Pakhwa پخوا

Periodically we need to take a look back and so we do with the lyrics and title پخوا for this song by Ismail and Junaid. They combine rock guitars with the rubâb and blend tradition with a contemporary sound. The appeal factor, for me, however, are the words written by Hamza Shinwari Baba. An excellent ode to the Pashto language.

This video begins with a title slide that is a reminder that many have lost their lives in the turmoil in Pakistan and Afghanistan.  We should not let ourselves forget.

Find Ismail and Junaid on Facebook.

Video Credits:

Pakhwa by Ismail and Junaid
Tune Composition: Ismail Khan / Rafiq Shinwari
Poetry: Hamza Shinwari
D.O.P: Bilal Farooq & Haseeb Shah
Directed by: Shoaib Anwar / Jawad Zeb
Edited by: Shoaib Anwar

International Mother Tongue Day - پښتو ژبه

پښتو ژبه

وايي اغيار چي د دوزخ ژبە دە
Wayee aghyar chi da dozakh jaba da
The enemies say that it is the language of hell
زە بە جنت تە دە پښتو سرە ځم
Zu ba jannat ta da Pakhto sara zam
To heaven I will go with Pashto

حمزه شينواري بابا، ١٩٩٤-١٩٠٧
Hamza Shinwari Baba, 1907-1994

On another forum, as part of my MA course, the issue of English language imperialism happened to come up a couple of days ago. I'm a non-imperialist, and a supporter of the right to learn in Mother Tongue. It so happens that today is the United Nations International Mother Language Day.

Here's the link to the document that details the General Assembly's Resolution on the protection of multilingualism.