Thursday, June 21, 2012

International Pashto Day - June 21st

Dear world,

June 21st has officially been declared International Pashto Day. As most of y'all know, I'm a native Pashtun, born and raised (for 12 years) in Swat, Pakistan, and so my native language is Pashto. FYI: Pashto = Pukhto = Pushto = Pakhto. It's the same term for the same language in different dialects, just like Pashtun = Pukhtun = Pakhtun = Pushtun = Pakhtoon etc. In Pashto, however, it's written in only one way:  Pashto =پښتو
Pashtun/Pukhtun = پښتون  
I explained this dialectical difference in an earlier post titled "The sh/kh difference in Pashto."

Don't want to make this another long post, but I just wanted to inform everyone that June 21st is International Pashto Day, so, especially if you're Pashtun, try to speak in Pashto as much as possible for at least this whole day :) 

Also!!! I've come up with another great idea (I know, I know - I'm full of ideas but totally empty of actions. You'll live with it): Each week, I'll write about a great Pashtun leader (or not leader, just someone ordinary who's done something extraordinary for the Pashtun people). Time to make this blog more informative, eh - but don't get too excited: my opinions aren't going anywhere. I'll still insert them in my blog wherever I think they may contribute to a discussion.

k, starting this Sunday, inshaAllah, I'll begin my series of Important Pashtuns You Should Know about. Feel free to recommend a list. They can be political leaders (Malalai of Maiwand, Bacha Khan (Ghaffar Khan), etc.), poets/philosophers (Ghani Baba, Nazo Ana, Ajmal Baba), singers/musicians (Sardar Ali Takkar, Naghma); they can be from today or from yesterday--or from tomorrow (i.e., young/emerging leaders).

Totally looking forward to starting this, da khaira!  

10 comments:

  1. i spotted a typo: Pashtun/Pukhtun = پښتون You forgot the Waw..

    Anyways, great idea about the introduction of Pashtun personalities. You could start with high class singers such as Sardar Ali Takar, Nashenas, Haroon Bacha..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oopsie! Thanks for pointing that out--big mistake!

      Yeps, I intend to start with such high-class personalities as well.

      Delete
  2. au, yawa bela khabara.. shouldn't it be INternational Pashto Language day?

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    Replies
    1. Great point! I had thought about that, too, but "National" was so commonly written on Twitter that I totally forgot it should be "INTERnational"! Manana, Samie wrora!

      Delete
  3. So the world can call us Pashtun, Pukhtun, Pakhtun, Pushtun, Pakhtoon depending what is convenient for them. Doesn't it show our friendly nature, that we want to make things easier for the world?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL! :D Aao! I agree! Ao khalak wai munga zindnaak yu and stuff, laaawl.

      Delete
  4. Do you consider yourself more Pakistani or Afghan? Even though Pashtuns are Afghans, some of them live in Pakistan. So what would be your take on this.

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    1. Thanks for your comment, Anonymous!
      This question never gets old, lol, and I have answered it at least 8 times on this blog before.

      The simple answer is: I am Pashtun from Pakistan.
      The more complicated answer can be read under the comments of these posts:

      ~ http://orbala.blogspot.com/2011/03/anti-pakistan-pashtuns-and-pashtun.html?showComment=1338758248991#c364833905669895965

      ~ http://orbala.blogspot.com/2011/01/sh-and-kh-in-pashto-on-pashto-dialects.html?showComment=1324347315828#c3643833972653862758

      And some other posts that I can't remember right now. It's a popular question and often even seems to determine whether someone (a Pashtun who hates Pakistan) will think highly of you or lowly of you.

      You can also read my "About Me" section in the tabs above for a simpler but more complex answer at the same time.

      Thanks for dropping by!

      Delete
  5. do you know any famous female Pashtun mathematicians? I need to do a project for my math class and I am having a hard time finding a list of Pashtun female mathematicians on the internet. Please help :)

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    Replies
    1. Hello, Anonymous!
      Thank you for your question. Hm... I'm not sure I know (of) any, but lemme ask around and see :)

      Will get back to you as soon as I get something.

      Delete

Dare to opine :)

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