Name for Pushtun Province
The Case of Pushtunkhwa
It has been observed that
the matter of Pushtunkhwa is usually rejected on basis of following reasons: having less or no knowledge of Pushtuns History,
inaccurate statistics, illogical arguments or prejudice. There is no answer for prejudice or bias peoples other than to have
medical treatment of their mental health.
Pushtunkhwa is the combination of two terms “Pashtun” which is the name of the nation and “Khwa”
which means direction or piece of land or locality. One united Federating Unit by the name of Pushtunkhwa (NWFP, FATA, Pushtun
Areas of Balochistan, Attock, Mianwali) is the popular demand of Pushtuns living in Pakistan.Pushtunkhwa (southern dialect of Pashto) or Pukhtunkhwa (Northern
dialect of Pashto) is the Historical name of the land where Pushtuns are living for thousands of years.
The proofs
of the usage of term Pukhtunkhwa for the Pashtun Watan could be found in many writings of both Non-Pashtun and Pashtun writers.
Let firstly discuss the writings
or books of non-Pashtun Writers:
Reference: Notes on Afghanistan and Balochistan by Henry George Raverty (year 1888), Page
No. 544, 468, 466, 470.
Asiatic Research Volume-9 by Leyden (1812), Page No. 363.
A chrestomathy of the Pashto or Afghan language by Barnard Dorn (1847), Page No.
428.
A Dictionary of Pushto by Henry George Raverty (1860), Page No. 179.
Pashtu Grammar by Dr. Henry Walter (1867), Page No. 12
Da Pukhtunkhwa Bagh aw Bahar
by James Darmesteter (1886)
“Encyclopedia Voume-5” based on the research of Hindu Holy Scripture Rig Veda and Herodotus by Punjab University
Lahore (1971), Page No. 39, 40.
Now from Writings of Pashtun writersTazkarat ul Awlia by Suleiman Mako (12th century), Page No. 23
Pata Khazana by Mohammad Hotak baba (1729), Page No. 10, 11,
56
Makhzan Ul Islam
by Akhund Dervaiza Baba (1612), Page No. 132
Kulyat e Khushal Khan Khattak (17th century), Page No. 562
Tareekh e Morasaa by Afzal Khan Khattak (1708), P. No. 592.
Ahmed Shah Abdali’s
Poetry (18th century)
His
famous verse,“Da Deli
Takht herawama che ra yaad krramZama da Khkulay Pushtunkhwa da ghro sirona”
Deewan-e-Pir Mohammad Kakar (18th century), P. No. 77
Kalaam e Maazulah Khan Momand (18th century)
“Da tamamay Pukhtunkhwa la shayeranoMaazullah Abdul Rahman day muntakhib”
Zafar ul Lughaat by
Bahadar Shah Zafar Kakakhel (20th century), P.No. 329
Deryaab by Qalandar Momand (20th century), P. No. 662
As now a days the discussion is limited to renaming NWFP only, to Pukhtunkhwa,
so I will put the population statistics of NWFP only.According to 1998 census the Pashto speaking population of NWFP (excluding PATA and FATA) is 74 % (clear
majority), remaining 26% of population speaks 29 different languages such as Hindko, Siraiki, Kohistani, Chitrali etc...
It should be noted that PATA and FATA are the naturally adjoining areas to NWFP with 99% Pashtun Population and all
are governed by same single Governor. It is obvious that Hindko is the second largest spoken language of the NWFP with the
fact that large numbers of Hindko speakers (Tarin, Jadoon, Tahirkheli, Yusafzai, and Mashwani) are basically Pukhtuns. Also
it is not possible to have such a name for the NWFP to which the population of all the 30 languages would agree because 100%
consensus on any issue in Pakistan is not seen in the past 62 years. So the demand of Pukhtunkhwa is reasonable and democratic
for the province where the Pukhtun population is more than three-fourth of the total population.
Let’s have a look of a famous illogical argument which the people opposing
Pushtunkhwa often exercise that “Punjab (Land of Five Rivers) and Sind (Local name of River Indus) are the names adopted
from geographical positions of the areas and the languages and nations are named after these geographical names as Punjabi
and Sindhi respectively, So Pukhtunkhwa is not acceptable because it is based on the ethnic name.” If it is the case then why Saraiki (about
one-fourth population of the Punjab) don’t call themselves Punjabi? Why Siraiki (language and nation name) is not originated
from the name of Punjab, the Land of Five rivers, as the case is with Punjabi? The above argument would
be valid if Punjab is renamed as Say-aab (Land of the three rivers) according to its present geographical condition, with
no change in the name of language and the nation Punjabi. It is also not a universal rule to adopt a name based on geographical
feature for any piece of land. If it is unwritten compulsory code in Pakistan then why it is not applicable to Balochistan
(Land of Balochs)?
But as Balochistan is the best choice for the historical Baloch Watan according to wishes of
its inhabitants, similarly Pushtunkhwa is the best choice for the historical Pashtun Watan according to wishes of its inhabitants. Dr. A. H. Dani, a well known historian and archaeologist, presently
the Director of the Islamabad-based Center for the Study of the Civilizations of Central Asia, told Dawn that Pukhtunistan
is a political name but Pukhtunkhwa is not. "Culturally there is no doubt that the land was called Pukhtunkhwa in Pushtu
literature since 15th century (we have a trace of literature since that time only). The term has been applied for both tribal
and settled areas, he added.An
interesting fact regarding renaming NWFP to Pukhtunkhwa is that in November 1997 PML (N) was in government in NWFP and ANP
was their coalition partner, NWFP assembly passed resolution in the right of Pukhtunkhwa with 70 votes in the right and 2
votes against the resolution. Note that two Punjab centered parties (PML N and PML Q) opposing Pukhtunkhwa now, was a single
party (PML N) at that time.ANP
is not the only political party in NWFP behind the issue of Pukhtunkhwa.
It is a historical fact that the resolution
of Pukhtunkhwa is equally supported several times by other Political parties in NWFP assembly such as PPP, JUI (F), JI, PPP
(Sherpao).One of the renowned
columnists Haroon Rashid Sahib said in his column against Pukhtunkhwa that Names for the territories and countries are not
decided by leaders and Assemblies. I want to ask a question how old is the history of name “PAKISTAN” given to
our Country? Pakistan name was first introduced by the one of the leader of Pakistan freedom movement Choudry
Rehmat Ali in 1934 in his Pamphlet “Now Or Never”. So according to your argument the name of our Country Pakistan
is also not Suitable to the country.One point more that Pukhtunkhwa will not seems to be the province of Afghanistan because there is not a single province
in the Afghanistan whose name is based on the name of any nation or ethnic group. But Pakistan has the Province by the name
of nation that is Balochistan. So Pukhtunkhwa would surely seem to be a Pakistani Province. Pashtun wants to enjoy their identity on the map of Pakistan
by the name of Pushtunkhwa as Punjabi; Sindhi and Baloch brothers are enjoying their identities.
By : - Sheikh Masood Zaman Mandokhail, Quetta (Kwatta)
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"ANP Announces Comittee for
Renaming the Province NWFP " The Committee consists of:
1.Haji
Adeel
2.Afrasiab Khattak
3.Zahid Khan
4.Jamila Gilani
5.Latif Afridi
The
comittee will negociate with opponents of Pukhtunkhwa and will find an acceptable name for NWFP.2.1.2010 |
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"Renaming the Province NWFP
to Khyber-Pukhtunkhwa" The Parliamentary Committee
for Constitutional Reforms (PCCR) of Pakistan has included in its draft recommendations, renaming of NWFP as Khyber-Pukhtunkhwa.
The PCCR has completed preparation of the draft of proposed 18th amendment of the Constitution.After the approval
of the amendment the name of NWFP will appear as Khyber-Pukhtunkhwa in clause 2 of Article 1 of the Constitution.
....31
March 2010
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