Is knowing Pashto a requirement to be a Pashtun?

[Roshina]

In Pukhto, we say, "Pukhto isn't just speaking; it's DOING, too." In other words, "Pukhto" isn't just a noun; it's a verb as well, and the verb is far more important to us than is the noun.

The idea, of course, is that *doing* Pukhto includes *speaking* the language. Language is one of the (if not THE) most important aspects of a culture. So that saying doesn't, in my opinion, mean that you can just deliberately teach your kids another language and utterly abandon Pukhto while claiming, "Meh, all that matters is I'm Pukhtun, and I'm dressed like a Pukhtun and behave like one and think like one" and so on. Thinking like one requires that you speak it as well.

So, to answer your question: Yes! Speaking Pukhto is vital for the survival of Pukhtuns, and we SHOULD be speaking it, at least at home, if we want the claim to being Pukhtun.

[Roshina]

Re: Is knowing Pashto a requirement to be a Pashtun?

So, If I cant speak Pashto, but I try to act like a Pashtun. and I am Pashtun by blood.
am I still a Pashtun in your eyes?
So according to the above, If I cant speak it, I am not a Pashtun in your eyes?

According to *me*, a Pashtun *should* speak Pukhto, yes. However, there are many Pukhtuns whose parents did not teach them their language, in which case it's not really the childcare's fault. It may not even be the parents' fault, because it's extremely difficult to raise a child in a foreign environment and enforce a particular language/culture/thinking on that child.

So it depends on why you don't know/speak Pukhto. Is it because you just have something against the language? Is it because you were never taught the language? Is it because there's not anyone around you with whom you can talk in Pukhto?

I would suggest that you make every effort to learn it. It's crucial for the Pukhtun race as a whole. It's a major part of our identity, and you need it to pass it on to your children. So, just try to learn it, and all will be well

In my opinion, not speaking Pukhto doesn't make you a non-Pukhtun, since your blood remains Pukhtun and no one can deny that, but you're then Pukhtun by blood and not by practice or culture. Some Pukhtuns believe that only blood makes a person Pukhtun, and I don't agree with that because I think the language is one half of the blood identity.

[Master Khan]

Re: Is knowing Pashto a requirement to be a Pashtun?

Well If you can't speak pashto then you a not full pashtun.

[*Mahzala*]

Re: Is knowing Pashto a requirement to be a Pashtun?

It starts at your language, and there is no limit where it ends. And our language is not just a language. Theres much else to it.

Pakhto sirf salor teki nedi. De de shaata yaw tahzib prot day, yaw usool praate di. Khalak ne wayi che pe Arabi, ya pe Farsi ya Urdu, kho wayi che pe Pakhto ye faisala wokra. Pakhto hujra paalena da, jumaat saatena da, melma paalena da. Pakhtaane musafir ta pe qader sterga goori. Pakhto pukhtunwali da, drund waalai dai. Pakhto ke konde ta pe drana sterga katel keegi. Pukhtaane ghairat lari, nang au namoos worta qader lari. Pukhtane zaanta lebaas lari, zanta teekrai lari, zaanta dranekh lari. De Pukhtane mermene teekrai qader lari. Au nor dese der shayaan di che pe Pakhto ke keegi, Pakhto sirf salor teki nedi.

[afghanking]

Re: Is knowing Pashto a requirement to be a Pashtun?

^
Dar kha post, Good job. I agree with every word and I am willing to support your stance above.

[Master Khan]

Re: Is knowing Pashto a requirement to be a Pashtun?

It starts at your language, and there is no limit where it ends. And our language is not just a language. Theres much else to it.

Pakhto sirf salor teki nedi. De de shaata yaw tahzib prot day, yaw usool praate di. Khalak ne wayi che pe Arabi, ya pe Farsi ya Urdu, kho wayi che pe Pakhto ye faisala wokra. Pakhto hujra paalena da, jumaat saatena da, melma paalena da. Pakhtaane musafir ta pe qader sterga goori. Pakhto pukhtunwali da, drund waalai dai. Pakhto ke konde ta pe drana sterga katel keegi. Pukhtaane ghairat lari, nang au namoos worta qader lari. Pukhtane zaanta lebaas lari, zanta teekrai lari, zaanta dranekh lari. De Pukhtane mermene teekrai qader lari. Au nor dese der shayaan di che pe Pakhto ke keegi, Pakhto sirf salor teki nedi.

Deer khan Mesbah khor.
Sta Pashto deer kha da mashallah

[Dinosaur Khan]

Re: Is knowing Pashto a requirement to be a Pashtun?

Ofcourse pashto is requirement to be called as pashtun.

For being afghan or pathan, knowing pashto is not must, blood is enough.

[Levanaye Zalmaye]

Re: Is knowing Pashto a requirement to be a Pashtun?

^ That's not true. if you are Pashtuns by blood, you are PASHTUN. Stop this nonsense notions.

If you really think that's true then sit in a gathering of Pashtuns.

[Master Khan]

Re: Is knowing Pashto a requirement to be a Pashtun?

^ That's not true. if you are Pashtuns by blood, you are PASHTUN. Stop this nonsense notions.

You got atleast speak pashto to be a full Pashtun.
do you consider people like Shahrukh Khan Pashtun.

[Master Khan]

Re: Is knowing Pashto a requirement to be a Pashtun?

That India actor Amjad Khan was a pashtun..he could speak pashto aswell I think.
but if you can't speak pashto at all then you are not really a true pashtun...just by name.

[Laila]

Re: Is knowing Pashto a requirement to be a Pashtun?

Okay, coming from someone who didnt speak Pashto as her first language......knowing to speak pashto is a huge part of your identity. It says who you are and where your from. Knowing pashto is a requirement to be a Pashtun. Though, unfortunetly that has not always been the case. Many of our dear Pashtuns have been greatly influenced by other cultures. But if we dont speak or learn pashto, then it wont exist, it will go extinct. So we as a generation, have to do something about it....otherwise our children and childrens children (hmmm did that sound right) wont know much about our history, our identity, our culture, our Pashtunwali, and importantly, our language....

So please do whatever you can to learn. There are many sources. There is the Rosetta Stone (pricey software), there are youtube videos, on facebook join Pashtun groups, google it, do whatever you can so that Pashto is and continues to be a rich language. Dont let our forefathers down, dont let our race down.

You are Pashtun in your heart, in your last name, in yourself, no doubt about that.....but practice being Pashtun....and that is what i am doing

[Niazmina]

Re: Is knowing Pashto a requirement to be a Pashtun?

lol Well, what's the first thing you do when someone tells you they're pashtun?



Try speaking in Pakhto with them, right? Right.

[Laila]

Re: Is knowing Pashto a requirement to be a Pashtun?

^ Right!

[bulletsar]

Re: Is knowing Pashto a requirement to be a Pashtun?

lol Well, what's the first thing you do when someone tells you they're pashtun?



Try speaking in Pakhto with them, right? Right.

That is so true!

[Levanaye Zalmaye]

Re: Is knowing Pashto a requirement to be a Pashtun?

^ That's not true. if you are Pashtuns by blood, you are PASHTUN. Stop this nonsense notions.

If you really think that's true then sit in a gathering of Pashtuns.

Why do you say that?

Because we have friends who are born of Pashtun parents (either one or both) but speak no Pashto at all and when we're sitting down and discussing something in Pashto, they're just like outsiders for us. Then we switch to Urdu for their sake. But then again, there are many others who are at least making an effort and genuinely trying to learn the language.

But I'd still say that the basic recognition of a Pashtun is his language. It is not only a mark of him being a Pashtun but it also tells which area and which village he's from. So it's really important, if not mandatory.