the Yusufzai conquest of Swat, and devised rules for distribution of land and water rights which became known as da Shekh Mālī daftar.
Khushal Khan Khattak, 17th-century warrior-poet who preached the unity of all Pashtuns.
Rahman Baba (c. 1632 - c. 1706), one of the greatest Pashto poets of all time, whose works are as important to the Pashtun as William Shakespeare is to the English; his works are spiritual.
Khan Abdul Ghani Khan, (c. 1914-1996), Pashtun philosopher and Pashto language poet, artist (painter and sculptor), writer and Pashtun nationalist politician of the 20th century. He was a son of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan and older brother of Khan Abdul Wali Khan.