Afghan literature

Afghan literature or Literature of Afghanistan refers to the literature produced on the Central and South Asia until Anglo-Afghan Treaty of 1919, Second Anglo-Afghan War, Emirate of Afghanistan and in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan thereafter.[1][2] The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan has two officially recognized languages such as Dari, Pashto, and four regional languages such as Uzbek, Turkmen, Balochi, and Pashayi[3], and while it's a multilingual country, these languages are generally used as oral compositions and written texts by the Afghan writers and in Afghan curriculum. It's literature is highly influenced by Persian and Arabic literature.[1][2]

The history of the broader Afghan literature spans between ancient as well as modern Afghanistan. The earliest works of literature were orally transmitted. It's writing system is historically associated with Arabic script. The oldest extant records of the literature are believed derivative of the Nabataean variation of the Aramaic alphabet, dating to the 5th and 6th centuries BCE, century. However, it primarily originated in the early Islamic centuries.

Archaeological researches conducted since 1922 has shown fine art of the pre-Islamic scripts. The country's literature was originally written and transmitted in Arabic alphabet, making it to possess a rich linguistic legacy of pre-Islamic scripts, which existed before being replaced by the Arabic alphabet, including Sharada, Kharosthi, Greek, and Brāhmī after the Islamic conquest of Afghanistan. Bactrian language can also traced back to pre-Islamic scripts.[4][5]

Contemporary literature

Afghanistan's contemporary literature have its deep roots in rich heritage of both oral composition and traditionally written texts. The natives of Afghanistan either living within the country or outside use major languages such as Pashto and Dari. Both the languages are used by approximately sixty million population, making the two officially recognized languages to cover a major part of literature. Afghanistan's literature is historically recorded by the poets and writers. In 1886, an French author James Darmesteter wrote about historical context of Afghanistan literature and the role of poets.

Context

if we want to know what an Afghan is, let us put all books aside and receive his own unconscious confession from the lips of his favorite poets.

It's argued that Pashtun poems, including Sher Zaman Taizi's book titled The Field (1988) had played a significant role in literature. Since the beginning, Talibans were also involved in writing poetry. In modern era, the Afghan poets and short story writers are actively engaged in writing poetry, comprising detained account of literature.[2]

Medieval period literature

Artistic activities, including the earliest known examples of Afghan literature "can be traced back as early as 18,000 BC". For centuries Afghanistan's literature is literary associated with the civilizations of Iran, China, and India. In the Islamic era, the country's artistic work flourished during the Ghaznavids of the 10th to 12th centuries and by the Ghurid dynasty who commonly used Persian language.

Since Afghanistan has a rich literary identity, folklore and traditional custom songs reveal from centuries-old to modern Afghan literature. During the medieval period, literature was originally written in Dari, Pashto, Arabic, and Turkic language. The royal empires such as the Samanid Empire, the Ghaznavids, the Timurids, and the Mughal Empire, were highly influenced by Persian literature. They used to encourage writers of that time such as Rumi, Jami, Rudaki, Ferdowsi, and Khwaja Abdullah Ansari.

The only language during the period used to write important epic poetry was Dari. Firdawsi wrote Shahnameh poem, comprising sixty thousand rhyming couplets. Rumi was actively involved in writing poetry at that time, however most of his writings were later translated into English.

Colonial literature

Because of the large immigration to other countries in the 16th to 18th centuries, the articulation of ideals, and the early establishment of literary institutions and learning environments outside the country, those colonies have often been regarded as the center of early Afghan literature. During those centuries, the country recorded numerous literary figures in the undivided nation, but following the partition of the region between Mughal Empire and Safavid dynasty, several poets, including Khushal Khattak moved to literary centers. Khattak, a 17th century's poet and warrior, lived in the Hindu Kush mountain range. By the late 19th century, Pakhtuns, who lived in the country before partition, used to sung poetry at the reigning royal courts into ghazal, a classical Urdu genre.

Literary, Afghan, Turkic, and Pashto literature are shared traditions, and are collectively recognized as Persian literature, however, Afghanistan's literature is a distinct one which has its own traditions and customs of writing system, particularly oral-formulaic composition like other countries around the world.

Modern literature

Typical classroom in rural areas of Afghanistan

In 20th century, Kabul, the capital of the country, became the center for literary figures and of publishing. Mahmud Tarzi, a reformer, was the editor of Seraj al Akhbar, Kabul's first literary newspaper circulated from 1911 to 1919. He is often credited for developing a modern literary environment. Over the past decades, Afghanistan produced several literary figures including Khalilullah Khalili and Sayed Buhaniddin Majruh. Khalili is referred to as "Renaissance man" for his contribution to the modern literature.[6]

Mahmud Tarzi was actively involved in promoting Pashtu as a national language and providing information and news through Seraj al Akhbar newspaper. During the period, Seraj ul Akhbar played significant role in modernising Afghan society through its articles. Besides him, a French novelist Jules Verne, translated the work into foreign language. He became the first writer to publish the first books printed in independent Afghanistan.[7]

The rise of poetry

Main article: Poetry of Afghanistan

Afghan poetry and culture in general, has a long history dating back to rise of Sufism. They were written in various shared languages such as Persian, Dari, Pashto, and very few in Urdu. Poetry in foreign languages such as English and Turkic also has a strong influence on Afghan poetry. The poetry reflects diverse spiritual traditions within the country. In particular, many Afghan poets have been inspired by mystical and Sufism experiences. Poetry is the oldest form of literature and has a rich written and oral tradition. In Afghanistan, poetic expression exists for centuries. The great poet Rumi was an Afghan poet who used to wrote in Dari language throughout his life. Other poets also wrote in Dari, however several other poets were deeply influenced by Persian, Pashto and Arabic Languages.[8][9] The modern-women generally write traditional Afghan poetic form of two-lines rhythmic poetry known as landay, consisting of a single couplet.[10]

Authors and poets

Main article: List of Persian poets and authors

Proverbs

Main article: Afghan proverbs

A collection of books containing Afghan proverbs.

Afghan proverbs are generally used in a simple, concrete, and traditional saying. It usually express a perceived truth based on common sense or experience. Some proverbs are categorised by the events occurred in real life or based on imagination facts that temporarily create objects, peoples and ideas without any immediate input of the senses.

Afghan proverbs primarily exist in two officially recognized languages. The unrecognized or anonymous proverbs exist in more than two languages because people borrow them from foreign or regional languages similar to theirs.

References

1. Pillalamarri, Akhilesh. "Afghanistan's Persian Linguistic Identity". thediplomat.com.
2. Widmark, Anders. "The View from Within: An Introduction to New Afghan Literature". Words Without Borders.
3. "What Languages Are Spoken In Afghanistan?". WorldAtlas.
4. "Afghanistan Literature". Afghanistan's Web Site. 9 May 1984. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
5. "Afghanistan - The arts and cultural institutions". Encyclopedia Britannica.
6. "ARTS AND CULTURE". English. 31 December 2016.
7. "Afghanistan: The emergence of modern Afghan literature". web.archive.org. 4 May 2005.
8. "FEATURE: In Western Afghanistan, an ancient love of poetry thrives again". UN News. 5 October 2017. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
9. Mashal, Mujib (25 October 2019). "In a Quiet Corner, an Old Afghan Poet Polishes 'the Heart's Mirror'" – via NYTimes.com.
10. "Ancient Afghan Poetry Form Adapts to Tell Story of Modern Life and Conflict". Pulitzer Center. 19 June 2013.