A Tradition of Textual Criticism in South Pakhtunkhwa

Abstract

The tradition of textual criticism began in 1938 in Pashto, when Abdul hai Habibi edited, for the first time in the history of Pashto language and literature, kuliyat (collection) of classical Pashto poet, Khushal Khan Khattak. After this the tradition of textual criticism flourished here and many volumes of poetry and prose were edited in Afghanistan, as well as north and south Pakhtunkhwa (Pakistan). This paper aims to studies volumes of classical prose, various Dewans (classical poetry collections), and other edited books in south Pakhtunkhwa in the light of established principles of textual criticism. It shows that most of works follow the principles of textual criticism with some of them that lack quality. This study would be interesting for Pashto reader of classic literature as well as textual critics. It is also important to mention here that for the first time the tradition of textual criticism in South Pakhtunkhwa is being discussed through this paper.