The Pathan Book By Ghani Khan Read online Free Download in PDF
The Pathan is an English book introducing the Pathan nation written by Khan Abdul Ghani Khan. The most difficult part of writing is to know where to begin, just as the most difficult part of speaking is to know where to stop. Nothing is more irritating than a blank sheet of paper staring stupidly into your face when you are bursting to write but cannot make up your mind about how to proceed.
I want to talk about the Pathan, the people I love, which makes my task harder than ever. I want you to love them as I do. But the Pathan is not easy to love. He takes a lot of knowing. His is a most complicated simplicity. I want to bring him down from the peaks of Khyber and the fields of Hashnager face to face with you, in his torn clothes and grass shoes, his eyes full of manliness, laughter, and the devil, and his head full of childish and noble pride. The chief camouflage he uses to hide his poverty and want. Yes, I want to bring him to you and make him talk about his struggle and his dreams, love and feuds, field and watchtower, his new rifle, and his old wife.
The undertaking, you will admit, is difficult. No wonder I did not know where to begin. But I have a scheme. I shall feel the throb of his heart. He will tell you a Pathan fairy tale so that you may listen to what he tells his child. He will tell you a story of an incident in his village so that you may see how he lives. He will talk to you about the moon so that you may know how he loves. He will talk to you about his customs so that you may understand his laws. He will talk of dacoities, raids, and duels so that you may know the power that drives him. He will talk to you of priests and magic and charms so that death and right and wrong, and I hope by that time you will know him, and after you get to know him, I shall butt in and try to talk about him, of his relation to you and his connection with your future. Whether you like it or not, he is your neighbor. And on the most unfortunate side of your house, the side that faces Russia. You must know him because Russia will have much to say about the shape of things. They will come to the Pathan before they come to you.
May I then introduce you to your neighbor? He has a fine turban and intriguing trousers. Let’s have a look at him. But before we do that, we might as well know something about his race and origin.
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