History, historically has been misrepresented, the powerful has been able to shape history and its interpretations the way he has desired to. A similar fate is that of Pashtuns, the Mughals have been writing their own versions of history about Pashtuns, terming them as barbarians, ruthless and violent people, the British followed by presenting them as uncivilized people. “The Pashtun tribes are always engaged in private or public war. Every man is a warrior, a politician and a theologian. Every large house is a real feudal fortress. Every family cultivates its vendetta; every clan, its feud. Nothing is ever forgotten and very few debts are left unpaid” says Winston Churchill. The modern world has used this Pashtun image built by historians in a very different way. The uncivilized, ruthless, barbarian, violent Pashtun changed into a brave, resilient, and courageous Pashtun. Afghanistan “the land of Afghans” which Pashtuns all over the world consider their motherland is called “Graveyard of Empires” by pseudo intellectuals hinting at falling powers and empires in the land. The truth is this land of Pashtuns is only a “graveyard” serving as war field for great powers of the world from time to time. The Mongols came and turned it into graveyard, Alexander, The Mughals, The British, The Sikh, the Russians, The US and Pakistan, and now the Taliban, Al-Qaeda and International Terrorist Organizations all played a role in destroying the cities and turning the region into rubble. The land inhibited by Pashtuns today has been always treated as a war zone for the otherwise peaceful world, the reason behind is not the bravery, neither the violent nature of the people nor their resilience , it is the economic, social and political helplessness of the people, who still live in a patriarchal society bond by the system of tribal brotherhood.
The image of brave and violent Pashtun has served the world very well; the impression is so powerful that even the great social reformer Bacha Khan’s Khudai Khidmatgar movement of non-violent struggle, only of its kind throughout history, along with social reformers like Sher Shah Suri and Ghazi Amanullah Khan gets over shadowed. The myths developed are so strong that it seems almost impossible to deconstruct them; whenever a Pakhtun is presented in Pakistan he is called “hamaray gheratmand aur bahadur pathan bhai”. It is like they are “noble savages” who refuse to come out of their mythical nobility.
While the Pakhtunwali, Pashtun Code of life consists of Badal (revenge/justice) it also believes in nanawati (asylum). If it has Turah (bravery) it also has Sabat (Loyalty). Describing Pashtuns as Bahadur and Daler ignoring the other traits is rather criminal when it is coming from the so called intellectuals. The truth is Pashtuns are very unfortunate and helpless people, they have no allies and but a lot of enemies. They seem to stand alone in the world of “civilized” people, enthusiastic towards modernity. The world has always supported those elements inside them who want to keep them backward. Sad as it may seem, the world still needs this image for its political gains, it is time Pashtuns come out of this myth themselves and drive towards modernization and progression.
Khudai Khidmatgar 