I don’t think we are sincere in general towards promoting, adopting, and practising Pakhtun culture and language
CHARSADDA: This letter refers to a report which indicated that Pushto Day was observed at the Khyber Medical College in Peshawar on March 19, with the culture of the Pakhtuns being highlighted. When we observe a culture, we should recognise all its fascinating facets and what facet of the culture do we practise, value and abide by in our practical life? I don’t think we are sincere in general towards promoting, adopting, and practising Pakhtun culture and language. Do we prefer to use the Pushto language in our academic and official environment even in cases where all speakers and participants are native-speakers of Pushto? No, in most cases this does not happen. Even if we use the Pushto language, we often switch to English. How many Pushto-speakers buy a Pushto newspaper and read it? I am guessing there are hardly any people who do this, which indicates the value accorded to the Pakhtun language and culture.
Let us all follow and practise the good points of Pakhtun culture. We talk about the goodness of things, but fail to adopt and practise good traditions. Marginalising a community, an ethnic group or a language will never bode well for a state which is already facing myriad challenges.
Mohammad Fayyaz
Published in The Express Tribune, March 21st, 2015.
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