Fw: [Pakistan Post] History of the Pakhtuns Launch

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> Substantive research work needed on Pakhtun history

> By Sher Alam Shinwari

>

> PESHAWAR: "History writing is a Herculean task. Pakhtuns enjoy a long

> history of culture, traditions and unique life style. History writing

always

> generates new ideas and theories. Pakhtuns have a special place among the

> world races, especially the South Asians. The Orientalists have

contributed

> a lot to the Pakhto language and literature. However, they have praised

> Pakhtuns for self-glorification. History is never complete, even the

history

> books written by Pakhtun historians fall short of many accuracies

regarding

> the social norms, origin, traditions and culture of Pakhtuns. More

research

> work is needed on the history of this matchless race in the present

changing

> geo-political scenario."

>

> These views were expressed by Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah while

> addressing as a chief guest at the launching ceremony of the book 'History

> of the Pathans' written by Brig ® Haroon Rashid at Area Study Centre,

> University of Peshawar.

>

> Dr Sher Zaman Taizi presented the chapter-wise analysis of the book.

>

> He said that historians had always been baffled by the complex nature of

> Pakhtuns' cultural and social life style.

>

> "The more you dig out their secrets of his love, hatred, pride and way

of

> living, the more they get completed. Therefore, no historian has arrived

at

> the logical conclusion of Pakhtun's true origin", he said.

>

> However, he hoped that the book would trigger a fruitful debate among

the

> historians and scholars. Syed Viqar Ali Shah, professor of history

> department of Allama Open University, Islamabad, disagreed with the very

> title of the book 'The Pathans'. He said Indians invented this word to

> demoralise the glory and pride of Pakhtuns. He pointed out some wrong

dates

> and other factual errors what he called inaccuracies in the first volume

of

> the book.

>

> "The author should have consulted the valuable unpublished memoirs and

> historical documents left by distinguished scholars that are lying in

Indian

> office library and in other places", he said.

>

> He also requested the governor to write his own memoirs on the life and

> culture of Pakhtuns because it had been a golden tradition in the past

that

> people sitting in the corridors of power would pen down their memoirs.

>

> The most articulated speaker was Dr Anwar Khan, former vice-chancellor,

> University of Peshawar on the occasion.

>

> He said that history always needs verification. It needs a lot of hard

> work and mental capability to know the roots of culture, history and

social

> values. Unfortunately, there had been no tradition of historiography in

this

> part of the region, although it has been a witness to three distinct

> civilizations-Indian, Persian and Chinese. The European historians, who

had

> never visited this area, would depend on the memoirs and recollections of

> those invaders who were just soldiers and not educated either. People must

> be conscious to make themselves aware of their cultural roots if they want

> to have a place in the history book.

>

> Author of the book, Brig ® Haroon Rashid dwelt upon the salient

features

> of his book and expressed the hope that he would incorporate all the

figures

> and facts relating to Pakhtuns' culture and history in his other volume of

> the book.

>

> "It took me eleven long years to complete this arduous task. I have

tried

> my level best to be unbiased, objective and dispassionate. Primarily, I

have

> focused on the political history of Pakhtuns. Countless invaders have

tried

> their luck to posses the land of Pakhtuns but never succeeded in their

> attempts" he informed.

>

> He also answered some of the questions put by the audience.

>

> Zulfiqar Gillani, vice-chancellor, Peshawar University, congratulated

the

> author on completing the first volume.

>

> "The book will go a long way in unraveling, some important facts about

the

> origin of Pakhtun race which has been shrouded in mystery, Haroon Rashid

who

> is a gentle Pakhtun, has proved his skill of writing in compiling this

huge

> book which runs into ten volumes", he said.

>

> Seventeen out of thirty copies of the first volume of the book were

either

> gifted or sold at a reduced rate of Rs1,000. The first volume spreading

over

> hundred and seventy-seven pages carries an attractive title and hard

bound.

>

> The function was attended by a large number of history lovers,

> intellectuals, scholars, students and teachers.

>

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